Mary, Star of the (West PH) Sea

Star of the Sea, Stella Maris (Latin), Tala ng Karagatan (Filipino) is only one of the many honorific titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. During this Marian month of May, fiestas and devotions are held in her honor, the Philippines being known as “pueblo amante de Maria (a nation that loves Mary).” But more than just tradition-driven, love for Mary is genuine affection.

But it is also reported early this Marian month that a Philippine military resupply mission sailing to Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) got its worst attack from China’s coast guard. This and what Filipino fishermen have been suffering from China’s attacks in recent years because of the China-enamored Duterte administration. (In exchange for what?)

Very strong water cannon blasts were aimed at the Philippine military vessel and, in what looked like deliberate provocation, hit at the Philippine flag and almost battered it to smithereens. The recorded attack right in the Philippines’ own territory, our exclusive economic zone, should be the last straw. It was the banner story in mainstream media. Filipino netizens fumed.

Last Wednesday, activists and fishermen from the coastal towns facing the WPS embarked on the second supply mission to aid fishermen in the area. Sailing off from Zambales, a flotilla of ships and over a hundred of fishing boats headed for Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc). Spearheaded by the “Atin Ito” (This is Ours) coalition of civil society groups, the two-day voyage to disputed waters is an act of daring and defiance. Activist Fr. Robert Reyes was in the group and with him was a statue of Mary, Star of the Sea. (I am writing this piece while awaiting news about the outcome of the voyage that began on May 15 and was expected to end yesterday. A Chinese blockade has been breached!)

For the nonce, let us talk Marian in the context of geopolitics and economics involved in this Philippines-China conflict, this David and Goliath face-off with the WPS as flash point.

The biblical character that is Mary has figured in at least two do-or-die historic naval battles of easy recall. One was the October 1571 Battle of Lepanto where the Holy League states in Europe organized by Pope Pius V clashed with forces of the Ottoman Empire. The other was the Oct. 4, 1646 Battle in Manila Bay (henceforth called La Naval de Manila) between the Spanish navy of our colonizer and the interloping Dutch naval forces. In both battles, the forces invoking Mary as protector routed the opponent. That was how stories about these historic events came down to us.

Footnotes: Acclaimed Filipino artist Juan Luna painted the “Battle of Lepanto” (one of his huge epic canvases) which remains in Spain. National Artist Nick Joaquin wrote a book on La Naval de Manila. Every second Sunday of October is the Feast of the Virgin of La Naval, celebrated with pomp and piety in the Dominican-run Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. In the Philippines, rivers and coastal waters figure in Marian celebrations.

The ancient Marian title “Stella Maris” dates back to St. Jerome in the 5th century. Benedictine Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote of Mary: “If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call on Mary.” Mary is the North Star, so to speak, a beacon in turbulent waters.

Mary, Star of the Sea, is considered the patroness of seafarers. Many coastal parishes around the world are named after her. By the way, the Catholic Church in the Philippines has a ministry called Apostleship of the Sea for Filipino seafarers which might as well have Mary as patroness. Speaking of China’s covetous eyes on Philippine territory, and whether you are a Marian devotee or not, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace was supposed to have warned about China in her 1948 revelations to postulant Teresita Castillo of the Carmelite monastery in Lipa. (I had written about this.) The Catholic Church hierarchy then and now would have nothing of it. Still, it is intriguing how, in 1948 or 76 years ago, when the Philippines was not even a gleam in the eyes of Mao Tse-tung, China coveting Philippine territory would figure in the revelations.

Filipino fishermen being stalked, water-bombed, and driven away from their own fishing grounds might find refuge in Mary, Star of the Sea, during this Marian month and beyond. A recent cause for concern is that Chinese nationals in large numbers have suddenly and surreptitiously gained foothold in pueblo amante de Maria, our corals are being pulverized, prized giant clams stolen, black sand being hauled while we are not looking, and politicians are playing footsies with the enemy at the gates. But the battle for our territorial waters, to protect our marine sanctuaries and fishing grounds would take more than just political will, military power, rhetoric and diplomatic maneuverings. As in Lepanto and Manila Bay, heavenly intervention would be needed.

Ave Maris Stella, Dei Mater alma … A hymn in Filipino, please.

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