Days before the Philippines marks the anniversary of the historic July 12, 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award—a landmark legal victory affirming its sovereignty—an unexpected new milestone in the nation’s West Philippine Sea narrative has quietly unfolded. This development didn’t take place in a courtroom or diplomatic negotiation; instead, it emerged across the country’s streets and city walls, where murals, graffiti, and public artworks now vividly depict the country’s maritime claims, its struggles, and its aspirations for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
1 June Gallego
A total of 220 murals were created across the country during the West Philippine Sea Mural Festival, raising awareness in schools, markets, military camps, community centers, municipal halls, and public spaces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Out of 220 entries, 100 murals were chosen. Each will be awarded PHP30,000 and move on to the next competition phase, where artists will compete for the festival’s PHP1 million Grand Prize, along with additional prizes and special awards.
One of the winning murals was located in Barangay Pag-asa, Kalayaan, Palawan, positioning the festival at the core of the West Philippine Sea.
Festival Director AG Saño said, “As someone who has spent years painting murals in communities across the Philippines, I was deeply moved by how people embraced this project. What began as a call for artworks became a shared effort involving artists, schools, local governments, and ordinary citizens.”
The victorious muralists hailed from over 40 cities, municipalities, and communities throughout the Philippines.
The artists included individuals from the National Capital Region, such as Sim Tolentino and Crishaira Bode of Pasig City; Samuel Peñaso, Jayvie Maglente, Abegail Juan, and Kerry Villazor from Quezon City; Froilan Galpo from Mandaluyong City; Bon Labora from Taguig City; Emmanuel Dane Ventura from Caloocan City; and artists from Manila like Dandela Mari Cortez, Balthazar Gamba, Bea Fulgencio, Antonio Pacuan Jr., and Jonathan Joven.
Winning muralists from Luzon included Jonathan Benitez, Leonard Ansiong, Edward Kim Beguina, and Ralph Graspela’s collective from Palawan; Gino Tioseco and Erwin Griño from Pangasinan; Rodel Dayoan and Emmanuel Peralta Jr. from Ilocos Sur; Michelle Diwa and Bengt Levin Quitoriano from Cagayan; Gromyko Semper from Nueva Ecija; Mark Joseph Beloria and John Paul Antido from Rizal; Resty Lopez from Baguio City; Alexis Benavidez, Roselle Antiqueño, and Mark Ugbinar from Cavite; Joseph Albao and Rashid Sandigan from Batangas; Melchor Bernaldo, Ryan Francisco Caslib, Emmanuel Robles, Jeff Andrew Estabillo, Ronwel Cruz, and Mark Christopher Quizon from Bulacan; Bernard Naorbe from Laguna; Joselito Casao and Augusto Paraiso from Occidental Mindoro; Ivan Geromo from Catanduanes; Jerome Cuison from Tarlac; and the Northern Luzon Naval Command from La Union.
Lloyd Lusica and Loie Guibone from Bohol represented the Visayas, along with Laurence Dee Tanate and the Local Government Unit of Tigbauan x TAGATIG from Iloilo. From Samar, the representatives were Eduardo Labana, Willfredo Labana, and Mayola John Lloyd, while Marianne Gonzales represented Southern Leyte. Reynan Dinoyo Dingal was from Cebu. From Negros Oriental, the representatives included Ace Gibson Bulandres Jerusalem, John Magne Lisondra, and Devine Tabig Mahinay.
Mindanao’s winning muralists included June Gallego from Mati, Davao Oriental; Virgil Aurillo from Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Deborah Arevalo and Rellieto Wate from Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte; Lebron Rey Ruiz, Jared Duplito, and Bryan Cabrera from Davao City; Rene Navalta Jr. from General Santos City; Ronald Tribugenia and the Surallah Artist Group from South Cotabato; Enrique Sanico from Sultan Kudarat; Jarren Dahan, Eugene Cañadilla, and Sherwin Rahj Biñas from Cotabato; Jose Jerry Gumanad Jr., Jeferson Balaobao, and Ian Ondong from Dipolog City; Crismiero Tamis from Butuan City; Edzon Dela Cruz from Cagayan de Oro; Walad Solaiman from Marawi City; and Kasmir Samdak from Sulu.
While discussions about the West Philippine Sea often emphasize territorial disputes and geopolitics, many winning entries highlighted themes of hope, livelihood, unity, cultural heritage, and sea stewardship. Interestingly, themes such as hope, livelihood, heritage, and community appeared more frequently than conflict, suggesting that many artists view the West Philippine Sea as a symbol of identity and opportunity rather than merely a geopolitical concern.
Titles such as Pangarap ng Pamamalakaya (Fishing for Dreams), Alon ng Pag-asa, Lambat ng Pag-asa, Karagatan, Tahanan, Karapatan, Pamana ng Bayan, Paninindigan ng Sambayanan, and Atin ang Pag-asa reflected a shared view of the sea as a source of life, opportunity, and national pride.
Several murals paid tribute to fisherfolk and coastal communities whose lives remain closely connected to the sea. Others drew inspiration from Philippine maritime history, indigenous traditions, the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map, the BRP Sierra Madre, and the country’s enduring identity as a seafaring nation.
Festival Founder Baby Ruth Villarama said, “When we launched this festival, we knew in our bones that the West Philippine Sea is more than a place on the map. It is part of our history, our livelihood, our identity, and our shared future. Not every Filipino will set foot in the West Philippine Sea, but every Filipino can help protect its story. Some will paint. Some will teach. Some will create. Some will simply start a conversation. We don’t all have the same role, but we all have a part to play in protecting its story.
This festival has revealed that patriotism begins with caring enough to participate. If more Filipinos walk away believing they have something meaningful to contribute, then every mural becomes a landmark not just of art, but of a nation choosing to remember, celebrate, and protect what it holds dear.”
The Top 100 murals will proceed to the People’s Choice Award, giving Filipinos a chance to select this year’s favorite. Voting will start in the coming weeks, encouraging everyone to support the artworks that inspire them most. By casting votes, sharing murals, and initiating conversations, Filipinos can help amplify the story of the West Philippine Sea through art.
The Top 100 finalists will also vie for the Grand Prize, with the winners to be announced during the Grand Finals in November 2026.
For updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/WPSMuralFestival
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Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
