The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) received an authenticated copy of the historic Murillo Velarde 1734 Map during a ceremony held at the PRC NCR Regional Office in Quezon City on May 13, 2026.

PRC Chairperson Atty. Charito A. Zamora delivered the acceptance speech and expressed gratitude to Mr. Mel Velasco Velarde, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and the NOW Group, for the donation.

“The Commission appreciates that history should also be promoted along with professional competence,” Chairperson Zamora said. “Being a government agency that aims at nation building, we are convinced that knowing our past will help us develop our identities as public servants who are devoted to integrity and dedication to serving the Filipino nation. This map bridges the gap between historical data and modern professional execution… so may this authenticated copy inspire patriotism, deepen appreciation for our heritage, and remind us of the sacrifices and achievement that shaped our nation.”

Joining Chairperson Zamora at the ceremony were Assistant Commissioner Lord Louis P. Valera and their colleagues from PRC.

In his speech, Mr. Velarde highlighted a medal found on the map that described the professionals of the colonial period, including the bordaderos or embroiderers and the lamineros or engravers. He emphasized that the map preserves not only cartographic details, but also the memory, heritage, and pride of the nation’s ancestors.

Widely regarded as the “Mother of All Philippine Maps,” the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map played a key role in the Philippines’ legal victory in the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine Sea. In December 2025, the map was officially declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Library of the Philippines.

The turnover of the authenticated copy of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map to the PRC forms part of the Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin campaign, an initiative that seeks to strengthen Filipinos’ appreciation for Philippine history and heritage. By bringing the historic map to institutions such as the PRC, the campaign underscores the role of professionals and public servants in preserving national identity, cultural memory, and patriotism for future generations.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) continues to be a proud partner of the 4th FRAMEwork Asia-Pacific Communication Conference, which brought together scholars, practitioners, and communication leaders at the Cavite State University (Indang Campus) International Convention Center in March 2026.

Princess Catherine Pabellano, who completed her Master of Arts in Journalism at AIJC and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, took the stage as moderator of the third keynote session on Day 2, “Definitely Not a Troublemaker: Augmenting Scientific Discourse Through Generative AI.” She joined the third keynote speaker, Alvin William Alvarez, D.V.M., of Cavite State University, and the responder, Robbie Jan Vincent Buelo, PhD, of the National University Dasmariñas.

Among the paper presenters during the parallel sessions was James Patrick Aquino, who has completed his Master of Arts in Communication at AIJC. He presented his paper titled, “From Talk Now to Know-How: Exploring the Role of Academic Communication in AI Familiarity Among Teachers with Diverse Professional Fields Using the SECI Model.” The paper of another AIJC alumnus, Normandy Manalaysay, was also selected for presentation: “An Exploratory Study of Text and Image Generative AI Adoption in the Creative Ideation Process by Filipino Advertising Copywriters and Art Directors.”

AIJC students were invited to participate in the conference online.

AIJC’s renewed partnership with Far Eastern University (FEU), conference organizer, continues to open opportunities for graduate students, faculty, and alumni to share research, engage in critical dialogue, and contribute to the evolving communication landscape in the region.

For updates on future editions of the FRAMEwork Conference and how to participate, AIJC students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to follow the FEU FRAMEwork Facebook page and the AIJC Facebook page.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) marked the successful conclusion of the third cohort of its Executive Program on Public Communication during the culminating activity held on April 17, 2026.

The specialized two-month program is designed to equip leaders with the strategic tools needed to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of modern public discourse. Participants in this cohort come from public institutions, including government and the academe:

• Emy Ruth Gianan, Officer-in-Charge, Communication Management Office, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila
  
  
• Noralene Menchavez Uy, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, International Affairs, and Climate Change, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
  
  
• Maricon C. Viduya, Director for Strategic Communications, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

During the culmination, the importance of maintaining integrity in public information was highlighted as a cornerstone of the training curriculum.

“Public communication is a matter of public trust. Our job is to ensure that it is handled with discipline, clarity, and responsibility,” said Therese San Diego Torres, AIJC President.

Following the success of this cohort, the program will be offered again in June 2026. Interested applicants and organizations may visit this page on the AIJC website for registration details.

An authenticated copy of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map was officially turned over to the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) on April 16, 2026.

“It is my privilege to stand before you today in Nueva Ecija, a province already present on the Velarde 1734 Map, almost a 300-year-old map,” Mr. Mel Velasco Velarde, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), said during the turnover ceremony. “That matters because this map reminds us that places like Nueva Ecija were already part of a living geography of land, river, memory, and community long before the modern nation took its present form.”

“This is why I did not come here merely to donate a map. I came here to return a witness,” Mr. Velarde added. “Nueva Ecija is not peripheral to the story of the Philippines. It is central to it. This province has helped feed the nation and in doing so, it has carried a quiet but profound dignity… We must know how to honor places like this.”

The Murillo Velarde 1734 Map is widely regarded as the “Mother of all Philippine Maps” and is particularly notable for its role in the Philippines’ legal victory in the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the West Philippine Sea. In December 2025, the map was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Library of the Philippines.

The university-wide event was attended by students, faculty members, alumni, and university officials.

Dr. Ariel G. Mactal, Vice President for Administration, delivered the acceptance speech on behalf of CLSU. 

“We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Velarde for his remarkable generosity and patriotism,” Dr. Mactal said. “CLSU embraces its role as a steward of this cultural treasure. We commit to preserving its value and ensuring that it becomes an active instrument of learning… May this map inspire our students to appreciate the depth of our history, to take pride in our identity, and to remain mindful of the responsibility of safeguarding our nation’s heritage.”

The turnover of what is now regarded the “Soul of the Nation” is part of the Mapa Natin, Kwento Natin campaign. The initiative aims to popularize the enduring relevance of the map and foster a deeper sense of national identity and historical awareness among Filipinos.

The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) organized three intensive training programs last month, part of an expanding effort to professionalize public communication across the government and private sectors in the Philippines.

“These programs are designed to ensure that, whether in the public or the private sector, our partners and clients are not just disseminating information, but fostering genuine public understanding,” said Therese San Diego Torres, president of AIJC.

Master Class: Role of Social Media in Public Communication

March 11, 2026

This three-hour session focused on aligning social media initiatives with organizational goals. Participants came from agencies such as the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture Philippine Carabao Center, and the City Government of Manila.

Technical Writing for Communication and Information Officers

March 19 and 23, 2026

The course developed participants’ ability to write with clarity, precision, and authority. Attendees included communication professionals from Transcom, the Career Executive Service Board, and the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).

Executive Program on Public Communication (Ongoing)

March–April 2026

The third run of this executive program kicked off in March, providing participants with strategic skills in media engagement, stakeholder relations, and organizational messaging. The cohort features senior officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU). It will culminate in an in-person session on April 17, 2026.

AIJC will continue to offer these programs in the coming months as part of its Professional Development Program.

The 2026 AIJC Training Calendar may be downloaded through this link: https://aijc.com.ph/2026-aijc-training-calendar/