LINK:
http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/06/06/16/look-1734-map-shows-scarborough-shoal-part-of-philippines

LOOK: 1734 map shows Scarborough Shoal part of Philippines

Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 06 2016 07:42 PM
Businessman Mel Velarde donated the framed replica of the 1734 Murillo map of the Philippine archipelago to Lt. General Romeo Tanalgo, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command. Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - A Filipino businessman has donated a framed replica of a scientific map of the Philippines created nearly three centuries ago that shows the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc as part of Philippine territory.

Mel Velarde, president and CEO of Now Corporation and chairman of the board of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, donated the framed replica of the 1734 Murillo map of the Philippine archipelago to Lt. General Romeo Tanalgo, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).

Originally called the Carta Hydrographica y Chrographica de las Filipinas and published in 1734, the Murillo Velarde map was drawn by the Jesuit priest Father Pedro Murillo Velarde. It is the first internationally recognized scientific map of the Philippines and shows Scarborough Shoal, then called Panacot Shoal or Panatag Shoal, as part of Philippine territory.

READ: PH to submit 300-year-old map to UN in case vs China

Velarde also donated copies of the replica to other Nolcom field units.

The Philippine government has been using the map as proof of its claim over parts of South China Sea in the International Arbitral Tribunal against China.

Velarde said he was able to recover the map in an auction in London.

Business Mel Velarde and AFP Nolcom chief Lt. General Romeo Tanalgo point at the 1734 Murillo map. Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News

The businessman said the donation of the map replicas is meant to honor Filipino soldiers who are fighting to protect Philippines territory. He said he hopes to rekindle a sense of patriotism among Filipinos to promote sovereignty and to remind the public of the country's indisputable claim over the shoal.

Velarde also hopes to donate replicas of the map to the Department of Education and push for its inclusion in public school textbooks.

Tanalgo said the map reminds Filipinos, including the country's Armed Forces, about the important of the Philippines' claim to the disputed shoal.

He said Nolcom is always ready to protect and defend Philippine territory despite the lack of modern equipment.

Based on latest reports, Chinese Coast Guard ships and fishermen are continuously present in the Scarborough Shoal, blocking access of Filipino fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds.

READ: PNoy, Del Rosario responsible for PH losing control of Scarborough