West Philippine Sea: Pag-asa Island teacher shields kids from fear

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri loudly declares the Philippines’ ownership of Pag-asa Island during a visit to the area on March 16. PHOTO BY CHARIE ABARCA

PAG-ASA ISLAND, West Philippine Sea — Children playing, unbothered by unfamiliar visitors from distant Metro Manila, was the first sight that greeted a group of senators, journalists and defense officials here.

Some of the children would briefly glance at the camera, while others would playfully dance as their 34-year-old teacher, Aien Grace Prudenciado, was being interviewed by media.

During the interview with Prudenciado, Chinese vessels were seen loitering at least three to four nautical miles from the shores of this island, which already has a functioning Philippine municipality but which China also wants to gobble up.

From the shores of Pag-asa Island, Chinese vessels are visible. PHOTO CHARIE ABARCA

But this doesn’t seem to bother Prudenciado or her students.

“Yung may balita na may kaguluhan dyan, hindi namin alam. Nalalaman na lang namin kapag may balita sa mainland na napapanood po ng mga kamag anak namin,” Prudenciado said.

(The news that there is trouble there, we don’t know about it. We only become aware when there is news on the mainland that our relatives watch.)

Teacher Aien Grace Prudenciado sits down for an interview with journalists in Pag-asa Island on May 18. PHOTO BY CHARIE ABARCA

Teacher Aien Grace Prudenciado sits down for an interview with journalists in Pag-asa Island on May 18. PHOTO BY CHARIE ABARCA

Prudenciado hails from Quezon, Palawan and accepted the daunting task of teaching in a remote village here because she was looking for a “permanent” assignment.

Pag-asa Island is 280 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City — the mainland that Prudenciado was referring to.

A quick look at Kalayaan Group of Islands’ website would show that it takes at least 56 hours for seacraft from Puerto Princesa City to reach Pag-asa Island if it passes through Balabac Strait. A shorter route is available, but it would still take 27 hours to reach the island via Ulugan Bay.

At least 350 civilians are currently residing in this island.

“Magcha-chat po [sila] sa amin na mag ingat. [Tapos] napapaisip [kami] bakit? May ano ba? Doon lang po namin malaman na may ganoong issue,” Prudenciado told journalists.

(They will message us and ask us to take care of ourselves. Then we’ll think: Why? What’s happening? Only then will we be aware that there’s this kind of issue.)

She was apparently referring to noise caused by China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea and its creeping invasion of the Philippines.

The Chinese harassment followed government officials, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who came to the island on May 16 for the groundbreaking ceremony of two infrastructure projects in the area.

En route to the remote island, the aircraft carrying Zubiri’s party received a radio challenge from China.

Angered by the fact that Filipinos are being told to leave Philippine territory, the Senate chief boldly demanded that China leave the Philippines.

“Ito po ay teritoryo ng Republika ng Pilipinas! Hindi po inyo ito… lumayas na kayo,” he shouted.

(This territory is owned by the Republic of the Philippines. This is not yours…. leave!)

It was from this news that Prudenciado wanted to protect her students.

She said children would be better off not knowing about the conflict, believing it would only instill fear in their young minds..

“Much better po na hindi nila alam para hindi po sila makaramdam ng takot. Para at ease lang po sila na dito mag stay at mag aral. Siguro if malalaki na sila, it’s the time siguro na malalaman na po nila at maging aware po sila sa ganoon,” she said.

(It would be better if they don’t know about it for them not to feel fear. It’s for them to remain at ease to stay here and study. Maybe if they are old enough, they can be taught about it so that they become aware of the issue.)

For Prudenciado, the primary goal of teachers in the area was to ensure that students do not “get behind competencies,” considering how far away they are from the mainland.

READ: DND chief, 3 senators visit remote village in West PH Sea