Aguhon Volume I Online Access: Advancing the Maritime Narrative of the Filipino Nation

museomaritimo
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February 28, 2026 – Pasay City, NCR, Philippines

Article by AIMS Museo Maritimo Team In celebration of its 32nd Foundation Anniversary and in observance of National Arts Month, AIMS Museo Maritimo, proudly announces the official online release of Aguhon: A Philippine Maritime History and Heritage Journal, Volume I.

The journal is now accessible through the museum’s website:https://www.aimsmuseomaritimo.com/aguhon

Aguhon is a pioneering scholarly publication dedicated to building a comprehensive and accessible record of Philippine maritime history — from ancient times to the present. Designed as both an academic resource and the intellectual foundation for the museum’s exhibitions, the journal advances a clear and structured thesis: that the Philippines is fundamentally a maritime nation-state shaped, sustained, and continually transformed by the sea.

Volume I consists of three issues that collectively trace the country’s journey from early migration to modern global mobility.

Volume I, Issue No. 1

Migration, Exchange, and the Foundations of Identity

The inaugural issue frames the Philippines as a maritime nation shaped by waves of migration and exchange. It traces the movement of Austronesian voyagers, Islamic traders, Chinese settlers, and later Spanish and American influences, demonstrating how seaborne interactions layered cultures, institutions, and identities across the archipelago.

By presenting Philippine history as a dynamic process of navigation, encounter, and cultural synthesis, this issue affirms the sea not merely as geography, but as the enduring bedrock of Filipino nationhood.

Publication Identifiers:

Creative Commons Attribution–Commercial 4.0 International License
ISSN 2799-0974
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.31338508

Volume I, Issue No. 2

“A Maritime Nation”: From Peoplehood to Nationhood

Building on the previous issue’s portrayal of the Philippines as a migrant society shaped by maritime movement, Issue No. 2 advances the narrative from peoplehood to nationhood under the theme “A Maritime Nation.”

This volume examines how dispersed coastal societies were unified through colonial maritime systems, global trade networks, revolution, war, and modern geopolitics. Viewing history through a maritime lens, it argues that the sea was not simply a backdrop to historical events, but a decisive force in shaping shared identity, national consciousness, and the development of statehood.

By situating political and social transformation within maritime systems, this issue reinforces Aguhon’s central thesis: the Philippines is a nation formed—and continually reshaped—by its waters.

Publication Identifiers:

Creative Commons Attribution–Commercial 4.0 International License
ISSN 2799-0974
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.31338568

Volume I, Issue No. 3

“A Great Exodus”: The Modern Maritime Diaspora

Expanding on Aguhon’s themes of migration and maritime nationhood, Issue No. 3 frames the modern Filipino diaspora as the latest chapter in the country’s long seafaring history. Under the theme “A Great Exodus,” it explores how economic pressures, global labor demands, and state policies shaped the Philippines into a nation of emigrants.

Overseas Filipino Workers and seafarers exemplify contemporary ocean-borne mobility, while remittances, transnational communities, and global achievements reflect a continuation of centuries-old maritime patterns. This issue argues that modern dispersal is not a departure from history, but its continuation—further affirming that Filipino identity remains inseparable from the sea.

Publication Identifiers:

Creative Commons Attribution–Commercial 4.0 International License
ISSN 2799-0974
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.31338595

As AIMS commemorates over three decades of excellence in maritime education, the release of Aguhon Volume I reflects its enduring commitment to advancing scholarship, preserving heritage, and deepening public understanding of the Philippines’ maritime identity.

We encourage scholars, students, maritime professionals, and the wider community to read, share, and utilize the journal. We hope you find it informative, insightful, and enriching.

For your information and guidance.