How did the 1734 Murillo Velarde map, the oldest one in the Philippines, get its name?

The 1734 Murillo Velarde map is known as the oldest map in the Philippines, but do you know how it got its name?

On Wednesday’s “24 Oras,” Kuya Kim said the map was named after Jesuit friar Padre Pedro Murillo Velarde.

As reported on #KuyaKimAnoNa, the 1734 Murillo Velarde map was also called the Carta Hydrographica Y Chorographica De Las Yslas Filipinas Manila.

It was the first scientific map that showed the Philippines’ territory as well as the Filipinos’ way of living then.

In 2016, the map proved to be instrumental in the Philippines’ win against China in the arbitration court over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

The map showed that Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal was part of the Philippines.

It was donated to the government after it was bought by businessman Mel Velarde for P12 million.

Meanwhile, the biggest map of the Philippines can be found at the New Luneta Park.

Measuring 5,900 square feet, the 3D relief map was built in 1967 by the National Parks and Development Committee and took nine months to finish. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News