If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
— United States President Ronald Reagan
FOR civic movement leader and chairman emeritus Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, the documentary film ‘Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea’ is not just an ordinary film for people to sit down and watch because it is a presentation that mirrors our struggle as a people—it is about our fathers who go out to sea, our mothers waiting for food on the table and our children whose future depends on what kind of country we have.
“It is about us, the Filipino nation. And that is why China is so afraid of it,” Goitia pointed out.
And in their fear, China is trying to stop the film’s showing because it exposes what they do not want the world to know—their vulgar lies.
“It shows how they treat our fishermen as if we do not matter. It shows the abuse they inflict, not in some distant place, but right here, in our own seas that legally and historically belong to us,” Goitia underscored with conviction.
He reminded us that international law is already on our side as The Hague Tribunal had made it clear in 2016 that the West Philippine Sea is ours and China’s nine dash line has no basis, no legitimacy.
“Yet what has China done since? They ignored the law, they ignored decency and they ignored the dignity of every Filipino whose livelihood depend on the sea.
“They harass our fishermen, steal our fish, and act as if friendship means the right to trample on us,” the civic leader added.
Just recently, defense secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro spoke not just as an official but as a Filipino who feels the weight of every wave that rocks our fishermen’s small boats, even condemning China’s increasing presence near Ayungin Shoal with coast guard ships, fast boats, maritime militia, and even aerial drones and heavy weapons mounted on their craft, all being used to threaten our soldiers stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
“These are gross and brazen violations of international law,” Secretary Teodoro noted with his voice resonating in anger and firm resolve.
Earlier in the standoff, Chinese vessels were seen using water cannons, performing dangerous maneuvers and even engaging in high-speed collisions with Philippine boats, acts of aggression far beyond misunderstanding or miscommunication. Despite the danger, our troops and coast guard pressed on to protect what is ours.
This aggressive escalation mirrors the very scenes captured in ‘Food Delivery’. The film shows not only the daily courage of fishermen and men in uniform but also the heartbreak of mothers and children waiting at home. It humanizes the toll of this geopolitical chess game. That is why it matters—not only to watch it, but to share it, talk about it and teach it in classrooms. Let it become a spark in every Filipino heart telling the world: “This is our sea. These are our stories. We deserve respect, not repression.”
Secretary Teodoro reminded us that claims of secret deals or ‘gentleman’s agreements’ with China, supposedly to deescalate tensions at Ayungin, are nothing more than Chinese propaganda meant to muddle an already dangerous narrative. The truth iscthat no agreement ever existed and we will not give away an inch of our sovereignty under false pretenses.
In support to Teodoro’s pronouncements, Goitia stated that beyond laws and rulings, there is something deeper: “This is not just about borders drawn on a map. This is about real people. Imagine a father who has nothing left to bring home because foreign vessels drove him away from waters that are his by right. Imagine a child asking why her father cannot fish anymore. Imagine families going hungry not because there is no food, but because a powerful neighbor decided to take what is not theirs. That is the human face of this conflict, and that is what this film captures so powerfully.”
He likewise explained that ‘Food Delivery’ matters because it gives voice to those who are usually silenced: “It turns statistics into faces and headlines into human stories. Our fishermen are not just numbers. They are our brothers, our friends, our neighbors. Their pain is our pain. Their fight is our fight.”
The civic movement advocate rationalized that “China knows the power of truth, which is why they spend billions on propaganda.”
He urged every Filipino to treat the film as more than just entertainment: “When you watch this documentary, you are not only watching a story. You are standing with our people. You are defending our sovereignty. You are saying to the world: the Philippines is not for sale, and our seas are not for the taking.” He called on families, schools, and communities to spread it, talk about it, and keep the conversation alive. “The more we speak, the less they can silence us. The more the world knows, the harder it becomes for China to pretend.”
In the end, Goitia’s message was clear and heartfelt: “This is not just a film. This is our cry for dignity. This is our fight for justice. This is the truth of a small nation standing up against a giant that pretends to be a friend but acts like a traitor. China may have the ships and the weapons, but we (own) the truth and the truth will always be stronger. The West Philippine Sea is ours, and no ban, no intimidation, no lie will ever change that.”
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