Philippine Embassy observes Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month

DHAKA, Sept 23: Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Nina P. Cainglet led the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka in observing Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) 2026, highlighting the Philippines’ maritime heritage and its commitment to protecting its legitimate maritime rights under international law.

The embassy marked the observance through its participation in “Blue Day Thursday,” according to a post published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday.

MANAMo is an annual observance established through Presidential Proclamation No. 316, signed in 2017, to promote greater appreciation of the Philippines’ maritime heritage and recognise the country’s role as an archipelagic nation, the embassy said.

This year’s MANAMo theme is “Karapatan sa Karagatan, Sama-sama nating Alagaan,” which broadly calls for collective responsibility in protecting the country’s maritime interests and resources.

According to the embassy, the observance aims to reaffirm the Philippines’ commitment to defending its legitimate maritime rights based on international law.

It also seeks to underscore the importance of stewardship, cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing maritime issues, rather than confrontation, the embassy said.

The Philippines, an archipelagic country with extensive maritime territory, has consistently highlighted the importance of international law in addressing maritime concerns.

The embassy’s observance in Dhaka comes as part of the Philippines’ broader annual activities to raise awareness of the importance of the maritime domain and the responsibilities associated with being an archipelagic nation.