A Philippine Marine Corps reservist from North Luzon combined patriotism and environmental advocacy after earning a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Pag-asa Island as the region's sole representative in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) nationwide West Philippine Sea vlogging contest.

Sgt. Venus Angelyka G. Siggaoat PN(M)(Res), a Philippine Marine Corps reservist and co-founder of the environmental conservation organization DOERs Inc., was selected as the only winner from North Luzon in the AFP's "Ano para sa iyo ang West Philippine Sea?" vlogging competition, launched on June 15 for Filipinos aged 18 to 35.

Only five winners—one each from North Luzon, South Luzon, the National Capital Region, the Visayas and Mindanao—were chosen to join an educational trip to Pag-asa Island aboard AFP transport assets.

Siggaoat secured her place through her original spoken-word poetry piece, Tibok ng Dagat, Pintig ng Lahi, which emphasized that protecting the West Philippine Sea begins not only with words but with collective action at the community level.

“Ang tunay na pagmamahal ay nasa gawa, hindi lang sa tinig. Nagsisimula ang laban sa paggising ng ating mga komunidad, sa pagbubuklod ng mga bisig upang ang malasakit ay lumadlad,” she wrote in her winning entry.

On 15 July, the five regional winners traveled to Pag-asa Island alongside military personnel and civilian content creators, including popular digital personalities, as part of an initiative to broaden public awareness of the country's maritime domain through social media.

Among the more than 60 members of the delegation, Siggaoat said she was the only Philippine Marine Corps reservist. She said she immediately felt at home because of the warm reception extended by troops from Marine Battalion Landing Team 9 (MBLT-9), which is stationed on the island.

The delegation traveled about 277 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Because of logistical limitations, visitors spent less than a day on Pag-asa Island before beginning the return trip.

Despite the demanding schedule, Siggaoat described every hour on the island as unforgettable.

“It was a rare and profound experience to witness the raw beauty of Pag-asa Island firsthand—from its pristine beaches to its thriving marine life. Seeing it up close, it is no wonder why other nations covet our West Philippine Sea,” she said.

Beyond its scenic coastline, Siggaoat said what left the deepest impression on her was the island's small but resilient community.

Home to fewer than 500 civilian residents, Pag-asa Island is the country's smallest municipality by population. She described the community as peaceful, close-knit and welcoming, saying she admired the simplicity of life despite the island's isolation.

“It was such a brief visit because of the tight travel schedule, but it left a lasting impact on me. If given the chance to go back and stay longer, I would absolutely do it,” she said.

She also witnessed firsthand the government's sustained presence on the island, noting the continuous delivery of security, supplies and essential services to support residents living hundreds of nautical miles from mainland Palawan.

For Siggaoat, however, the journey also provided an opportunity to bring her environmental advocacy to one of the country's most strategically significant islands.

She unfurled the banner of DOERs Inc. on Pag-asa Island and distributed the organization's handmade DOERtle keychains to soldiers, fellow contest winners and content creators, including vlogger Lans.

She said the gesture symbolized that protecting the country's marine ecosystems and defending its maritime territory are inseparable responsibilities.

“It’s about protecting our marine life and our national territory all at once,” she said.

Reflecting on the experience, Siggaoat said the visit strengthened her resolve to use her platform to tell the stories of communities living on the country's western frontier.

“Not only were my eyes opened to the reality of Pag-asa Island, but I left a piece of my heart there. I also bonded deeply with my fellow visitors. We all left with one shared mission: to use our voices and social media platforms to tell the true story of this island and its resilient people to the world,” she said.

The AFP launched the nationwide contest to encourage young Filipinos to promote awareness of the West Philippine Sea, maritime security, national sovereignty and responsible citizenship through digital storytelling.