TLDR;
The documentary explores the Philippines’ claims in the Spratly Islands and the West Philippine Sea, focusing on Pag-asa Island and the people who live there. It traces the history of the islands, presents legal arguments based on old maps and treaties, and explains why the region matters for fishing, shipping and energy. It also shows the pressures faced by residents, fishermen, researchers and Philippine personnel amid China’s growing presence.
- Pag-asa Island is a remote Philippine municipality with a civilian community that helps maintain the country’s presence in the disputed area.
- The South China Sea is important for global trade, fisheries and potential oil and natural gas reserves.
- Philippine claims are supported by historical maps and agreements, while an international tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s “nine-dash line” had no legal basis.
- Residents face limited healthcare and education, while fishers report intimidation and scientists document severe coral decline.
- The documentary argues that upholding Philippine rights requires international law, diplomatic partnerships and the continued presence of people in the islands.
The Forgotten Freedomland and Today’s Maritime Tensions [0:00]
In 1956, Filipino sailors led by businessman and lawyer Tomas Cloma reached remote islands in the South China Sea after a long and dangerous voyage. They claimed the territory and declared a new micronation called Freedomland, but other countries, including the Philippines, did not recognise it. Cloma later transferred the territory to the Philippines for one peso, and the government established the municipality of Kalayaan in 1978.
Nearly seven decades later, tensions continue over the Spratly Islands and the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines needs the region’s natural resources, but its claims face opposition from several countries, especially China. The documentary sets out to examine the history, legal arguments and lives of the people who remain in the disputed area.
The Journey to Pag-asa Island [2:57]
Pag-asa Island lies about 508 kilometres from Puerto Princesa and is one of seven small islands in the municipality of Kalayaan. The reporting team begins its journey in Bataraza, Palawan, travelling aboard the government-owned wooden launch Queen Seagull rather than modern Philippine Coast Guard patrol ships. The vessel is cramped, hot and poorly equipped, and the trip takes roughly two days, depending on the weather.
Captain Nor Flor Verdeflor has spent decades sailing these waters. He recalls being blocked by a Chinese warship while travelling to Pag-asa, despite being aboard a civilian vessel. Near Sabina Shoal, the crew can see distant lights that may belong to Chinese militia vessels, but the launch lacks equipment to identify them with certainty. The wooden boat’s vulnerability makes the voyage feel especially precarious, yet Verdeflor continues because he sees the work as a way to serve and defend the Philippines.
Why the Spratlys Matter [10:28]
Pag-asa initially looks like a peaceful tropical retreat, but a Chinese coast guard vessel is visible near the island, making the disputed setting impossible to ignore. The Spratly Islands lie in the South China Sea, a major international shipping route carrying an estimated US$5.3 trillion in goods each year. Control over this waterway therefore has consequences for economies in Asia, the Americas and Europe.
The area is also exceptionally important for fishing. Although the South China Sea represents only about 2.5% of the world’s ocean surface, it produces an estimated 12% of the global fish catch, partly because its reefs provide spawning and nursery grounds for fish. In addition to these marine resources, the seabed is believed to contain significant oil and natural gas reserves, adding to the competition among countries.
Pag-asa’s Residents and Their Daily Lives [13:09]
After Cloma transferred his claim, the Philippine government formed Kalayaan municipality in 1978. Pag-asa is the only island in the municipality with a civilian population, and more than 200 people live there. Fisherman Mang Lari arrived in 2009 as a construction worker and stayed; he has seen major improvements, including round-the-clock electricity and a better runway. The island covers just 37 hectares, yet its runway is longer than the island itself, and planes now land around three or four times a month.
Residents still face restrictions on where they can fish. Mang Lari says Chinese vessels block access to fishing grounds, and he describes one incident in which a Chinese ship approached his boat at high speed before stopping in front of him. Similar intimidation and dangerous encounters have been reported elsewhere in the West Philippine Sea.
The government provides practical support, including monthly rice allocations, inexpensive electricity, free water, housing without rent and public Wi-Fi. But life remains difficult: the health centre has nurses and a midwife but no doctor, and serious cases must be taken to hospitals on the mainland. The school has only four teachers and one classroom for six grade levels, from kindergarten to Grade 10. Teachers manage combined classes, while students are described as diligent and highly visible in the small island community.
China’s Claims and the Philippines’ Legal Case [19:15]
China bases much of its claim to the South China Sea on the “nine-dash line”, which encloses a large portion of the water and includes the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal, known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc. China has also built artificial islands on reefs, including Subi Reef, about 27 kilometres from Pag-asa, and Mischief Reef, about 233 kilometres from Palawan, where it has established military facilities.
In 2016, an arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s nine-dash line had no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ruling affirmed the Philippines’ rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the maritime area extending up to 200 nautical miles—about 370 kilometres—from the country’s coasts. China rejected the tribunal’s decision.
Former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio argues that the Philippines has a strong historical case for claiming the Spratlys. He points to the Murillo Velarde map, published in 1734, which includes Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly area under historical names. Spanish maps continued to show these features, and the United States relied on Philippine maps when it acquired the Philippines from Spain in 1898 under the Treaty of Paris. However, the treaty’s boundaries did not include Scarborough Shoal and the Spratlys, which led to the Treaty of Washington, a later agreement that addressed islands outside those lines. Carpio says this agreement has been overlooked in the Philippines’ presentation of its claim. He recommends pursuing voluntary arbitration with China, Vietnam and Malaysia, arguing that refusal to arbitrate would itself indicate a weak case.
Patrols, Reefs and the Cost of Protecting the Territory [31:10]
The team visits Sandy Cay 1, a small sandbar about 3.8 kilometres from Pag-asa. Chinese coast guard vessels monitor their movements, repeatedly issuing radio challenges. Philippine Navy personnel respond by stating that the group is within Philippine territorial waters in the municipality of Kalayaan. Even staying on a small sandbar becomes an act of demonstrating the Philippines’ presence and rights.
The reporting team also examines nearby reefs and finds that much of the coral is dead, with relatively few fish remaining. Fishermen say they still catch some fish, but they also report Vietnamese boats fishing in the area, including at night. Marine scientists describe a substantial fall in coral cover between surveys, though the gap between some research visits makes it difficult to identify exactly when or why the decline occurred. Research is further complicated by geopolitical tensions, which limit access and make collaboration with scientists from other countries harder.
Natural Gas, Energy Security and Relations with China [36:45]
The documentary links the territorial dispute to the Philippines’ future energy needs. Natural gas from the Malampaya field supplies about 35–40% of Luzon’s electricity, but it is expected to run out within roughly one to eight years. Without a replacement, one estimate suggests Luzon could face 12–14 hours of power cuts each day, severely damaging the economy.
Reed Bank, also called Recto Bank, is believed to contain natural gas reserves estimated at three times the size of Malampaya. Carpio says the decisive test of the government’s approach will be whether the Philippines can secure access to that gas. He argues that international law helps smaller countries stand on equal footing with larger ones, and that the Philippines should use alliances and partnerships while balancing its political disagreements with China against its economic ties and role as a neighbour. He says closer economic alignment with China did not produce sufficient benefits for the Philippines under the previous administration.
Sandy Cay 2 and the People Who Sustain Pag-asa [40:32]
The Philippine Navy and Coast Guard make another attempt to assert the country’s presence near Sandy Cay 2, about six kilometres from Pag-asa. The group plans to approach via Sandy Cay 1 before changing course, anticipating a challenge from the Chinese coast guard. As the vessel reaches shallower water on the reef, the larger Chinese ship cannot follow as closely, allowing the Philippine team to continue.
The documentary concludes that every island, reef and stretch of sea in the Kalayaan group is part of an ongoing struggle over sovereignty. The people maintaining the Philippine presence are not only uniformed personnel but also fishermen, teachers, healthcare workers and other residents. Their decision to remain on Pag-asa despite isolation and hardship is presented as a form of civic commitment and a practical way of sustaining the country’s claim.
