From West PH Sea to PH identity: The multi-faceted Murillo Velarde 1734 map

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1724830355601456322228_827946966149323_6112776921997129314_n.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="From West PH Sea to PH identity: The multi-faceted Murillo Velarde 1734 map"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Murillo Velarde 1734 map and other cultural treasures will be available for public viewing, free of charge, at the National Library of the Philippines starting next month. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — After playing a role in the country&#x27;s historic arbitral win over China, businessman Mel Velasco Velarde believes the Murillo Velarde 1734 map carries a new meaning in this day and age.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/08/28/23/replica-ng-murillo-velarde-1734-map-tinanggap-ng-ph-embassy-sa-lebanon">• Replica ng Murillo Velarde 1734 map tinanggap ng PH Embassy sa Lebanon</a></div><p>Dubbed as the &quot;Mother of all Philippine Maps,&quot; the Murillo Velarde map served as a key part of the country&#x27;s winning presentation at the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at The Hague in 2016.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/12/philippines-marks-8th-anniversary-of-arbitral-award-vs-china-953">• Philippines to &#x27;stand our ground&#x27; in South China Sea dispute</a></div><p>The map boosted the country&#x27;s claims against China, showing &quot;Panacot&quot; shoal now known as Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. It also featured the Spratly Islands, once called &quot;Los Bajos de Paragua.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We had a problem with China which still lingers at this moment. Its role was more than the legal significance or legal aspect. It&#x27;s really our moral argument against our neighbor which uses historical evidence as their argument. Every time they talk about the nine dash line, we have to tell them we have the Velarde map as early as 1734,&quot; Velarde told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/03/16/21/philpost-launches-1734-murillo-velarde-map-stamp">• PhilPost launches “1734 Murillo Velarde map” stamp</a></div><p>&quot;This map, as early as 1734 under Philip V, an official Spanish government document showing that the contested islands including the low tide rocks are owned by the Philippines and which was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris, Treaty of Washington and all the other maps which are all called the siblings of the mother of all Philippine maps even under the American government,&quot; he added.</p><p>The historic map is also known as the first scientific map of the Philippines. It was named after Spanish Jesuit Friar Pedro Murillo Velarde, who prepared the map with Filipinos Francisco Suarez and Nicolas dela Cruz Bagay.</p><p>Beyond the crucial contribution of the map in the country&#x27;s maritime row with China, Velarde said it reflects the lives of Filipinos before the 18th century.</p><p>The map defined in detail Philippine territory during 1734, depicting the country&#x27;s boundaries, mountains, bodies of water and more.</p><p>Velarde, who also sits as Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication chairman, noted that the map showed Filipinos farming and a sense of community.</p><p>&quot;Beyond or even before late 18th century we had an idea of a nationhood that as you can see in the map the Filipinos had a clear understanding of what is right and wrong Filipinos or the native or the Indios were self-reliant,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Pedro Murillo Velarde, Nicolas Bagay and Francisco Suarez with all their indio teams collaborated to show here that we were self-sustaining, we were self-reliant, we have a community we knew what were morally permissible and impermissible. Murillo Velarde made sure that it is not just a map that shows the islands and rocks it&#x27;s also a reflection of the lives of the Filipinos, early Filipinos here,&quot; Velarde added.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1724830382019457257838_534843085676097_7828924251249988083_n.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="From West PH Sea to PH identity: The multi-faceted Murillo Velarde 1734 map"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">In 2016, Velarde brought home the map years after acquiring it at an auction in London for over P12 million. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The entrepreneur shared that retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio encouraged him to bid for the map.</p><p>In 2016, Velarde brought home the map years after acquiring it at an auction in London. A year later, he donated the map to the government, with the hopes of having it displayed at a museum.</p><p>Velarde said the map, which he bought for around P12 million, turned priceless due to its relevance to Philippine history.</p><p>&quot;I think if you look at the map, you will see and realize that on this land, generations come and go. They lived here, they cried here, they celebrated here, they suffered here, they became victors here. And their moments were golden moments, and now is our golden moment as well. So let&#x27;s take advantage of it and own it. We must own our own country,&quot; he shared.</p><p>Nearly eight years since the map was returned to Philippine shores, it has found a permanent home in the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) in Ermita, Manila.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/7/1/rare-maps-photographs-of-the-west-philippine-sea-will-be-on-view-at-the-national-library-1456">• Rare maps, photographs of the West Philippine Sea will be on view at National Library</a></div><p>The map is housed in the Permanent Gallery, which was inaugurated on August 9, 2024.</p><p>&quot;This journey stands as a testament to dedication and perseverance, bringing a significant cultural treasure to the forefront of public access and fulfilling the intent of Mr. Mel Velarde and the Philippine government to preserve and showcase the nation&#x27;s rich cultural heritage,&quot; NLP director Cesar Gilbert Adriano said at the inauguration.</p><p>Velarde is hopeful more Filipinos, especially the youth, could get to see the map up close and get a better understanding of Philippine history and territory.</p><p>The Murillo Velarde 1734 map and other cultural treasures will be available for public viewing, free of charge, at the National Library of the Philippines starting next month.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zjWfHFtfoDs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Murillo Velarde 1734 map and other cultural treasures will be available for public viewing, free of charge, at the National Library of the Philippines starting September. </p>

The Murillo Velarde 1734 map and other cultural treasures will be available for public viewing, free of charge, at the National Library of the Philippines starting September.

From West PH Sea to PH identity: The multi-faceted Murillo Velarde 1734 map | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

From West PH Sea to PH identity: The multi-faceted Murillo Velarde 1734 map

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 28, 2024 03:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Murillo Velarde map

Mel Velarde

Philippine territory

West Philippine Sea

Murillo Velarde 1734 map

China

South China Sea

history

ANC

ANC promo

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.