The National Library of the Philippines (NLP) today formally declared the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map as a National Cultural Treasure, cementing its unparalleled historical, artistic, and cultural significance to the Filipino nation.

The official declaration ceremony was held this morning, December 11, 2025, at the 4th floor lobby of the NLP building along Kalaw Avenue in Manila, where cultural heritage officials, historians, cultural advocates, and scholars gathered to witness the momentous event.

Opening messages from NLP Director IV Gilbert Q. Adriano and a keynote reflection from Former Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio underscored the vital role archives play in defining national identity and protecting historical truth.

The program featured heritage scholars, including Dr. Michael Charleston “Xiao” B. Chua and Archivist Eruel Olvina, who presented the historical and cultural significance of the newly declared National Cultural Treasures.

Dubbed the “Mother of all Philippine Maps,” the Carta Hydrographica y Chronologica de las Islas Filipinas was created by Spanish Jesuit cartographer Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde together with Filipino artists Francisco Suárez and Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay.

It is considered the first scientific map of the Philippines and a primary source for understanding the archipelago’s geography, settlements, and maritime routes during the Spanish colonial era.

The map is adorned with 12 vignettes, or border panels, depicting daily life in the Philippines at the time, offering invaluable ethnographic and artistic insights. In recent years, the map has gained significant stature as historical evidence asserting the Philippines’ maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.

The same recognition was accorded to the Acta de la Proclamacion de Independencia del Pueblo Filipino, a document that records the proclamation of independence of the Filipino people from Spain.

The Map as “Soul of the Nation”

Mr. Mel V. Velarde, Chairman of NOW Corporation and the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, presented the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map as the very soul of the nation—a soul that endured silencing, fragmentation, and exile and has now been formally restored to the Filipino people.

He traced the ancient roots of the Filipino soul to the seafaring Austronesians: to balangays, oral traditions, celestial navigation, and the shared values forged through maritime life. He recounted how colonization muted that soul for centuries until Jose Rizal gave it a voice and awakened national consciousness. Velarde asked, “If Rizal expressed the cry of the broken Soul, where is the proof that we were once whole?”

Velarde’s answer was the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, a document that captured the nation’s memory before historical amnesia set in.

He explained that within the map lies a constellation of “Ten Truths”—insights revealing the Filipino Soul’s wholeness, diversity, excellence, values, ecological abundance, resilience, and prophetic destiny. He emphasized that the map does not merely depict geography but embodies a collective identity formed by the melding of native mastery, Jesuit scientific discipline, and the deep oceanic memory of the Austronesian world.

In presenting these truths, Velarde underscored that the map completes a great Triad of Nationhood: Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as the awakening of the Mind, the 1898 Declaration of Independence as the embodiment of the Will, and the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map as the enduring vessel of the Soul. Through this triad—mind, will, and soul—the Filipino identity stands whole, unshakable, and unconquerable.

He also highlighted how the signatures of Filipino artisans, Bagay and Suárez, along with the imagery of a culturally diverse archipelago, assert dignity, agency, and early harmony. He described the map as both scientific and spiritual, a product of collaboration across cultures, and a reminder of a land once defined by abundance rather than scarcity.

Velarde reminded the audience that the map continues to serve the nation today, having played a decisive role in the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral victory over the West Philippine Sea.

At the heart of his message was a powerful declaration—that the Filipino Soul engraved in copper in 1734 still protects, guides, and inspires the nation.

Velarde concluded his speech with gratitude to the NLP, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the Filipino people, affirming: “Mabuhay ang Pambansang Aklatan. Mabuhay ang ating mga Pambansang Yamang Pangkultura. At mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino.” 

AIJC, QC LGU Successfully Hold Teacher Training on the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map

Quezon City, Philippines—The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), in partnership with the Quezon City Government, successfully piloted a one-day national teacher training titled “Mapping Our Roots: Teaching History Through Murillo Velarde 1734 Map” on December 2, 2025, in Quezon City.

The training, part of AIJC’s national campaign, Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin (Our Map, Our Story), aimed to strengthen the capacity of Grade 10 Araling Panlipunan and Senior High School Media and Information Literacy (MIL) teachers to integrate the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map into classroom instruction.

Through historically grounded, evidence-based teaching, the program helped teachers combat misinformation and disinformation about the West Philippine Sea, and use news literacy tools that promote critical thinking and information verification among learners.

The sessions guided teachers in using the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map—regarded as the “Mother of All Philippine Maps”—to explain the historical and legal foundations of the Philippines’ maritime rights and to frame the West Philippine Sea as both a sovereignty and sustainable development issue.

Mr. Engelbert Apostol, Department Head of the Quezon City Public Affairs and Information Services Department opened the training. Apostol noted that Quezon City has been recognized by UNESCO as one of the pilot Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Cities, emphasizing that the training is a crucial step in strengthening public understanding of history and sharpening critical thinking skills—both essential tools in combating disinformation.

The resource persons were AIJC Chairman Mel V. Velarde, who donated to the Republic of the Philippines an original Murillo Velarde 1734 Map that he secured through an auction at Sotheby’s London; AIJC Trustee and Senior Director for Research, Policy, and Advocacy Ann Lourdes C. Lopez; and AIJC President Therese San Diego Torres. AIJC Associate Director Janess Ann J. Ellao served as emcee and workshop facilitator. The Institute has previously conducted workshops on media and information literacy for teachers across the country.

The Murillo Velarde 1734 Map played a vital role in the Philippines’ victory in the 2016 arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which upheld the country’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

The Quezon City pilot training is the first in a planned nationwide series of teacher training programs in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and institutional partners and sponsors.

About the Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin Campaign

Launched in 2024, Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin is a nationwide campaign launched by AIJC in partnership with the National Library of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). It uses creative and youth-driven storytelling to promote historical awareness and national pride.

The campaign has also collaborated with P-Pop groups SB19 and 1st One to engage younger audiences through music and culture. These partnerships have produced educational videos, cultural events, and the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map-inspired song “Map Your Vibe (MYV)” by 1st One, which was launched during the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Music Festival (ROUND Festival).

The campaign continues with the teacher training, piloted in Quezon City, which will be replicated nationwide.

Contact Details

For media inquiries, partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

Ms. Loregene Macapugay

Program Officer II, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC)

Email address: rpa@aijci.com

Contact number: 0945-882-0962 (mobile/Viber), (02) 8743-4321 (landline)

Do you conduct training for journalists and media workers on safety and security? Covering physical safety, digital security, legal concerns, psychological well-being, or gender issues? Need a practical, easy-to-use resource tailored to the realities of Philippine newsrooms?

With the numerous training activities being conducted by different organizations to equip media workers to be safe and protected in their work, the project, “Journalist Safety: A Practical Guide for Trainers” is being implemented to develop, produce and popularize a training resource on media safety for journalists and media workers.

The safety trainers’ guide will help journalists and media organizations deliver consistent, quality, and responsive capacity building programs on safety and security.

The project builds on the work of the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists (PPASJ), a multi-stakeholder national blueprint on media safety anchored in the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

The project’s Phase 1: Scoping and Research has been completed, implemented in June to August 2025 by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) in partnership with Red Batario of the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD). The first phase was supported by International Media Support and co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

This project phase has produced the publication, “Journalist Safety Training in the Philippines: Strengths, Gaps, Recommendations” (September 2025), which draws from a review of documentation of past safety training programs for journalists; in-person focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) through an online questionnaire with journalists; and a multi-stakeholder workshop with representatives from government, academia, civil society, and media.

The research results highlight strengths and gaps in journalist safety training in the Philippines, forming the basis for recommendations to improve curricula, materials, and stakeholder collaboration for journalists’ protection. These are presented under four key themes that emerged from the findings: content and structure, training methodology, planning and preparation, and trainer development and support.

For subsequent project implementation, Phase 2 will see the development and writing of the trainers’ guide, and Phase 3 will involve pretesting, pilot-testing and popularization of this training resource.

These phases present opportunities for partnership, sponsorship, or funding support from institutions that share our commitment to advancing media freedom and strengthening the capacities of journalists and media workers in the country.

AIJC and CCJD are among the founding members of the Movement for Media Safety-Philippines (MMSP), a coalition of media organizations and press freedom advocates.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) commemorated two decades of championing biodiversity conservation with a milestone celebration on September 25, 2025. The event, “Harmony for Biodiversity: The 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity,” gathered government leaders, conservation advocates, media professionals, and partner organizations from across Southeast Asia to recognize their contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainability.

On behalf of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), President Therese San Diego Torres received the Certificate of Recognition from ACB. Past collaborations include the first ASEAN-wide Photo Contest on Biodiversity (2009), managed by AIJC to highlight ASEAN’s rich biodiversity and raise regional awareness through photography, and the ASEAN Champions of Biodiversity (2010–2011), a recognition program that promoted leadership and public engagement in biodiversity conservation, with AIJC providing project management and technical support.

Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor, ACB Executive Director, said the recognition signifies the opportunity to renew the partnership between ACB and the Institute.

The honorees also included the New Zealand Embassy in Manila, represented by H.E. Ambassador Catherine McIntosh; CORA Philippines, represented by its Founder and Executive Director Antoinette Taus; as well as veteran journalist and documentarist Howie Severino.

Established in 2005, ACB is an intergovernmental organization that fosters cooperation among the 10 ASEAN Member States and global partners to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainability.

The members of P-Pop group 1st One—Ace, Max, Alpha, Joker, J and Jayson—led the cultural event, “Mapping the Story of the Filipino Through P-Pop,” at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, home of Sentro Rizal Singapore, on September 26, 2025.

1st One, which had earlier been named a cultural partner and bearer of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, met with Philippine Ambassador to Singapore H.E. Medardo G. Macaraig and engaged with Filipino youth and members of the Filipino community in Singapore for a talk on Filipino culture, history, and creativity.

The group talked about P-Pop and how their latest single, “MYV (Map Your Vibe),” was inspired by the historic Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, the “Mother of All Philippine Maps.” They shared that the map serves as a reminder of Filipino roots and a guide for charting one’s journey.

In an interview with News5, Ambassador Macaraig highlighted the significance of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map in Philippine history and commended 1st One for drawing inspiration from it in their music. He noted that presenting history through P-Pop offers a refreshing approach, demonstrating that history can indeed be fused with entertainment.

1st One graced the event ahead of their performance at Music Matters Live, a music festival that brings together artists from the Asia Pacific region.

The embassy event was a collaboration between the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, Sentro Rizal Singapore, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Black Star Entertainment, and 1st One. It was also part of the Embassy’s celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) and Philippine Creative Industries Month.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) conducted the inaugural Executive Program on Public Communication, which culminated in an in-person presentation on August 13, 2025, at Privato Hotel in Quezon City.

“Public communication is about building trust, fostering dialogue, and shaping narratives that move communities forward,” said AIJC President Therese San Diego Torres. “Public expectations are shifting, and in a world of rapid information flow and rising demands for transparency and authenticity, we need to be flexible in how we connect with people.”

Torres added that with people’s preferences evolving faster than ever, communicators must listen closely to how stakeholders seek and respond to information, and adapt their strategies and choice of channels to ensure messages remain clear and relevant.

The executive program consisted of four modules and ran for eight weeks, covering the following topics: Essentials of Communication, Issues Management and Crisis Communication, Communication Planning, and Crafting Messages for Public Communication.

Torres also highlighted the importance of effective public communication in bringing people together and helping fulfill their basic rights.

Among the finishers of the executive program were Himamaylan Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, and key officers of the City of Malabon, namely: Jaycellyn Batarilan, Aaron Homer Dioquino, Edison Enriquez, and Jerico Joshua Kahulugan.

For Batarilan, who sits as chief of the administrative division of the Malabon City Government’s City Housing and Urban Development Department, the program has been “an enriching experience.”

“The course deepened my understanding of how clear, timely, and audience-centered messaging builds trust between government and the public. I gained practical skills in strategic communication planning, crisis response, and crafting messages that resonate with a diverse audience,” said Batarilan.

The executive program was organized by the AIJC Professional Development Program.

Registration is open for the next offering of the Executive Program on Public Communication, which will begin in October 2025. Learn more about the program and how to register here: https://aijc.com.ph/executive-program-on-public-communication/