THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)-Museo El Deposito, together with the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), opened the West Philippine Sea exhibit "Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Kalayaan" at the Hanns Seidel Hall of the UA&P on Oct. 9, 2024.

In her opening remarks, UA&P Associate Professor and Vice President for Affairs Marya Svetlana Camacho said, "We can connect readily with the people we see in the photographs, whose daily lives have incorporated their home's geopolitical significance and come to represent the Philippines' place — and rights — in the regional and global order."

NHCP Deputy Executive Director Alvin Alcid, in his message, said, "We can familiarize ourselves with our historic and legal rights. We can assert these rights in the face of naysayers, both foreigners and fellow Filipinos."

NHCP Commissioner Francis Navarro read the message from photographer Paul Quiambao, who was in Mindanao.

UA&P students and faculty and uniformed personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Navy attended the event.

The collection was first displayed at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) in July 2024 and was also exhibited at Adamson University in August.

Aside from photos, some of the cartographic treasures of the NLP, the miniature of the BRP Sierra Madre and the original flag of the Freedom Lands from Admiral Tomas Cloma are also featured.

The exhibit runs until November 14 with a closing lecture by Ret. Associate Justice Antonio Carpio at the Dizon Auditorium of the UA&P.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publications and to preserve historical heritage through conservation and marking historic sites and structures.