Filipino troops keep spirits high on ‘lonely island’
FRONT SEAT | Marines posted at remote Mavulis island some 140 kilometers from Taiwan say they are “happy for the opportunity to be here.” (Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MAVULIS ISLAND, Batanes, Philippines —The Philippines’ front line in the north is a remote island made up of rocky cliffs that jut out of choppy waters adjacent to the Bashi Channel, the waterway that separates the country from Taiwan.
A handful of sailors and Marines deployed on Mavulis call this tiny parcel of land a “lonely island,” on which they stand guard as the Philippines’ first responders should it get dragged into a conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.
But for now, the Filipinos’ main enemy here — besides the rough terrain and harsh conditions — is the isolation.
For Petty Officer First Class Jesse Belostrino, one of the troops assigned to Mavulis, living in spartan conditions and under a constant threat of danger was part and parcel of what they had signed up for as soldiers.
Mavulis Island (Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
“When we entered the service, we set aside our fears. We’re grateful for the trust to be sent here and do something for the country,” he told the Inquirer.
Belostrino admitted struggling with loneliness at times. But “as a soldier, it’s normal to be far from one’s family. As a professional soldier, we only need to perform our duty, and we’re happy for the opportunity to be here,” he said.
Troops here rotate every month, but each shift could go on longer as a result of unpredictable weather. Food and drinking water also pose a problem when resupply missions fall behind schedule. Ships, after all, can’t come close to the rocky shores and the seas become treacherous during monsoon season.
The intermittent internet connection also makes communications to the headquarters and to their loved ones a challenge.
But Belostrino said this was already being addressed by the military leadership.
Mavulis Island (Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Act of sovereignty
It was only in 2019 when the Philippines started occupying the country’s northernmost island—located some 140 kilometers from Taiwan’s southern tip — as an act of sovereignty. A Marine base and a fisherman’s shelter have been built to maintain the country’s presence here.
Belostrino said part of the troops’ job was to monitor commercial and military vessels passing through and report their movements back to headquarters. So far, they have not felt the tensions despite China’s increasing military activities around Taiwan.
Mavulis overlooks the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway that is part of the Luzon Strait and home to several undersea cables.
Mavulis Island (Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
“It is a gateway between the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. In a conflict scenario, both the US and China need to establish sea control of the channel,” former Philippine Navy Vice Commander Rommel Ong told the Inquirer.
Such a choke point is crucial in case of war, he added.
Analysts say Taiwan is a potential flashpoint in US-China relations, with Washington as the island’s most important backer.
But concerns are mounting that Beijing may soon invade Taipei and that Manila would get caught in the crossfire or get involved as a party of a US-led alliance.
Defending Batanes
Mavulis Island (Photo by FRANCES MANGOSING / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
In April, Filipino troops trained with their American counterparts in defending the Batanes archipelago (where Mavulis belongs) from potential aggressors.
Its proximity to Taiwan and prevailing regional tensions make Mavulis top of mind for the Philippine military leadership.
On June 26, the Inquirer joined a visit by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Northern Luzon Command (AFP Nolcom) to check on the conditions of the deployed troops.
“The AFP prioritizes them and sees to it that they have everything. [We will provide them] everything in order for them to stay here and give their best,” said Nolcom deputy commander Commodore Karl Decapia.
“We are here to secure this part of the nation from all kinds of threats from the outside,” he added. “We have prepared a contingency plan for this. The AFP is ready.”
