House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos is advocating for a national holiday or observance to commemorate the country’s historic arbitral victory over the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking in a television interview, Marcos endorsed the idea following the Quezon City Council’s decision to declare July 12 as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” within its jurisdiction, arguing that the celebration should extend across the entire country.
“Because it’s a national issue. I mean, it doesn’t pertain to hindi lang naman isang siyudad, hindi naman isang bayan,” Marcos stated.
“I think every Filipino — well for the most part — every Filipino will tell you that we have to assert our right [in the] West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Legislative efforts to establish the occasion are already present in Congress. In July 2025, House Bill 1626 was introduced by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Akbayan Party-list Reps. Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno, and Dadah Kiram Ismula, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, and Albay Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman.
The bill seeks to officially designate July 12 of each year as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day, though it currently remains pending in committee.
The proposed observance marks the anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s landmark July 12, 2016 ruling, which invalidated Beijing’s expansive nine-dash line claims in favor of the Philippines.
Despite the passage of a decade since the decision, Beijing continues to ignore the international ruling, with local fishermen still experiencing frequent harassment from Chinese maritime forces in the region.