Map reading

I love maps and as such it has become a pleasure to be living in a country where good quality maps are easily available. I have enjoyed accumulating a number of different maps over the last few weeks - street maps of Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, national political and economic maps of the Philippines and Asia.

Perhaps it is strange that someone who has always been interested in other countries dropped studying geography as early as the UK school system would allow (aged 13). Maps give me a sense of bearing of knowing where I am relative to other places and whilst they can't really tell you what to visit or where to go they do tell you how to get there once you've decided where to go and give me plenty of ideas on new places to research. Having lived in Nicaragua for 5 years simply the existence of street names with street signs is exciting and gives a sense of ease. GPS is amazing when you are driving and need immediate directions but having a map in hand allows me to explore without actually going anywhere.

The maps of the Philippines designed mainly for students I guess that I have bought for about 25 pence (35 US cents) in the local bookstores have also taught me a lot more than simple geographic location, with information on local economics and other statistical data I am starting to understand a little more that helps me when I read the newspaper. Mindanao one of the largest and most troubled zones of the Philippines, the heartland of the rebels and religious based conflict (as I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago) is also the home to most of the mineral wealth of the Philippines - gold, silver, copper and chromite, sadly something that often seems to be a factor in conflict zones in a country.

It also needs to be remembered that whilst we as westerners see Christianity as the older religion, and of course historically that is true, in the Philippines Christianity in the form of Catholicism arrived in 1565 but the Islamic faith had already been moving through the southern islands such as Mindanao and Sulu  for more than two hundred years. The Spanish Christianisation by dispelling Jews and Muslims "Moros" worked in the other islands of the Philippines but never in Mindanao or Sulu during their 300 years of rule. Then under American rule even the "Moro Wars" did not totally overcome or pacify the Muslims. It is not therefore a surprise that conflict and strong feelings still are very prevalent in this region. The current President of the Philippines wisely refuses to be drawn into all out war and seems to be trying to seek a more peaceful settlement which I guess is part of the reason that Eid ul-Adha last week was given as a national holiday even though the percentage of Muslims in the whole of the Philippines is quiet small.