Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 177

There is a school of thought in Philippine history that argues that foreigners c...

There is a school of thought in Philippine history that argues that foreigners cannot and should not write Philippine history. Those who say and believe the above have not written as lucidly and as solidly as Fr. John Scumacher, S.J. (a naturalized Filipino) who passed away this morning after a lingering illness. His work was an inspiration to me. His words (and sometimes being mentioned by him in a footnote) kept me going when criticized for being gossipy, trivial, or being a hopelessly narrative historian. He will be missed by those who were touched by his life and work.


2014

My Inquirer column today on the Bonifacio Trial.http://opinion.inquirer.net/744...

My Inquirer column today on the Bonifacio Trial.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/74497/bonifacio-under-oath


Bonifacio under oath
opinion.inquirer.net
Teodoro M. Kalaw is the name of a busy Manila street where the National Library of the Philippines is located. The naming of this street is quite appropriate because Kalaw served as director of the prewar National Library and published compilations of primary-source documents that have been mined by…

Forgot to post a notice about my lecture on Saturday for people interested in mu...

Forgot to post a notice about my lecture on Saturday for people interested in museums.Slots are limited due to the small venue so best to call Yuchengco Museum for inquiries.

Happy Mother's Day! Carmen Guerrero Nakpil said it best when she wrote that I st...

Happy Mother's Day! Carmen Guerrero Nakpil said it best when she wrote that I started as her son and ended up as her father. My mother would surely agree with that!


2014

In 1997 I visited the spot where Andres and Procopio Bonifacio were executed on...

In 1997 I visited the spot where Andres and Procopio Bonifacio were executed on May 10, 1897. It was a sad and neglected historical marker covered with graffitti. Today it is a resort decorated with sculptures too tacky to post here.


2014

My Inquirer column today on the controversy over Bonifacio's date of death.http...

My Inquirer column today on the controversy over Bonifacio's date of death.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/74349/the-true-date-of-bonifacios-death


The true date of Bonifacio’s death
opinion.inquirer.net
Pockets of controversy quietly rage in academic circles over when and where Andres Bonifacio tore up his cedula and delivered the inspiring yell that marked the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution. Officially, and since 1962, it has been celebrated on Aug. 23, 1896, in Pugad Lawin. Traditionally,…

My Inquirer column today on Andres Bonifacio.http://opinion.inquirer.net/74290/...

My Inquirer column today on Andres Bonifacio.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/74290/controversies-over-bonifacios-death


Controversies over Bonifacio’s death
opinion.inquirer.net
Teresa De Jesus, saint and doctor of the Church, is quoted to have said that “more tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.” It is a warning about being careful what we ask for, or perhaps being open to the fact that God sometimes sees fit to give us what we need rather than what w…

This charming letter from Fernando C. Amorsolo, First National Artist of the Phi...

This charming letter from Fernando C. Amorsolo, First National Artist of the Philippines for Painting, to his friend Guillermo E. Tolentino, National Artist for Sculpture reminds those who forget that they were human like you and me. What happened to him after he left an awful U.S. museum?


2014

Found Bonifacio in Bonifacio Global City today!

Found Bonifacio in Bonifacio Global City today!

If my favorite antiques dealer would try to sell me this 1902-dated painting by...

If my favorite antiques dealer would try to sell me this 1902-dated painting by Simon Flores she would probably describe it as a "niño dormido" or "boy sleeping." To raise the price she will insist it is a rare image of the Sleeping Santo Niño. When you visit the National Museum give this cute boy a second look and you will recognize it as a dead child! This is a "recuerdo de patay" (souvenir of the dead) described in my Inquirer column today.


2014