The Philippines is marking the eighth anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award with a display of unity. A total of 220 murals now decorate walls across the country. These artworks transform the West Philippine Sea into a national canvas.
The West Philippine Sea Mural Festival spans from Aparri to Jolo. Murals appear in schools, markets, military camps, and municipal halls. Organizers have now selected the top 100 winning entries.
Each of the 100 winners will receive a ₱30,000 cash prize. These artists will now move to the final stage of the competition. They are competing for the ₱1 million grand prize.
Winning mural locations include Barangay Pag-asa in the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan. This placement puts the festival at the heart of the West Philippine Sea.
Festival Director AG Saño praised the national participation. “As someone who has spent years painting murals in communities across the Philippines, I was deeply moved by how people embraced this project,” Saño said. “What began as a call for artworks became a shared effort involving artists, schools, local governments, and ordinary citizens.”
The winners represent more than 40 cities and municipalities. Notable artists from the National Capital Region include Sim Tolentino, Samuel Peñaso, and Froilan Galpo. Other winners hail from provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
While the West Philippine Sea is often discussed in terms of geopolitics, the murals focus on different themes. Many winning entries depict hope, livelihood, unity, and cultural heritage. Artists frequently chose to portray the sea as a source of identity.
Titles such as “Pangarap ng Pamamalakaya” and “Atin ang Pag-asa” highlight national pride. The artworks honor local fisherfolk and coastal communities. Some murals reference the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map and the BRP Sierra Madre.
Festival Founder Baby Ruth Villarama highlighted the deeper purpose of the event. “When we launched this festival, we knew in our bones that the West Philippine Sea is more than a place on the map,” Villarama said. “It is part of our history, our livelihood, our identity, and our shared future.”
Villarama emphasized the role of every citizen in this mission. “Not every Filipino will set foot in the West Philippine Sea, but every Filipino can help protect its story,” she added. “Some will paint. Some will teach. Some will create. Some will simply start a conversation. We don’t all have the same role, but we all have a part to play in protecting its story.”
She continued, “This festival has revealed that patriotism begins with caring enough to participate. If more Filipinos walk away believing they have something meaningful to contribute, then every mural becomes a landmark not just of art, but of a nation choosing to remember, celebrate, and protect what it holds dear.”
The top 100 murals will now move to the People’s Choice Award stage. Voting will open in the coming weeks. The public is invited to support their favorite artworks. These murals will also compete for the grand prize. The final winners will be announced in November 2026.
