A BOOK on understanding Philippine-Portuguese relations in the 16th century through the first Portuguese maps that included the country was launched recently at the UST Central Library.
The book, Discussing the First Portuguese Maps with the Philippines 1512-1571, is the first of a series that will contain other archival documents of early Philippine-Portuguese relations.
According to co-author Prof. Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, a Portuguese historian, the maps are key to understanding the “rational and Asiatic importance” of the Philippines.
De Sousa, the holder of the Fernão Magalhães Professional Chair in UST, gave copies of the book to the representatives of the University and other academic institutions in the country.
The lecture forum and book launching was held on June 9, and was organized by the Office of Academic Affairs, Embassy of Portugal, Central Library and the Portuguese Center for the Study of Southeast Asia (Cepesa).
