Mel Velarde

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Mel Velasco Velarde is a Filipino businessman. He is the president and CEO of the Filipino telecommunications conglomerate, NOW Corporation[1] and chairman and CEO of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC).[2] He is known for acquiring the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, regarded as “The Mother of All Philippine Maps,”[3][4] through an auction at Sotheby’s London in 2014.[5][6] The map served as critical evidence in the Philippines’ win against China’s claim over the West Philippine Sea in 2016.

Early life and education[]

Velarde graduated summa cum laude from Boston University with a degree in Liberal Studies Major in Interdisciplinary Studies covering Humanities, Sciences and Mathematics. He had also obtained Masters Degree in Business Economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific.[7]

At eight years old, Velarde was the youngest member of the Professional Photographers Association of the Philippines and accredited press photographer at the Philippine Constitutional Convention in 1971 and 1972.[8][9][10] He was awarded a plaque of recognition as the World’s Youngest Photographer by Supreme Court Justice Felix Makasiar in 1972.[11]

At 15 years old, Velarde was named the national champion in a weekly televised quiz bee, “Spin-A-Win,” on Channel 9. He brought home the grand prize, a brand new 1978 Toyota Corolla.[12] At 15, he was elected Secretary General of the Professional Photographers Association of the Philippines.[10]

At 19, he was invited by the United Nations as Honorary Speaker in the United Nations International Youth Leaders’ Conference in New York City in his capacity as Philippine Youth Non-Governmental Organization delegation chairman.

Career[]

He returned to the Philippines in 1986 People Power revolution, and became the campaign manager for Raul Manglapus in the 1987 Senate elections. He then moved to ABS-CBN to head the News and Public Affairs Department.[10]

Velarde co-founded SkyCable Philippines in 1990. He served as its Executive Vice President and General Manager.[10] In 2005, he acquired the predecessor company of Now Corporation.[13]

Velarde acquired the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map in 2015 through Sotheby’s auction in London. The map served as critical evidence in the Philippines’ win against China’s claim over the West Philippine Sea in 2016.[14][15] Velarde has been distributing replicas of the map to various institutions, barangays, and municipalities nationwide.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ "Mel V. Velarde". NOW Corporation. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  2. ^ "Board of Trustees". AIJC. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  3. ^ "THE MURILLO-VELARDE MAP, REGARDED AS "MOTHER OF ALL PHILIPPINE MAPS" (MANAMO)".
  4. ^ "Philippine Map Sells for P46.72 Million at Auction".
  5. ^ "1734 Murillo Velarde map is back in Manila". Vera Files. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  6. ^ hermes (2019-09-16). "Copy of rare 18th-century Philippine map sold for $1 million". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  7. ^ "Now Corp Annual Report for fiscal year ending 2017" (PDF).
  8. ^ Batuigas, Ruther. (Ed.). (November 26, 1972). "The youngest lens alive". Professional Photographers Association of the Philippines magazine.
  9. ^ "The camera eye". Republic Weekly with Newsday Volume III, No. 36. May 3, 1972.
  10. ^ a b c d Magkilat, Bernie Cahiles (July 9, 2003). "Mel V. Velarde, creating and sharing wealth". Manila Bulletin.
  11. ^ Dolor, Loreto, D. (August 1972). "Young boy with a mission". Philippine Panorama.
  12. ^ "The greening meadows of <Spin-a-Win>". TV Times. June 29 – July 5, 1980.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  13. ^ "Next Mobile shareholder acquires two-thirds stake in publicly-listed Cashrounds". The Philippine Star. 22 March 2005.
  14. ^ Tordesillas, Ellen (May 6, 2017). "1734 Murillo Velarde map is back in Manila". VERA Files.
  15. ^ Dancel, Raul (September 16, 2019). "Copy of rare 18th-century Philippine map sold for $1 million".
  16. ^ "Turnover of Murillo Velarde 1734 Map Replicas Archives". AIJC. Retrieved 2021-05-21.

External links[]

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