Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Chairperson of the Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs (IMOA), distributed 75 framed copies of the 1875 Carta General del Archipiélago Filipino to public elementary and high schools in seven barangays in northwestern Palawan facing the West Philippine Sea.

The distribution event took place at the mini-City Hall in Barangay Macarascas, Puerto Princesa, where head teachers and barangay chairs from the recipient schools gathered to receive the maps. Additionally, Justice Carpio presented a framed copy to the Macarascas police, further emphasizing the significance of historical cartography in asserting the country’s territorial rights.

The initiative was made possible through the efforts of Luke Licerio, a member of the University of the Philippines Law Class of 1975, who hails from Macarascas. His coordination ensured that these valuable historical resources reached the local educational institutions, reinforcing awareness of the nation’s maritime heritage and sovereignty.

Justice Carpio, known for his staunch advocacy on the West Philippine Sea, continues to champion the dissemination of historical maps as tangible evidence of the country’s longstanding claims. The 1875 Carta General del Archipiélago Filipino serves as a crucial educational tool in fostering national consciousness and empowering future generations with knowledge of the country’s territorial history.