The WPS Mural Festival 2026 officially launched on 10 February 2026 at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City. Organized by the We Protect our Seas (WPS) Foundation, the national art event collaborates with artists, cultural institutions, government agencies, and civil society to raise public awareness on Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. The festival uses visual arts to foster unity and highlight the region’s significance to Filipino memory, livelihood, heritage, and shared responsibility.

The event welcomed participation from individual artists, artist groups, schools, local government units (LGUs), and art collectives. Attendees joined a community mural activity, coloring a large sample mural at the event’s center. Selected artworks will be displayed in public spaces and featured in a traveling exhibit nationwide. Paintings on display are available for purchase, with 30% of proceeds funding the festival and related causes.

The Artists’ Welfare Project Inc. (AWPI), an SEC-certified NGO, facilitated the festival. AWPI empowers Filipino artists through capacity-building programs and advocacy for their rights and welfare in healthcare, housing, and legal matters. Festival organizers emphasized its motto: “Your Art. Our Seas. One Shared Future.”

By blending public art with national messaging, the festival aims to reinforce the Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea amid ongoing tensions involving China, the Philippine Navy, and Philippine Coast Guard. The event underscores the role of visual storytelling in connecting cultural identity with territorial sovereignty on a global stage.