Filipino Historian Ambeth Ocampo Lectures on PH Cartography in Lisbon
Professor Ambeth R. Ocampo delivers a lecture on Philippine cartography at the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon. (Antonio M. Gonzales photo)
LISBON 25 March 2019 – In line with the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon’s Magellan Lecture Series, Filipino historian, associate professor of Ateneo de Manila University, and former Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) Professor Ambeth R. Ocampo delivered a lecture on Philippine cartography entitled “Mapping the Philippines: Before Waze and Google Earth” at the Chancery on 17 March 2019.
The lecture was attended by guests from the Portuguese academe, members of the Filipino community and Filipino youth.
Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria welcomed the audience and citing the importance of having lectures that would raise the national and cultural identity of the Philippines through the study of history.
During the lecture, Professor Ocampo enlightened the audience with visual presentations of ancient maps of the Philippines and explained that cartography is a visual language wherein it can be used to communicate information.
He added that ancient maps of the Philippines are not only used as historical records, but also help provide data and insights on how the Philippines were viewed by foreign cartographers during the various time periods in Philippine history. Professor Ocampo also showed the audience that by looking at these maps in a series, it can illustrate the detailed differences of the emergence of the Philippines as a nation.
The open forum followed with the audience asking questions about Professor Ocampo’s insights ranging from Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines to the historical territorial borders of the Philippines.
Ambassador Feria presented a certificate of appreciation to Professor Ocampo for sharing his knowledge and raising consciousness on Philippine history.
Professor Ocampo’s lecture is the third edition of the Embassy’s Magellan Lecture Series since the first Magellan Lecture held in 2018. It is one of the Embassy’s cultural diplomacy programs in line with the 500th anniversary of the circumnavigation of the world by Ferdinand Magellan.
The lecture series aim to foster closer relations and academic exchanges between the Philippines and Portugal in the fields of art, culture and education by inviting academic scholars and resource speakers to discuss and share their perspectives and insights on topics and issues that are of mutual interest to both countries. END
Mr. Andres Rodrigues Lopes (left), a former expatriate in the Philippines, asks a question to Professor Ambeth R. Ocampo (right) during the open forum of the Magellan Lecture Series at the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon. (Antonio Gonzales/Lisbon PE photo)
Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria (right) presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Professor Ambeth R. Ocampo (left) for sharing his knowledge and expertise in the third edition of the Magellan Lecture at the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon. (Angel Espiritu Jr./Lisbon PE photo)
For more information, visit www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/.