Mass in West Philippine Sea: Pray for peace, pray for sovereignty

ON BOARD THE KAPITAN FELIX OCA – Even while in prayer, the sight of two Chinese warships and a coast guard vessel seemingly bearing on them was too much to ignore for fisherfolk and volunteers attending a mass being celebrated by Fr. Robert Reyes on board the MV Kapitan Felix Oca, lead ship of the Christmas convoy in the West Philippine Sea, which was forced to cut short its voyage.

The ship, under the command of Capt. Jorge dela Cruz, made a hard 180-degree turn toward mainland Palawan, to the surprise of many on board comprising organizers of the Atin Ito Coalition, volunteers and fisherfolk, as well as members of the media.

The ship was leading a convoy of some 30 smaller vessels on a mission to deliver Christmas goodies and provisions to small island communities as well as to dramatize the Filipinos’ determination to assert the country’s sovereignty over its territorial waters.

Some 30 minutes before Father Reyes began the mass at 4:30 p.m., passengers of the 55-year-old maritime training vessel were just waiting and relaxing when members of the media noticed a boat cruising at a distance on the left side of the ship.

It turned out to be Chinese destroyer Changsha 173, estimated to be only five nautical miles from Felix Oca’s position.

It was the first of two Chinese military ships that circled the Felix Oca. A Chinese Coast Guard vessel also appeared on the starboard side.

Father Reyes started the mass on the ship’s deck in front of a life-sized nativity scene despite all the frenzy. He started the mass with a message that there can never be peace in the WPS as long as Chinese ships insist on staying and claiming Philippine territorial waters.

“At this mass, let us pray for peace, let us pray for the gift of sovereignty,” he said, urging the faithful for a special Christmas prayer for “the gift of peace and the gift of recognition and respect for our sovereignty.” The Gospel reading was about John the Baptist calling for repentance.

“We might all get wet later on, tubig lang yan, basta tubig lang (as long as it’s just water),” he even jested as he talked about the beauty of Palawan, considered the country’s last frontier.

It was in the middle of his homily