In October 2018, Manila became the meeting place of historians, collectors, scholars, and map enthusiasts from around the world for what would become one of the most remarkable cartographic gatherings ever held in the Philippines.

From Sunday, October 14 until Wednesday, October 17, the 36th IMCOS Symposium Manila 2018 unfolded as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of history, exploration, and the enduring art of mapmaking. Organized and curated by the GALLERY OF PRINTS through Rudolf J. H. Lietz, IMCoS Representative Philippines, the symposium was proudly presented by Ayala Museum and GALLERY OF PRINTS, with the support of IMCoS (International Map Collectors’ Society), London, and PHIMCOS (Philippine Map Collectors Society), Manila.

Under the inspiring theme INSULAE INDIAE ORIENTALIS, guests were taken on an extraordinary journey through centuries of Philippine and Asian cartographic history. Mornings at the Ayala Museum were filled with captivating lectures delivered by distinguished experts, each unveiling stories hidden within rare maps, antique prints, and historical documents.

Yet the symposium extended far beyond the lecture halls.

Participants were granted rare access to some of the Philippines’ most treasured collections during exclusive afternoon excursions to the Ortigas Foundation, Lopez Museum, and the UST Heritage Library. For many attendees, this became the defining highlight of the symposium: viewing extraordinary maps, books, and archives normally kept hidden from public view, opened exclusively for this historic occasion.

In a truly unforgettable moment for Philippine cartographic history, the Ayala Museum hosted a special exhibition featuring many of the original antique maps, prints, and books discussed throughout the symposium’s eleven lectures. The exhibition, accompanied by an extensive full-color catalogue, remained open until October 28, 2018, allowing visitors to continue experiencing this rare convergence of historical masterpieces.

Located in the heart of Makati City, the foremost financial center of the Philippines, the Ayala Museum stands as one of the country’s premier cultural institutions. Operated by the private Ayala Foundation and forming part of the Ayala Center adjacent to the Greenbelt malls, the museum has, since its establishment in 1967, been dedicated to preserving and promoting Filipino culture, art, and history. Its six-storey building houses important ethnographic and archaeological collections while continuously fostering cultural exchange through collaborations with both local and international institutions.

Over the decades, the Ayala Museum has presented numerous exhibitions featuring modern and antique prints, rare books, and historical collections that connect Philippine heritage to the global stage. During the 36th IMCOS Symposium Manila 2018, the museum became the centerpiece of a remarkable cartographic gathering, serving as the venue for the Map Collection Exhibition accompanying the Symposium. Here, participants from around the world experienced a rare and historic presentation of antique maps, prints, and archival treasures — many of which are seldom displayed to the public — making the occasion a truly unforgettable chapter in Philippine cultural history.