11 November 2015 - The DFA Archives celebrated its first anniversary with a cartographic exhibit, entitled “Historical Truths and Lies: Scarborough Shoal in Ancient Maps.” The 14-map exhibit ran from October 26 to 30 at the DFA Building in Pasay City. The material for the exhibit was loaned to the DFA Archives by the Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs (IMOA), which featured a selection of 14 maps from the collection of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio. The Exhibit was formally launched by Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) Assistant Secretary Benito B. Valeriano, DFA Archives Head Edward C. Yulo and Special Projects Units Special Assistant Blesila C. Cabrera. The maps document the territorial extent of the Philippines since the Spanish colonial era to the present, covering the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, and China’s historical territorial extent and present-day claims in the West Philippine Sea. One of the highlights of the exhibit is a 1734 map, published in Manila by the Jesuit Pedro Murillo, considered the “Mother of all Philippine Maps.”

To cap the celebration, the DFA Archives in cooperation with the Foreign Service Institute conducted a Forum entitled “Mabini Dialogue on Archival Scholarship on Maritime Disputes in Southeast Asia” on October 30 at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini with featured guest lecturer Prof. Ulises Granados Quiroz, Ph. D. of Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Prof. Granados discussed how archival scholarship and knowledge of historical narratives can be potential tools for policy stakeholders in documenting, managing and resolving maritime and territorial disputes. Guest reactors included Prof. Renato C. de Castro, Ph. D. of De La Salle University (DLSU) and Prof. Ferdinand C. Llanes, Ph. D. of the University of the Philippines (UP). The Forum was attended by more than 192 participants from the Department of Foreign Affairs, government agencies, and the academe including National Defense College of the Philippines Master of National Security Administration (MNSA) RC 51 Class. Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio also graced the occasion and shared his extensive knowledge on the subject.

In his welcome remarks, DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Rafael E. Seguis stated that the project came about with the realization that the historical dimension of the Maritime Dispute in Southeast Asia did not receive as much attention as has the legal aspect of the said issue. Undersecretary Seguis also indicated that the work of the DFA Archives will be guided by three rallying points: “Preservation, Access and Promotion”. The three points encapsulate the rationale and mandate of the latest unit to be established in the Department, the DFA Archives.

The activities increased the awareness among various stakeholders on the importance and relevance of archival research to the Philippine territorial claims. Particularly, they highlighted that the collection and preservation of historical evidences, such as the Philippines historical archives relevant to its territorial and maritime disputes are crucial for the future of the Philippines. They likewise revealed that historical studies using other source materials such as archaeology, can also support territorial claims. END