Pag-asa Island soon to have its first Catholic church
Work will soon begin for the construction of a Catholic church on Pag-asa (Thitu) Island for its permanent residents, as the government continues to reinforce Filipino presence in the West Philippine Sea.
“The primary objective is to fulfill and nurture the spiritual needs of our local residents,” Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a statement reporting the groundbreaking rites held on Saturday morning.
Tarriela also described the project as symbolic of the “hope, resilience and unity” of the small community of Filipinos living on the island, where Chinese vessels have also been a constant presence in the surrounding waters.
‘Worth fighting for’
“This endeavor underscores a profound truth: that Pag-asa Island is unequivocally worth fighting for and defending,” he added.
“It sends a clear and enduring message that this island is not just a strategic outpost, but a living, breathing community deserving the protection from our government,” said Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea.
Pag-asa Island is the largest Philippine-occupied feature in the Spratly island chain and serves as the seat of government of the municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan.
It lies about 528 kilometers west of Palawan and currently home to more than 500 residents.
The area has long been a flash point of recurring tensions between Manila and Beijing, which claims nearly the entire South China Sea.
China continues to reject the landmark 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping maritime claims and upheld Philippine sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, the name given to parts of the SCS that are within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Recent upgrades
The groundbreaking ceremony for the church was attended by Bishop Socrates Mesiona, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and representatives of the Palawan local government and of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.
Officials framed the construction of the church as part of broader efforts to strengthen normalcy and community life on the island. Pag-asa has seen major infrastructure upgrades of late, including improvements to its airstrip, housing and other service facilities.
Tarriela said the church would serve as a place of worship and reflection for residents facing the challenges of living in a remote and strategically sensitive area.
The initiative sends a message that Pag-asa Island is not only a military outpost but a functioning community that the government intends to sustain and protect, he said.
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