ATIN ITO
During its 11th Sangguniang Panlalawigan last May 23, the provincial government of Bulacan honored the courage and actions of the Atin Ito Coalition by passing a resolution expressing “strong solidarity and support.”
The resolution was authored and sponsored by SP Member Arthur Legaspi. Key provincial officials and representatives from all six districts were present. In attendance during the session were: Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, 1st District Board Member Romina Fermin, 2nd District Board Member Attorney Erlene dela Cruz, 3rd District Board Members RC Castro and Raul Mariano, 4th District Board Member Jonjon delos Santos, 5th District Board Members Richard Roque and Caesar Mendoza, and 6th District Board Members Jay de Guzman and Arthur Legaspi.
Ex officio members BM Ramil Capistrano, BM William Villarica, BM Casey Howard, and BM and Indigenous People’s Representative Liberato Sembrano also graced the event.
For their part, the Atin Ito Coalition was represented by Akbayan Party President and Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David, Atin Ito co-convenor and President of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) Edicio Dela Torre, Mr. Leonardo “Ka Nards” Cuaresma, President of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, and Mau Ignatio, President of Mabayo Agri Aqua Association in Bataan. With them as well were Frank Jhester Araneta from the Student Council Association of the Philippines, (SCAP) along with SCAP Spokesperson Matthew Silverio, Ms. Jenny Jabon of Akbayan Youth, and Mr. Emman Hizon, Atin Ito co-convenor.
The resolution hailed the actions of the Atin Ito Coalition members and lauded the success of the group’s civilian-led missions to the West Philippine Sea. It acknowledged the courage of the members “who put their lives and safety at risk…in order to protect the livelihood of thousands of Filipino fishermen and ensure every Filipino the perpetual freedom of navigating the entire Exclusive Economic (EEZ) of the Philippines.”
It also saluted the peaceful civilian-led nature of Atin Ito’s mission and praised the coalition’s ability to bring people from various cause-oriented groups together. Atin Ito expressed gratitude for the resolution.
“We are humbled and honored by this gesture from the Bulacan Provincial Government. This will inspire us to continue our mission, and sustain our resolve as we do our part to assert what rightfully belongs to our country under international law,” said Akbayan Party President and Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David.
She went on to acknowledge all the fellow members of the coalition and stressed that the way forward for both the West Philippine Sea and the country lay in multi-faceted cooperation.
“One of the most significant lessons of these missions for us is that nothing is impossible if we all come together as one people. When we rally behind a shared vision and a common goal, the Filipino people are unstoppable. Thank you to the provincial government of Bulacan. We will carry on,” David said.
