13 July 2026 – The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award through a flag-raising ceremony held at the Consulate, joined by members of the Filipino community and applicants availing of consular services. The event marked the landmark ruling issued on 12 July 2016 under the dispute settlement mechanism of 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
During the ceremony, Deputy Consul General Victorio Dimagiba, Jr. shared the message of Secretary Eduardo SL Oban Jr., National Security Adviser and Chair, National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of every Filipino who continues to safeguard the Philippines’ maritime interests.
Before the conclusion of the ceremony, Consul General Emma Sarne encouraged Filipinos in Alberta and Saskatchewan to mark the anniversary by learning more about the 2016 Arbitral Award and the principles of international law it affirms. She noted that regardless of where Filipinos may live, remaining informed about issues of national importance, such as the Award, is a meaningful way of contributing to the country’s continued advocacy for the peaceful and rules-based settlement of disputes. END
