Philippines opens school on disputed island

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Philippines opens school on disputed island

A Philippine official says he has opened a small kindergarten school on a South China Sea island that is also claimed by five other countries.

By (AP)

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Published: Sun 24 Jun 2012, 12:28 PM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 11:45 AM

Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon said onSunday that his aim was to help the 37-hectare (91-acre) island’s civilian community and not to antagonize rival claimant countries. The school was inaugurated without fanfare on June 15 with five students, their parents and a teacher. A Philippine flag fluttered in the breeze in the schoolyard.

The Philippines calls the island Pag-asa — or “hope” in Tagalog. It is guarded by Filipino troops.

It is part of the Spratlys archipelago. China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam also claim the islands.


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