PERSONAL na tinanggap nina Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos sa Palasyo ang orihinal na Murillo Velarde 1734 Map.

Ito ang unang scientific map ng Pilipinas na nagsilbing matibay na ebidensya sa naging desisyon ng Permanent Court of Arbitration kaugnay ng karapatan ng bansa sa West Philippine Sea noong 2016.

Apela ni Pangulong Marcos sa sambayanang Filipino, gawing inspirasyon ang mensahe ng Murillo Velarde 1734 Map upang protektahan nang may paninindigan ang nararapat lang na sa atin.

“The Murillo Velarde Map, in particular, provided critical evidence to demonstrate that the Philippines has continuously exercised authority and jurisdiction over what it is now identified as Panacot Shoal—now Scarborough Shoal—and Los Bajos de Paragua— Spratly Islands,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

Ang Murillo Map ay niliikha ng Jesuit cartographer na si Pedro Murillo Velarde at binuhay ng mga Filipino na sina Francisco Suarez, na isang artist, at Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay, na nag-engrave sa mapa.

“This historic artifact was among the over 270 maps submitted by the Philippines to the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 2013. And these maps were crucial in establishing the Philippines’ entitlement to maritime areas, as reaffirmed in the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

“What began as a map of the Philippines during the Spanish era became a formidable piece of evidence in our assertion of our rightful entitlements in the complex legal arena of the 21st century. It reminds us that history, when meticulously preserved, wields immense power to inform and to uphold the truth” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

Sa kabila ng Arbitral Ruling, patuloy pa ring inaangkin ng China ang ilang lugar sa West Philippine Sea .

“The Murillo Velarde Map is an important gift from our past that defined the country’s territory, and it is now our duty to carry its legacy forward to future generations,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

“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,” dagdag ng Pangulo.