President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to draw inspiration from the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, a historic artifact that underscores the country’s sovereignty.

He received the original map during a ceremonial turnover at Malacañan Palace on December 6, 2024.

“Let us not only admire the artistry of the masterpiece presented to us today, but also draw inspiration from its enduring message—the call to protect and to assert what is rightfully ours, with resolve and with integrity,” the President said in his message.

“Together, we hold the pen to write the next chapters of our nation’s history—chapters that uphold the principles of justice, truth, and unity. Let us ensure that the legacy of the Murillo Velarde Map continues to guide us in our journey as a nation, steadfast in our identity and resolute in our aspirations,” Marcos continued.

The Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, created by Spanish Jesuit friar Pedro Murillo Velarde with Filipino artisans Francisco Suarez and Nicolas dela Cruz Bagay, is considered the first scientific map of the Philippine archipelago. It was acquired at a Sotheby’s auction in 2014 by Mel Velasco Velarde, who later donated it to the Philippine government.

The map was among the pieces of evidence submitted by the Philippines to the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2013. It played a pivotal role in establishing the Philippines’ entitlement to maritime areas, as reaffirmed in the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.

“It reminds us that when history—when meticulously preserved, wields immense power to inform and to uphold the truth,” the President said.

The ceremony at Malacañan Palace fulfilled a key provision of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map’s Deed of Donation, which mandated a formal turnover to the President of the Republic.