# Mel Velarde > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mel_Velarde > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mel_Velarde.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Velarde > Source revision: 1342990189 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Mel Velasco Velarde** is a Filipino businessman. He is chairman of the Filipino telecommunications conglomerate, [Now Corporation](/source/Now_Corporation)[1] and NOW Telecom, and chairman and CEO of the [Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication](/source/Asian_Institute_of_Journalism_and_Communication) (AIJC).[2] He is known for acquiring the 1734 Murillo [Velarde map](/source/Velarde_map), regarded as "The Mother of All Philippine Maps,"[3][4] through an auction at [Sotheby's](/source/Sotheby's) in [London](/source/London) in 2014.[5][6] The map served as critical evidence in the Philippines' 2016 win against claims of the [People's Republic of China](/source/China) over the [West Philippine Sea](/source/West_Philippine_Sea). ## Early life His father, Meliton, suffered from an [eye disease](/source/Eye_disease) at his birth which led to total [visual impairment](/source/Visual_impairment). 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 of 1971](/source/Philippine_Constitutional_Convention_of_1971).[7][8][9] He was awarded a plaque of recognition as the World's Youngest Photographer by [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_Philippines) Justice [Felix Makasiar](/source/Felix_Makasiar) in 1972.[10] At age eleven, Velarde was a national chess and [Game of the Generals](/source/Game_of_the_Generals) finalist, and champion of national Siege game.[11] At 15 years old, Velarde was named the national champion in a weekly televised [quiz bee](/source/Quiz_bowl), "Spin-A-Win," on [Channel 9](/source/DZKB-TV). He brought home the grand prize, a [brand new](/source/Brand_new) 1978 [Toyota Corolla](/source/Toyota_Corolla).[12] At this age, he was elected Secretary General of the Professional Photographers Association of the Philippines.[9] At 19, he was invited by the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations) to be Honorary Speaker at the United Nations International Youth Leaders’ Conference in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in his capacity as Philippine Youth Non-Governmental Organization [delegation](/source/Delegation) chairman. ## Education Velarde graduated *summa cum laude* from [Boston University](/source/Boston_University) with a degree in Liberal Studies Major in Interdisciplinary Studies covering Humanities, Sciences and Mathematics. He received his master's degree in Business Economics from the [University of Asia and the Pacific](/source/University_of_Asia_and_the_Pacific).[13] Velarde took up the Owners and Presidents Management Program at [Harvard Business School](/source/Harvard_Business_School), the International Human Rights Law summer course at [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford), and Masters Cinematography at the [American Society of Cinematographers](/source/American_Society_of_Cinematographers), among other executive education programs and professional certified training programs.[14] ## Career He returned to the Philippines after the February 1986 [People Power Revolution](/source/People_Power_Revolution) and became campaign manager for [Raúl Manglapus](/source/Raul_Manglapus) in the [1987 Senate elections](/source/1987_Philippine_Senate_election). He then moved to [ABS-CBN](/source/ABS-CBN) to head the News and Public Affairs Department.[9] Velarde co-founded [SkyCable Philippines](/source/Sky_Cable_Corporation) in 1990. He served as its Executive Vice President and general manager.[9] In 2005, he acquired the predecessor company of [Now Corporation](/source/Now_Corporation).[15] Velarde is Chairman of [NOW Corporation](/source/Now_Corporation),[16] a publicly listed firm in the Philippine Stock Exchange with investments in technology, media and telecommunications.[17] In 2022, during her visit to the Philippines, [United States Vice President](/source/Vice_President_of_the_United_States) [Kamala Harris](/source/Kamala_Harris) announced the partnership of the United States with NOW Corporation's affiliate, NOW Telecom, for [5G](/source/5G) technology deployment, through a grant from the [United States Trade and Development Agency](/source/United_States_Trade_and_Development_Agency) (USTDA). In a [fact sheet](/source/Fact_sheet), the [White House](/source/White_House) said, “These efforts should provide faster and more reliable digital services and increased broadband Internet access for Filipinos countrywide.”[18] Velarde is also Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC).[19][20] Founded in 1980, AIJC has a Graduate School, which offers master's degree programs in communication and journalism; a Research, Policy, and Advocacy Unit, which undertakes policy and action research and project management in various development areas; and a Professional Development Program, which provides training for journalists, communicators, development managers, and other professionals from the public and private sectors.[21] In 2009, Velarde received the Top Taxpayer Award from the [Bureau of Internal Revenue](/source/Bureau_of_Internal_Revenue) (BIR) after Velarde Inc. was recognized as Top ONETT Taxpayer for Revenue Region No. 8, having made the highest tax payment in that year.[22][23] In 2015, Velarde acquired the [Murillo Velarde 1734 Map](/source/Velarde_map) from the collection of [Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland](/source/Duke_of_Northumberland) in an auction at [Sotheby's](/source/Sotheby's) in [London](/source/London).[19] The map served as critical evidence in the Philippines’ win against China's claim over the [West Philippine Sea](/source/West_Philippine_Sea) in 2016.[24][25] Velarde has been distributing replicas of the map to various institutions, barangays, and municipalities nationwide.[26] It will be on display at the [National Library of the Philippines](/source/National_Library_of_the_Philippines)’ permanent gallery upon its opening.[27] ## References 1. ["Mel V. Velarde"](https://now-corp.com/staff/mel-v-velarde-2/). *NOW Corporation*. Retrieved May 21, 2021. 1. ["Board of Trustees"](https://aijc.com.ph/officers-and-staff/). *AIJC*. Retrieved May 21, 2021. 1. ["THE MURILLO-VELARDE MAP, REGARDED AS "MOTHER OF ALL PHILIPPINE MAPS" (MANAMO)"](https://dhakape.dfa.gov.ph/advisories/634-the-murillo-velarde-map-regarded-as-mother-of-all-philippine-maps-manamo) 1. ["Philippine Map Sells for P46.72 Million at Auction"](https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/murillo-velarde-map-auction-a00293-20190909). *Esquiremag.ph* 1. ["1734 Murillo Velarde map is back in Manila"](https://verafiles.org/articles/1734-murillo-velarde-map-back-manila). *Vera Files*. May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2021. 1. hermes (September 16, 2019). ["Copy of rare 18th-century Philippine map sold for $1 million"](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/copy-of-rare-18th-century-philippine-map-sold-for-1-million). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved May 21, 2021. 1. Batuigas, Ruther. (Ed.). (November 26, 1972). "The youngest lens alive". *Professional Photographers Association of the Philippines magazine* 1. "The camera eye". *Republic Weekly with Newsday Volume III, No. 36*. May 3, 1972. 1. Magkilat, Bernie Cahiles (July 9, 2003). "Mel V. Velarde, creating and sharing wealth". *Manila Bulletin* 1. Dolor, Loreto, D. (August 1972). "Young boy with a mission". *Philippine Panorama* 1. Montejo, Jimmy (September 1, 2024). ["Mel Velarde: From prodigy to CEO"](https://manilastandard.net/business/314491777/mel-velarde-from-prodigy-to-ceo.html). *[Manila Standard](/source/Manila_Standard)*. Retrieved September 7, 2024. 1. "The greening meadows of ". *TV Times*. June 29 – July 5, 1980. 1. ["Now Corp Annual Report for fiscal year ending 2017"](https://now-corp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Annual-Report-For-the-Fiscal-Year-Ended-31-December-2017.pdf) 1. ["About Me"](https://melvelarde.com/about-me/). *melvelarde.com*. Retrieved January 5, 2023. 1. ["Next Mobile shareholder acquires two-thirds stake in publicly-listed Cashrounds"](https://www.philstar.com/business/2005/03/22/271297/next-mobile-shareholder-acquires-two-thirds-stake-publicly-listed-cashrounds). *[The Philippine Star](/source/The_Philippine_Star)*. March 22, 2005. 1. Hilario, Edgard (October 4, 2022). ["NOW Corp eyes 5G, 26GHz; Seeks to acquire Newsnet"](https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/04/now-corp-eyes-5g-26ghz-seeks-to-acquire-newsnet/). *Manila Bulletin*. Retrieved January 5, 2023. 1. ["Company Profile"](https://now-corp.com/company-profile/). *NOW Corporation*. Retrieved January 5, 2023. 1. Rosales, Elijah (December 17, 2022). ["NOW Telecom secures US grant for 5G services"](https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/12/17/2231289/now-telecom-secures-us-grant-5g-services). *The Philippine STAR*. Retrieved January 5, 2023. 1. Jadloc, Mariamme (October–December 2018). ["Map Rights Wrongs: The 1734 Murillo Velarde map"](https://upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/NEW-UPDATE-OCT-DEC2018.pdf). *UPDate Diliman*. pp. 20–23. Retrieved January 4, 2023. 1. ["Board of Trustees"](https://aijc.com.ph/board-of-trustees-2/). *Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication*. Retrieved January 4, 2023. 1. ["Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication"](https://aijc.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/aijc_brochure1.pdf). *Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication*. Retrieved January 4, 2023. 1. dela Cruz, Pennie (June 7, 2015). ["Mother of all PH maps coming home"](https://globalnation.inquirer.net/124287/mother-of-all-ph-maps-coming-home). *Inquirer.net*. Retrieved January 5, 2023. 1. ["Velarde Inc to subscribe to increase in ICTV capital"](https://www.philstar.com/business/2010/03/18/558523/velarde-inc-subscribe-increase-ictv-capital). *The Philippine STAR*. March 18, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2023. 1. Tordesillas, Ellen (May 6, 2017). ["1734 Murillo Velarde map is back in Manila"](https://verafiles.org/articles/1734-murillo-velarde-map-back-manila). *VERA Files* 1. Dancel, Raul (September 16, 2019). ["Copy of rare 18th-century Philippine map sold for $1 million"](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/copy-of-rare-18th-century-philippine-map-sold-for-1-million) 1. ["Turnover of Murillo Velarde 1734 Map Replicas Archives"](https://aijc.com.ph/category/turnover-of-murillo-velarde-1734-map-replicas/). *AIJC*. Retrieved May 21, 2021. 1. Cupin, Beas (September 6, 2024). ["Mel Velarde on the meaning of the 1734 Murillo-Velarde map"](https://www.rappler.com/philippines/interview-murillo-velarde-map-significance/). *[Rappler](/source/Rappler)*. Retrieved September 7, 2024. ## External links - [Official Website](https://melvelarde.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mel Velarde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Velarde) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Velarde?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.