How Did People Map the World Without Satellites? The Story of the Murillo Velarde Map
Centuries before satellites and drones, mapmakers relied on patience, ingenuity, and sheer determination to chart unknown lands. One of the most remarkable examples is the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map of the Philippines—a masterpiece of its time that still plays a crucial role today. More than just an antique artifact, this map has become a key piece of evidence in modern territorial disputes, proving that history can shape the future in unexpected ways.
The Art of Old-World Cartography
Without aerial views or GPS, early mapmakers had to get creative. They sailed along coastlines, measured distances with ropes and stars, and relied on local knowledge to sketch the contours of the land. Progress was slow—sometimes taking years—but their efforts produced the first detailed representations of the Philippine archipelago. These maps weren’t perfect, but they laid the foundation for everything that followed.
The Masterminds Behind the Map
The most famous early Philippine map was the work of Pedro Murillo Velarde, a Spanish Jesuit priest, with crucial help from two Filipinos: artist Francisco Suarez and engraver Nicolás de la Cruz Bagay. Together, they created the 1734 “Mother of All Philippine Maps,” a stunning blend of art and geography. While it served Spain’s colonial interests, it also captured the islands with unprecedented accuracy, making it an enduring treasure in Philippine history.
How Accurate Was It?
By today’s standards, the map has flaws—coastlines are slightly off, and distances are estimates. But considering the tools of the time, its precision is astounding. Using celestial navigation, ship logs, and local guides, Velarde and his team produced a map that guided explorers and traders for generations. Its real value, however, isn’t just in its geography but in its historical weight.
Why This 300-Year-Old Map Still Matters
In 2016, the Murillo Velarde map played a starring role in the Philippines’ legal victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. It proved that Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) and other key areas had been recognized as Philippine territory long before China’s controversial “Nine-Dash Line” claim in 1947. This centuries-old document became a powerful weapon in modern diplomacy, showing that history can still tip the scales in international law.
Beyond mapping, Velarde also wrote about governance, influencing Spanish colonial policies that later shaped land rights and territorial debates. His work reminds us that old records aren’t just relics—they can be keys to sovereignty.
The Hidden Power of Historical Maps
Maps like Murillo Velarde’s do more than depict land—they tell stories of ownership, struggle, and identity. In a post-colonial world, these documents help nations defend their heritage against modern encroachments. The past, it turns out, is never truly past—and sometimes, a 300-year-old map can speak louder than modern politics.
