DFA Joins Nationwide Commemoration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month 2024 with Blue Illumination of Its Main Building

PASAY CITY 23 September 2024 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) launched its participation in the nationwide commemoration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) 2024 with the blue illumination of its main building’s facade along Roxas Boulevard, symbolizing the country’s pledge as a responsible maritime and archipelagic nation and reaffirming the Philippines' enduring commitment to safeguarding its maritime heritage, promoting sustainable development of marine resources, and upholding the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its maritime entitlements. 

To complement this external spectacle, the DFA main lobby also features an entire wall devoted to the projection of videos of maritime-related materials and information about MANA Mo, further raising awareness among the public and DFA personnel. 

This year’s theme, “Pamana ng Karagatan: Ating Ingatan Para sa Kinabukasan” (Heritage of the Ocean: For our Future, Let’s Take Care of It), highlights the collective responsibility of every Filipino to protect the country’s maritime and archipelagic legacy. This year’s commemoration aligns with the DFA’s public diplomacy objectives, aiming to raise awareness, domestically and overseas, on the importance of the Philippines' maritime positions particularly in the West Philippine Sea / South China Sea. 

Foreign service posts—embassies, consulates, and missions worldwide—are gearing up to conduct their own MANA Mo celebrations, focused on engaging overseas Filipinos and foreign audiences. Likewise, DFA consular posts across the country will implement activities to foster greater public awareness of maritime issues among domestic audiences.

DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis M. Alferez underscored the importance of the Department’s MANA Mo commemoration stating that, "we always seek to empower every Filipino to become an ambassador for our cause, fostering a profound national consciousness of our interests, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. The support of our citizens fuels our foreign policy and strengthens our position in upholding a rules-based international order."

Through exhibits, public forums, educational campaigns, and partnerships with maritime stakeholders, the DFA seeks to inform citizens and the global community about the importance of collectively addressing various contemporary maritime concerns. These efforts not only deepen national consciousness but also help garner broader international support for the Philippines' positions on critical maritime issues.

For more information about DFA’s activities for MANA Mo 2024, please visit the DFA’s MANAMo website at https://sites.google.com/dfa.gov.ph/manamo  which features links to other microsites on the Archipelagic Doctrine and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. END