PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Embassy, Canberra
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*
22 September 2025, CANBERRA – As part of the celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo), The Philippine Embassy in Canberra, led by Ambassador Antonio A. Morales, attended the public lecture of renowned historian Ambeth R. Ocampo at the Australian National University (ANU), hosted by the ANU Philippines Institute. The lecture, titled “Forging the Filipino Nation: Jose E. Marco Revisited,” revisited the story of Jose E. Marco, a prolific forger whose fabricated works influenced Philippine historiography.
In his talk, Prof. Ocampo traced Marco's forgeries—ranging from the supposed 16th-century baybayin bark manuscripts to the invented writings attributed to Fr. Jose Burgos—were accepted as authentic for decades before being debunked. He emphasized how Marco’s legacy provides a cautionary lesson in today’s age of fake news and disinformation, showing how history can be used or misused in shaping national narratives.
The Embassy’s participation in this academic exchange formed part of its MANAMo activities, which foster deeper appreciation of the Philippines’ maritime heritage and archipelagic identity. By supporting initiatives that encourage critical engagement with Philippine history, the Embassy joins nationwide efforts to strengthen awareness of the nation’s cultural and historical foundations as a maritime and archipelagic state.
Prof. Ocampo, one of the country’s most prominent historians, is the Senator Gil J. Puyat Professor of History at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is the author of 35 books and writes Looking Back, the longest-running editorial column on history in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He also served as Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines from 2002 to 2011.
The event drew a wide audience that included members of the academic community, the diplomatic corps, and the Filipino community in Canberra. Their active participation reflected a shared interest in Philippine history and the relevance of historical awareness in contemporary society.
The Embassy underscored that MANAMo, established through Presidential Proclamation No. 316 in 2017, calls on Filipinos to rediscover the nation’s maritime heritage and its role in shaping the Philippines’ past, present, and future as an archipelagic nation. END
