MANILA – A Filipino travel enthusiast has waved the Philippine flag at a sandbar of the contested Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea despite the presence of China Coast Guard vessels.

Cheenie Landayan, who is fond of visiting unexplored spots in the Philippines, went to Pag-asa from May 6 to 11 with a group of tourists.

Their travel tour vessel was also shadowed by China Coast Guard on their way to Pag-asa, she said.

“Yes, nagawa namin! Nagawa namin,” Landayan said in a virtual interview with ABS-CBN on Tuesday.

“Ang galing, ang galing ng moment. Atin ‘tong sandy Cay na ito. Atin ‘tong Spratlys, iyon ‘yong feeling.”

China is claiming Pag-asa, an island in the Kalayaan chain or Spratlys at least 285 nautical miles from Palawan. Manila has long established a military and civilian presence in the area.

Landayan said she was advised to practice caution in the sandy cay by Filipino fishermen who accompanied her.

“Nakakatakot, siyempre. Nakakanginig din ng tuhod ‘yong experience kasi doon pa lang makita mo may mga Chinese vessels nga na puwedeng pumunta agad, puwede kaming habulin,” she said.

Her travel group witnessed recent festivities in Pag-asa, which included a sports fest, beauty pageant, fun run, and parade, among others.

“Maganda na napupuntahan siya ng mga local travelers, ng mga Pinoy. Limited kasi ‘yong nakikita natin sa media. Konti lang din ‘yong nako-cover. Iba kasi ‘yong first-hand experience,” Landayan said.

The group also waved the Philippine flag in Pag-asa during the trip.

However, behind the smiles and welcoming atmosphere of the Pag-asa community, the devastation to the marine ecosystem is evident, Landayan said. 

“Parang 95 percent ng corals ay wala na, patay ang mga corals,” Landayan said. “Sirang-sira talaga ‘yong mga corals.”

PCG: Escoda Shoal in sorry state after coral dumping for reclamation attempt

The Philippine Coast Guard is blaming China for the sorry state of the environment, noting that the degradation of marine life in Pag-asa was a result of China’s reclamation activities.

Prof. Jonathan Anticamara of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology earlier said Pag-asa is now in “degraded states” with “low coral and fish diversity and abundance.”

A “pile of sand and rubble” were also seen that supposedly indicates island-building activities.

Beijing has denied the reclamation accusation. 

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