Try mapping an island—say Boracay the next time you’re there—from a moving banca and from high cliffs and empathize with Antonio Pigafetta (Fernando de Magallanes’ chronicler and cartographer in 1521). Without airplanes, GPS, or other gadgets, Pigafetta was able to gauge locations, distances, shapes, and sizes only from ships and treetops, all the while battling Lapu-Lapu and sundry hazards like giant pythons and toothy crocodiles.
Understandably, Pigafetta could do no better than draw misshapen and mislocated islands, though with identifiable names, e.g., Zzubu, Mattan, Bohol, Humunu, Zzamal, Caghaian, and Pulaoam; and place names Maingdanao, Butuan, Calagam, Subanin.
Other expeditions followed Magallanes and in his 1543 voyage, Ruy López de Villalobos named Leyte or Samar Felipina in honor of Spanish Crown Prince Felipe (later King Felipe II). More information meant greater accuracy and Ateneo dean Leo Garcia calls Terza
Ostro Tavola by Ramusio-Gastaldi (Venice, 1563) the “birth certificate of the Philippines,” being the first map with the archipelago’s present name.
The super rare Ramusio-Gastaldi map was drawn upside down—China, Cochin-China, and Regno de Bengala at the bottom; Gilolo, Terenate, Ambon, Celebes, Iava Magiore, and Sumatra on top. Mid-map was Archipelago de S. Lazaro encompassing Lo Ladron, Humunu, Cyabu, Vendanao, Sarangan, Zolo, and Paloban. A narrow island east of Mindanao was labelled Filipina. There was no Luzon yet, with Martín de Goiti and companions having gone there only in 1570.
Maps have became progressively more accurate and detailed with the arrival of Miguel López de Legaspi in 1565 when military, religious, and civil authorities spread all over the archipelago and the Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Pampango, Waráy, etc. embarked on the path to nationhood.
Petrus Kaerius’ Insulae Philippinae (Amsterdam, 1598) was the first map to show the Philippines alone. It was drawn sideways but had many recognizable names: Ilocos, Luzom, Pagansi, Mondora, Negoes, Cabu, Paracalla, Mindanao, Suricao, Dapito, Calamiane.
The culmination of two centuries of mapmaking, the holy grail of Philippine cartography, was Carta Hydrographica y chorographica de las Islas Filipinas, published in 1734 by Fr. Pedro Murillo Velarde, S.J. By then, Luzon and the Visayas were well-known and only Mindanao and the Cordilleras were largely terra incognita. The map was large (1.12 x 1.20 meters) and decorative with coat of arms, compass roses, sailing ships, and 12 vignettes with city and rural scenes and mini maps of Guajan (Guam), Intramuros, Zamboanga, and Cavite and its harbor. It was drawn and engraved, respectively, by Indios Tagalos Francisco Suarez and Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay and printed in Manila’s Jesuit press.
Only about a dozen copies are known to exist today, most in national libraries: Biblioteca Nacional de España, British Library, US Library of Congress, and Paris’ Bibliothèque Nationale. I’ve seen three examples here: at Malacañang’s Presidential Museum, the GBR Museum in Cavite, and the 2012 PHIMCOS exhibit at Manila’s Metropolitan Museum. A fourth copy has just arrived. Auctioned at Sotheby’s London last Nov. 4 by the English Duke of Northumberland, it was won by a still-anonymous Pinoy for GBP170,500 or P12.6 million.
Fray Pedro, Mang Kikò, and Pareng Kulás would have been astounded.
Notes: (a) President Ferdinand E. Marcos’ map collection including a Murillo-Velarde (without vignettes) is in the Malacañang Presidential Museum and Library; (b) The definitive study of Philippine maps is Carlos Quirino, Philippine Cartography, 3rd edition, Leovino Ma. Garcia, ed. (Manila: Vibal Foundation, 2010): (c) An illustrated catalogue of the Philippine Map Collectors Society exhibit is available (check the PHIMCOS website); and (d) The Murillo-Velarde identifies places in the China Sea off Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan as Galit, Panacot, and Lumbáy (Tagalog for anger, threat and sorrow, respectively).
Two human beings, considered to be the epitomes of Divinity meet each other. A history is created. So it happened when Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa came in contact with each other. Their meeting was an event to be recorded in world history. While the mission of the former was to take care of the affairs of the Roman Catholic Church and spreading the word of Christ throughout the world, the Mother dedicated every breath of her life to attend to the poor and the unfortunate lot of mankind. Therefore, both of these great souls were instrumental in reviving faith of people in Christ and his miracles.
Mother Teresa canonization LIVE: Pope Francis declares Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa has been declared a saint by Pope Francis on Sunday at a canonisation ceremony held in Vatican City.
Mother Teresa has been declared a saint by Pope Francis on Sunday at a canonisation ceremony held in Vatican City. The canonization on September 4 comes on the eve of her 19th death anniversary. She will now be known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The canonization ceremony began at 2 pm IST and was followed by an Eucharistic celebration.
A 12-member central delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and two state government-level delegations from Delhi and West Bengal, led by Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee were in Vatican City to attend the ceremony.
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997. On October 19, 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Kenya -2015 Pope Francis has urged Kenyans to work for peace and reconciliation on his first trip as pontiff to Africa, amid a rise in militant violence.
Huge crowds gathered in the Kenyan capital Nairobi for a mass at a university campus.
The Pope has already met Christian and Muslim leaders, describing dialogue between different religions as challenging but essential.
New York -2015
The Combined Choirs of St. Charles Borromeo sing gospel songs prior to a mass led by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City.
Pope Francis arrives to lead mass at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on Sept. 25, 2015
Philippines -2015
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute.
Filipinos raise their image of the Santo Nino (Holy Child) during the final papal mass of Pope Francis at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute.
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
Filipinos raise their image of the Santo Nino (Holy Child) during the final papal mass of Pope Francis at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
An aerial view shows pilgrims gathering to hear a Mass conducted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park in Manila January 18, 2015, in this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force. Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force/Handout via Reuters ...
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
Filipinos raise their image of the Santo Nino (Holy Child) during the final papal mass of Pope Francis at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
An aerial view shows pilgrims gathering to hear a Mass conducted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park in Manila January 18, 2015, in this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force. Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force/Handout via Reuters ...
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An aerial view shows pilgrims gathering to hear a Mass conducted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park in Manila January 18, 2015, in this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force. Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force/Handout via Reuters ...
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
Filipinos raise their image of the Santo Nino (Holy Child) during the final papal mass of Pope Francis at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
An aerial view shows pilgrims gathering to hear a Mass conducted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park in Manila January 18, 2015, in this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force. Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force/Handout via Reuters ...
more
An aerial view shows pilgrims gathering to hear a Mass conducted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park in Manila January 18, 2015, in this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force. Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force/Handout via Reuters ...
more
An aerial view shows pilgrims gathering to hear a Mass conducted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park in Manila January 18, 2015, in this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force. Pope Francis concluded his trip to Asia on Sunday with an open-air Mass for a rain-drenched crowd in Manila that the Vatican and the government said drew up to seven million people, the largest ever for a papal event. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force/Handout via Reuters ... Pope Francis greets worshippers as he arrives to celebrate the mass
Catholic faithful attend an open-air Mass which will be led by Pope Francis at Rizal Park in Manila January 18, 2015. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini (PHILIPPINES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY)
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate his final Papal Mass in Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. Millions filled Manila's main park and surrounding areas for Pope Francis' final Mass in the Philippines on Sunday, braving a steady rain to hear the pontiff's message of hope and consolation for the Southeast Asian country's most downtrodden and destitute. (AP Photo/Ron Soliman)
