The Philippine Territory Project aims to distribute the 1875 Carta General del Archipielago Filipino—a comprehensive map of the Philippines from the Spanish and American periods—to schools nationwide. This initiative seeks to educate younger generations about the nation’s territorial integrity and maritime zones, fostering a deeper understanding of history and national pride while contributing to the defense of the West Philippine Sea.

More than just a golf tournament, the Sigma Rho Golf Invitational serves as a platform to celebrate camaraderie and collaboration while supporting a cause of national significance. Participants will also have the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Justice Carpio, who will highlight the critical role of cartographic history in asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights.

Acknowledging Early Sponsors

The success of the Sigma Rho Golf Invitational 2024 is made possible through the generous support of its early sponsors. Sincere gratitude is extended to the following organizations and individuals for their commitment to this meaningful cause:

V&A Law

Manalo & Valenton Law

Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. 

Subic International Golf Club

Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA)

Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SONAME)

Alabang Country Club

Congressman Peter Calderon (7th District of Cebu)

Cocolife & Cocogen Insurance Inc.

Harbor Star Shipping

IMP Shipyard and Port Services

Associated Marine Officers’ and Seaman’s Union of the Philippines

Mr. Jose Boy Leonardo

Golden Anniversary of U.P. Sigma Rho

Hole-in-One of a Cobra Iron Set c/o JTen

Hole-in-One Toyota Alabang c/o CocoGen Insurance

Cnergee Kylledmed Philippines

Golf Depot, Inc,

Pocari Sweat

Search Mindscape Foundation, Inc.

Their contributions are vital to the realization of The Philippine Territory Project and the successful execution of this tournament.

Be Part of the Mission

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, providing a chance to make a significant impact in raising awareness and educating the next generation about the Philippines’ rich heritage and rightful territories.

For inquiries or sponsorship details, please contact sigmarhogolfinvitational@gmail.com.

To counter China’s aggressive claims in the West Philippine Sea, former Senior Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has three proposals.

In a speech delivered on the 8th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling regarding China’s enforcement of its ten-dash line, he proposed establishing a civilian presence in Ayungin Shoal.

He suggested the construction of a lighthouse and a substation operated by the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as a marine research center run by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

Carpio said this approach could fall under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Tribunal. He argued that if China blocks the delivery of construction materials to Ayungin Shoal, the Philippines could file another arbitration case for violating its exclusive right to erect structures within its exclusive economic zone.

The first proposal of the former justice was part of his broader speech on “Legal Approaches in Countering Chinese Aggression.”

Addressing the status of Ayungin Shoal, Carpio explained that the Arbitral Tribunal previously declined to order China to stop its harassment of Philippine resupply ships to BRP Sierra Madre, citing a lack of jurisdiction. By establishing a civilian presence at Ayungin Shoal, he argued, the Philippines could ensure that activities there fall under the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.

Referencing the 2016 ruling that designated Scarborough Shoal as a traditional common fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese fishermen, the former justice’s second proposal is for the Philippines to seek arbitration to establish rules for common fishing at the shoal.

Carpio predicted that China would likely boycott these proceedings, but that the Tribunal would issue an arbitral award favoring the Philippines’ proposed measures.

Emphasizing the need to challenge China’s claims through legal means, Carpio’s third proposal is to file multiple arbitration cases to invalidate China’s so-called ten-dash line.

“Today, China wants to invent another construct, I say good luck to them. The Philippines should proceed with the filing of the foregoing arbitration cases and pile up more arbitral awards against China to bury forever China’s baseless and expansive claim to almost the entire South China Sea,” he said.

“These arbitration cases are peaceful settlement of disputes between states in accordance with the UN Charter and in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he added.

Carpio noted the Philippine Government’s June 2024 filing before the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for an extended continental shelf claim beyond the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone off the coast of west Palawan.

China and Malaysia have opposed this claim, but under the Commission’s rules, any resolution to these overlapping claims would need to be settled through negotiation or arbitration. This, according to the former justice, sets the stage for another potential arbitration proceeding against China.

Carpio asserted that China “has no valid claim” to the areas in question, noting that its coastline, measured from Hainan, is more than 350 nautical miles away from the disputed regions involving the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Carpio warned that China continues to construct narratives to justify its expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea. He referred to China’s post-2016 construct, the “Four Shas” or “Four Archipelagos,” which attempts to claim expansive maritime zones for the Spratlys, Paracels, Pratas, and Macclesfield Bank—none of which meet UNCLOS requirements for archipelagos.

“Any new narrative construct that China invents will only be exposed as a fake or contrary to UNCLOS, or even both,” he said, urging the Philippines to continue filing arbitration cases to decisively counter China’s unfounded claims.

Carpio was part of the Philippine delegation that presented the case against China at The Hague in 2014.

The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, in partnership with Stratbase ADR Institute, organized a forum to discuss the the protection of Philippines’ marine resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from China’s unabated aggression and territorial expansion.

The event which was called “The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and its Implications on the South China Sea” was held on February 8, 2024, at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, unraveling the complexities of international maritime law, with a particular focus on the BBNJ Agreement and its impact on the dynamic region.

Both Filipino and Japanese experts agreed that international cooperation is vital in protecting marine resources in the South China Sea amid continuous destructive activities by an aggressive and coercive state.

Minister Kenichi Matsuda, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, delivered insightful remarks to kick-start the program. In his message, Minister Matsuda reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the rule of law and collaboration with like-minded partners in ensuring maritime freedom and environmental protection. “As enhancing the rule of law is one of Japan’s foreign policy pillars, we are determined to work together hand-in-hand with other like-minded partners, especially with the Philippines, to ensure that universally accepted values and principles,” Min. Matsuda highlights.

Meanwhile, Tohoku University International Law Professor Nishimoto Kentaro explained that the agreement will ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond a country’s national jurisdiction through international cooperation and coordination.

A panel discussion followed featuring prominent figures in the field, including Justice Antonio Carpio, former Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; Dr. Rhodora Azanza, Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and Former President of the National Academy of Science and Technology; and Dr. Mary Kristerie Baleva, Director for International Affairs and Treaties at the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. The panelists engaged in an enriching exchange of ideas, providing diverse perspectives on the implications of the BBNJ Agreement in the South China Sea. Closing the roundtable, Prof. Victor Andres Manhit, President of the Stratbase ADR Institute, expressed gratitude for the insightful contributions and discussions.

For international think tank Stratbase Institute’s President Dindo Manhit, he noted that despite laws to protect maritime territories and their resources, issues continue to persist in the West Philippine Sea.

“As an archipelagic nation, the Philippines understands the value of countering biodiversity loss and protecting marine resources from degradation… in 2023, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported the massive illegal coral harvesting in Rozul Reef and the dumping of dead corals at Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea. The Stratbase ADR Institute considers these as acts of aggression and coercion,” Manhit said.

Manhit agreed that states are expected to protect the marine environment beyond their country’s jurisdiction.

“The depths of the ocean call on the international community to work together in protecting shared marine resources. Let us equip ourselves with the knowledge and share technical expertise to protect the global common. ” Manhit explained.

“Such cooperation contributes to strengthening the rules-based international order that has so far fostered peace and stability in international relations,” he added.

Looking ahead, Manhit said the challenge lies in sustaining states’ commitment to the BBNJ agreement and ensuring the successful attainment of its objectives.

“Our united stance in caring for our waters reflects our deep interconnectedness, transcending national borders. Let us remain committed to the conservation and sustainability of marine resources. Together, let us protect our interconnected waters beyond national jurisdiction,” Manhit said.

Minister Matsuda assured the Philippines of Japan’s unwavering commitment to the uphold international rule of law to prevail.

“Amidst this growing instability, Japan remains undeterred with its commitment to create an international community upholding the rule of the law. As enhancing the rule of law is one of Japan’s foreign policy pillars, we are determined to work together hand-in-hand with other like-minded partners, especially with the Philippines, to ensure that universally accepted values and principles,” Matsuda said.

“Guided by the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Japan strives to ensure the freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas, the protection and preservation of the maritime environment, and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.

In an ideal scenario, we would be celebrating how a Filipino firm has nearly completed its acquisition of 90 percent of the Malampaya natural gas project in offshore Palawan – the remaining 10 percent controlled by our own Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC).

Having gone through half a century, from exploration to fruition, the Malampaya is dubbed as the biggest indigenous energy success story in our history; and might, rightfully so, end up being fully Philippine-owned.

Romantic as this may sound, the bulk acquisition of Malampaya consortium shares by Dennis Uy’s Udenna holding company, could be the shallow end of the deal for what’s left of the deep water gas-to-power project and the future of our country’s energy security as well as our national security.

It’s true that at first glance – especially for those reading the developments into this deal with glassy political eyes – all the alarm bells and pessimism painted over this acquisition is merely rooted on distrust in Uy and his diecast friendship with President Duterte and administration guards like Energy Secretary Al Cusi himself.

Added cynicism enters the picture when distinguished gentlemen known for their distaste for the Duterte regime like, for example, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio are the ones eloquently telling the Filipino people that this is a bad deal.

I wish that, for a moment, we as electricity consumers could go beyond the TikTok briefs and partisan takes on what this Udenna acquisition of Malampaya is all about. It’s my belief that in order to understand the implications of this deal, even our suspicions – however obvious – that this was a “midnight deal,” a “lutong macau” (as Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian calls it), a “Pharmally case in the energy sector,” and a prelude to “an eventual Chinese acquisition” should be suspended.

Perhaps, for us Filipinos to think clearly, these “conspiracy theories” could take a back seat for now and allow ourselves to seek the answers to much simpler questions – queries like: “Is Udenna really qualified to manage Malampaya?” Remember, this is not one of Uy’s Conti’s outlets selling pastries; but a technically complex venture that required a consortium of globally-experienced offshore gas exploration enterprises to develop it in three phases over two decades.

“How is Udenna financially?” Of course, for such a multi-billion venture Uy had to obtain loans from three international banks. And that’s on top of what had been published of Udenna’s interest-bearing loans of P85.8 billion as of end-2017.

It’s for this reason that energy sector experts question why government did not step in to get the deal from Shell and Chevron, instead, since PNOC-EC was already in with its 10-percent stake. Government could have secured the loan to be in the position in Udenna is now in, reap the profits, and ensure Malampaya is managed with the nation’s best interests at heart.

But my malicious mind thinks that while we Filipinos are thinking about how to survive the pandemic that started in China – a virus that has claimed many lives and forced many companies to close down – Udenna is taking advantage of this unfortunate situation. I’m thinking Duterte’s favorite crony has controlled several geese that lay golden eggs every 15 minutes since his master pal’s ascent to power. Hence, the greedy buying spree goes on unmindful of the people’s suffering.

If you ask around, especially among those who knew Uy back in high school and college, they’d tell you how shocked they are at his unlimited stock of cash. Hence, his impulse buy is uncontrollable, a male Imelda Marcos if you will. His megalomanic buying spree, so I heard, makes him thirst to buy some government-owned corporations and take control of them beyond Duterte’s term for him to maintain some power over state interests.

Going back to the issue of Malampaya, my third question: “What drives Udenna to buy into this deal?” If it is profit, then we’re certainly doomed for higher electricity prices. Let’s be wary of the hand that rocks Malampaya.