The University of San Carlos received two historical books from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)-Cebu on September 24, 2025, at the Office of the President in the Downtown Campus.
The books, The Islands Beyond the Empire: Portuguese Essays on Early Modern Philippine History (16th–18th Centuries) and Documenta Filipina: The Philippines in Portuguese Archives and Libraries, were handed over in the presence of Deputy Director of the External Relations and Internationalization Office (ERIO) Kenneth Opina, USC OIC Director of Libraries Janice F. Berdin, R.L., M.L.I.S., and USC President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D.
Published in 2023 by the Foreign Service Institute, the books aim to build stronger cultural and historical connections between the Philippines and Portugal. They highlight shared histories and provide access to Portuguese perspectives on the Philippines, especially from the 16th to 18th centuries.
The Islands Beyond the Empire was edited by Paulo Jorge de Sousa Pinto and Miguel Rodrigues Lourenço through a collaboration between the Philippine Embassy in Portugal and Universidade Nova de Lisboa. It was published as part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan and the circumnavigation of the world by the Magellan-Elcano expedition.
Meanwhile, Documenta Filipina is a compilation of more than 1,000 Portuguese records in the Philippines, spanning 1508 to 1832. Its authors include Paulo Jorge de Sousa Pinto, Miguel Rodrigues Lourenço, Elsa Penalva, Pedro Correia Pinto, and Rui Manuel Loureiro.
The books are now part of the Filipiniana Collection of the USC Library System in Talamban Campus. Students and researchers may access them in the Filipiniana Library at the Josef Baumgartner Learning Resource Center.
We extend our gratitude to DFA-Cebu, especially to Dr. Angel H. Espiritu Jr., Head of the Consular Office, for this valuable gift. As a Carolinian institution, USC values the preservation of history and intercultural understanding. The donation reflects the University’s role in connecting local scholarship with global perspectives, while fostering appreciation for the country’s past among its students.