Pagasa Island: The Philippines’ Last Frontier in the South China Sea
In the heart of the South China Sea lies a quiet but powerful symbol of Philippine sovereignty — Pagasa Island. Meaning “hope” in Filipino, Pagasa is more than just a name. It’s a frontline of resilience in one of the world’s most contested maritime zones. Pagasa Island is small, covering just 37 hectares — about the size of London’s Buckingham Palace. Yet it’s the largest of the Philippines’ nine outposts in the Spratly Islands and the only one with a civilian community. About 300 residents call it home. Life here is simple and tough, with limited infrastructure, erratic supplies, and constant reminders of geopolitical tension just offshore. Despite its modest appearance — a dirt airstrip, a small school, a clinic, and basic homes — Pagasa holds enormous strategic value. It generates its own 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, bolstering the Philippines’ maritime claims in a region rich in fish, oil, and gas. Just 25 kilometers away, China looms — quite literally. The Chinese mi...