October 31 ------ Three years after featuring the Philippine map in the music video of their song “What?”, the members of SB19 received official replicas of the 1734 Murillo-Velarde map from the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC).
SB19 — consisting of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin — was given official replicas of the 1734 Murillo-Velarde map by AIJC and NOW Group chairman Mel Velarde during a turnover ceremony at the National Library of the Philippines in Manila on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The members each received a specific part of the map based on their place of birth.
The 1734 Murillo-Velarde map, dubbed as “mother of all Philippine maps,” is known as the first scientific map of the Philippines. It was drawn by Francisco Suarez and engraved on copper by Nicolas de la Cruz Bagay, as documented by Spanish Jesuit Pedro Murillo Velarde. The map played a key role in the Philippines’ defense of its territorial right over the West Philippine Sea against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at The Hague in 2016. The original map was eventually bid by Velarde, (no relations to the Jesuit cartographer), in London in 2012 and was donated to the National Library. It is available for viewing at the library’s Permanent Gallery.
According to the AIJC chairman, one of the factors that made SB19 eligible to receive an official replica is their influence on the youth, which would hopefully, inspire the younger generation to “value history.” “They’re a patriotic and talented group of artists who have the right insight, discipline, and perspective,” Velarde told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of the event. “They’re young, but they have the magic and power to influence the younger generation.” “These young people can help younger Filipinos value their country. We cannot force culture. And the last thing that the younger people want is to be forced to study history because it’s a must. If it’s linked with music, it’s natural,” he further explained.
Velarde also shared that the music video for “What?” is a reminder of the quintet’s ability to empower the youth to be aware of Philippine history which, in turn, promotes love for the country. Justin served as the creative director for the video, which was released in March 2021. “We leave it to them [to be the bridge between P-pop and appreciation of Philippine history]. Young people express their thinking and emotions. They use music and other forms. Art is art. Other P-pop groups have other ways of expressing their love of our country because it’s a universal trait,” he said. “The moment it becomes real, it becomes natural that you tell the world who you are, and why you should fight for your country, especially at this moment. P-pop groups are all different, but what we have in common is being Filipino,” he continued.
Source: inquirer.net
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