Fabon, Marie Eirene Florentino

Prof. Ma. Luisa De Leon- Bolinao

Kas2

Reaction Paper
On Cartographic Material and Its Critical Role
in Historical Reconstruction in the Philippines

The symposium began with a short introduction on the importance of history. Professor
Carlos Madrid, the speaker from the Instituto Cervantes Manila, said that history is a tool for
national unity and identity, a commemoration and an academic tool. In this symposium, history
as an academic tool was given focus on and one particular area has been emphasized- the
importance of cartographic materials and other sources such as cedulas and paintings in historic
reconstruction.
Cartographic studies is a yet a field to be explored and introduced to the historical studies
yet it proved to give us profound insights on pieces of history through comparative analysis of
modern maps and maps drawn during the colonial era.
The importance of cartographic maps in historic reconstruction manifests in different
ways but four were mentioned, or at least were listed on my notes, during the symposium. These
are the importance in: (1) reconstruction the trading routes and relations, (2) discovery and
confirmation of historical structures and streets, (3) supporting claims on geo-political
boundaries and (4) representation of historical culture.
Trading Routes and Relations
Trade routes are the superhighways of the colonial era. More than the commerce of
products from one place to another, these trade routes had also been a way to transfer language,
beliefs, religion, art and culture.
By determining these trade routes, scholars can determine how different nationalities
operated in their trade and, therefore, identify how varied cultures affected the Filipino culture.
In the seventeenth century, Spain tried to institute an Asian trading empire that is based in
Manila. These trading route little by little became linked to different regional trading networks.
The empire was characterized by octagonal shaped edifices which suggests that Chinese
merchants dominated the trade and commerce in the country.
As the commerce and businesses grew, it is only natural that exchange in intangible
things should take place. The common transfer and mixture of culture is through language; when
people try to communicate to different nationalities to initiate and continue their trade relations.
An example of language mixture which can take place during a trade is the creation of pidgin.
Pidgin are words created through interaction of two different languages. Chavacano is a creole
language developed from its early stages known as the Pidgin. Chavacano is derived from
Spanish, Mexican and Portuguese origins.
Discovery and Confirmation of Historical Structures and Streets
With the current state of our urban setting, historical structures and streets are often
drowned in the chaos of modern lifestyle. These structures and places are often forgotten and
brushed aside making these important functional artifacts unnoticed.

Without cartographic material, historic places would probably not be considered

historic until proven with some other evidences. With the urbanization particularly in
Intramuros, colonial structures were passed to different owners and renovations were made to
turn these historic buildings into offices and different establishments, it will be harder for
scholars to distinguish legitimate historical structures.
Moreover, with destruction the World War II has caused in our country, certain historical
buildings were erased from the landscape. But through cartographic materials, identification of
historical structure were much easier.
Furthermore, determining historical places is very critical, not just in historical
reconstruction but also, in the cultural and historical preservation. But why is historic building
preservation so vital anyway?
Architecture is one of the most direct ways culture and, more importantly, identity of a
country is captured. By preserving buildings and other spaces, people can share the same spatial
experiences where the past generations have lived and ultimately come into contact with what
the country has been.
Paintings, specifically landscape paintings, are also in scrutiny for they also give us
perspective of historic events.
In a painting of an unknown artist presented in the symposium, Intramuros and Binondo
were portrayed in a colored illustration. And what was curious in this painting is how more
detailed and intricate the representation of the China town as compared to the rest of the scenery
which was unattentively drawn. It noticeable that the Chinese trading ships were drawn
accurately and with such detail than the Spanish ships which was portrayed as more like boat
than anything. This leads to a hypothesis that the painting could have been made by a Chinese.
On Geo-political claims
Perhaps this is one of the most critical advantages of acquiring colonial cartographic
materials and the most relevant in the present situation of the country. In the past, cartographic
materials served to facilitate territorial expansion and administrative control of the land and up
until today it still serves its purpose in geo-political issues.
In fact, our country, Philippines, has used a 300 year old map as a supporting evidence in
our claim of the Scarborough shoal during the arbitration case against China. This is also a
response to the nine-dash-line the opposition has been using as a proof of their claim.
Cartographic materials can be as dangerous or can be as helpful depending on we use and
present it. In an attempt to broaden the topic of this paper through research, I found that maps
were also used in political propagandas.
During the World War II, maps were used to influence the US public of the notion that
Nazi Germany was a threat to the US and likewise for the Nazi Germany.

Representation of Historical Culture

With the landscape and urban layout illustrated in cartographic maps, a deeper
understanding of culture can be extracted. Places and buildings are more than just structures.
They are also physical manifestation of culture and way of thinking.
A reconstruction of the past environment gives us an insight in how people not just
navigated cities or towns, it can also determine social organization and stratification in the
society.
Intramuros became the center and symbol of authority of the Spaniards. Inside it lived the
most powerful and elite during the colonial era. On the other hand, Extramuros refers to the
pueblos outside the walled city. These pueblos were known as Pueblo del Tondo, Pueblo de
Binondo, Isla de Binondo, Pueblo de Quiapo and Pueblo de Malate.
With the growth of foreign laborers and craftsmen specifically Chinese and Japanese
laborers, the establishment of Chinese Parian and Japanese Dilao began. These communities
were built in a separate urban quarter. Today these isolated quarters are no longer standing and
through the cartographic materials such as the landscape painting printed on the last page proves
the social discrimination among the foreign laborers in the Spanish colonial times.
In a 16th century plan of Intramuros in Manila projected in one of the slides, the maps
shows a detailed and varied hatches on the drawings which represents the materials used in the
construction of the walled city. It is noticeable how stone work and craftsmanship were essential
in the construction and design of each of the entrances in the city. This idea directs to the
proposition that Chinese laborers (Sangleyes) were employed in construction because they have
more knowledge in stone work than Filipino laborer who specialize in wood and bamboo
construction.
Evidence on this proposition can be found in the architecture of the churches, particularly
the bell towers. Bell towers in the Philippines were mostly octagonal in shape. These is
associated with the Sangleyes and their belief that of the lucky number eight.
With enough knowledge in the interpretation of spaces and critical analysis of it, historic
reconstruction is possible.
On a personal level, I have never seen cartographic materials as vital in the reconstruction
of culture in the past until the symposium. I have often seen them as direct and hard
representation of the landscape of the past but never bothered to scrutinize their implications in
the culture and how people lived.
It was quite astounding how simple cartographic materials can reveal so much of history
through observation of seemingly trivial details.
One particular part in the symposium I was truly amazed is how the map of Intramuros
was accurately done. When the map was overlain on top of a modern map of Intramuros, the
contour line fit almost perfectly and that the old map was said to be 95% accurate. Now this tells
so much of the knowledge the Spanish have in map-making despite lacking not really an
advanced technology for their technology is relatively as advanced as the present but the
convenient technologies we have now.

On the other hand, it is quite unappealing for me that landscape paintings were also used
in historic reconstruction. While it is true that these paintings give us insights in history on a
micro level, these materials are marred with bias as implied in the discussion above.
In conclusion, I think cartographic materials has the same historical knowledge
embedded in it as the written records we have. They have the same historic values as different
cultural artefacts like ancient pots or jars and ancient carvings. Cartographic materials might not
directly feed its information but they illustrate these information that even written records fail to
convey.

Fig. 1 Map of Intramuros from

the 16th century

Fig. 2 Painting of Manila

depicting Intramuros and
Extramuros

References:
Cartography: Introduction, History, and Uses | EnvironmentalScience.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.environmentalscience.org/cartography
Lico, G. (2008). Arkitekturang Filipino: A history of architecture and urbanism in the
Philippines. Diliman, Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.
Washington Trust. (n.d.). Benefits of Historic Preservation | Washington Trust for Historic
Preservation. Retrieved from http://preservewa.org/Benefits-Historic-Preservation.aspx