The ‘Atin Ito’ Coalition successfully launched its peace concert by the West Philippine Sea near Pag-asa Island on Wednesday, featuring a vibrant lineup of musical talents from the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The event, which began at 1:00 p.m., was moved indoors to the training bridge of the T/S Felix Oca due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Among the performers were the Filipino rap collective Morobeats, P-pop group HORI7ON, Indonesian and Malaysian artists Viona and Kai Mata, and the South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond.
Earlier, the coalition hosted a pre-departure concert in El Nido, Palawan, aboard the same vessel. Notable Filipino artists Noel Cabangon and Ebe Dancel headlined the event.
The concert proceeds as the coalition reported that two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels tracked its ship during a civilian mission to Pagasa Island on Tuesday morning.
According to the coalition’s update, CCG 3306 and CCG 21549 followed the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca approximately 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan.
“CCG 3306 is 3 NM from Atin Ito ship while the other one, CCG 21549, is 5 NM away from the Atin Ito ship,” the coalition said.
The Atin Ito Coalition noted that Chinese and Philippine forces exchanged radio challenges during the mission.
Volunteers from Atin Ito had arrived in El Nido on Monday to begin their third civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which is set to conclude with a concert near Pagasa Island. The mission is scheduled to run from May 26 to 30.
Beyond the concerts, the Atin Ito Coalition is committed to supporting the local community. They plan to distribute free fuel to the fisherfolk of Pag-asa Islands.
This marks another milestone for the coalition, which conducted its second civilian mission in the West Philippine Sea on May 16 of last year. The first supply mission was completed in December 2023.
