A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of joining a media tour at the exhibit “Pen, Paper and Bookmaking: The Life of Carlos Quirino” at the Yuchengco Museum.
Carlos Quirino, National Artist for Historical Literature, is a writer, scholar, sportsman, and bibliophile who made invaluable contributions to the study of Philippine history.
2010 marks Quirino’s birth centennial, and in celebration of this auspicious event, three erstwhile out of print Carlos Quirino books are lined up for release by the Vibal Foundation: Philippine Cartography, Old Manila, and Filipinos at War.
First out is the third edition Philippine Cartography, a landmark history of Philippine maps and their cartographers, considered as Quirino’s magnum opus. First published in 1959, the book traces the evolution of the Philippine map, from a speck in the Pacific Ocean to its current iconography.
Dr. Leovino Garcia, editor of Philippine Cartography, was there for the tour (incidentally, he was the Dean of the School of Humanities back when I was in college at the Ateneo de Manila University) to talk about the book, and he gave us some great insights about maps.
“Maps are mark of power, vessels of knowledge, and icons of beauty,” states Dr. Garcia. “They are documents of history, a visual representation of experience of a dominating point of view.”
Dr. Garcia introduced us to the Ramusio-Gastaldi map, the Philippines’ “birth certificate.” This map records the first appearance of the word “Filipina” on a western document!
The Insulae Philippinae is the first separate map of the Philippines. It’s interesting to note the different orientation of this map — it’s sideways!
The Murillo Velarde map is the first detailed map of the Philippines, drawn in 1744 by the Spanish Jesuit cartographer Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde and printed by Filipino woodblock artist Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay. It is said to be the mother of all Philippine maps, in which the current iconography of the Philippine map is rooted.
What’s amazing about all these maps is how they offer a view from above, centuries before air travel was invented! Ancient maps were created by pure triangulation and imagination (sometimes even depicting magical creatures!), often inaccurate, but no less breathtaking.
These are only three of over a hundred maps showcased in Philippine Cartography, from ancient Chinese scrolls to intricate atlases from the finest collections, all in quality reproductions. It also showcases the most comprehensive bibliography of Philippine maps, and a fresh and authoritative introduction by Dr. Garcia, who is a map collector himself.
The book is hardcover, with glossy pages, a gilded edge, and special pull-out sections — everything that will make your mouth water, whether you’re a cartophile, a bibliophile, or anywhere in between.
“Maps help us find our place in the world, telling us not only where we are and where we want to go, but also who we are. Maps give us a sense of memory and identity,” Dr. Garcia asserts. “We can strengthen our self-esteem and love for country by tracing our roots in history and geography.”
Vibal Foundation is the non-profit arm of Vibal Publishing House Inc., a company best known for textbooks for students in the elementary and high school levels. VFI specializes in knowledge – the preservation and distribution of as much of it as possible, hence its various print and website projects.
***
Philippine Cartography by Carlos Quirino, hardcover, 5/5 stars
Book #48 of 2010
[amazonify]::omakase::300:250[/amazonify]
interesting book! i love maps since cartography is also in my field of work… though i own only e-files of philippine historical maps, and some free maps from national geographic magazine (unfortunately somebody stole it from my archive) years ago… good post!
Hi Narj! This book made me appreciate maps so much more! It’s P2500 at the bookstores/museums but I think it’s so much worth the price, especially if you’re interested in maps. You really can’t get a more comprehensive resource than this one!
Reading through this, I’m reminded of that Philippine map that looks like a bunch of pan de sal back in 1st year high school. I think you know what I’m taking about. LMAO.
Myx, if I were to make a book of maps, I’d include that pandesal map of you-know-who
Wow what a beautiful book. The reporductions look so vivid and sharp. Excellent.
So happy we are able to publish this book. All libraries in philippines. And all schools should be given this book as part of curriculum. Mabuhay!
Talking about the First Mass site ,,,,It is clear in the Map of Fr Murillo that Magellan First Stopover “ESCALA” in Spanish, is in three Island,, that Island is Socorro, Middle Bucas, and Bucas Grande,,,,,, at the right side of Map there is a Island Drawn and the called it Isla de “Guajan”,,,, in the other map in 1600 it is called Guagan, Guajan or Gaugan it is Siargao Island. In Pigafetta map,,,,It is Mazzana,
this word it means “Bat” Mazzana it evolved to Mazzaua then to Masawa, if we take a closer look on the google map of Siargao,, From Dapa to Gen Lupa,,,it is the same image of Pigafettas Map. Siargao Island is the correct Historical island of the First Mass Site.
In Ramusio and Gestaldi Map it is Messana First Mass Site it is the same Island,, Siargao