Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 181

My Inquirer column today.http://opinion.inquirer.net/72558/lup......

My Inquirer column today.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/72558/lupang-hinirang-or-bayang-magiliw


‘Lupang Hinirang’ or ‘Bayang Magiliw’?
opinion.inquirer.net
Archived on YouTube is an engaging TED talk delivered by Joey Ayala at the University of the Philippines Diliman that proposes a more musical and euphonic way of singing the national anthem. While his version makes sense and is definitely in tune with Filipino sentiment and musicality, it runs count...

My Inquirer column today.http://opinion.inquirer.net/72508/fro...

My Inquirer column today.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/72508/from-epal-to-art


From ‘epal’ to art
opinion.inquirer.net
When used for the right purpose, computer printing on tarpaulin is one of the technological advances of our time, but when used to inflict the names and faces of “epal” politicians on us, tarpaulin advertisements become the visual curse of our time. Tarpaulin will never rise to the level of art, but...

My Inquirer column today on Philippine furniture.http://opinion.inquirer.net/72...

My Inquirer column today on Philippine furniture.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/72298/chicharon-and-furniture-in-baliuag


‘Chicharon’ and furniture in Baliuag
opinion.inquirer.net
If we are to go by the results of the recent local and international auctions, the prices of Philippine art have not only hit the roof but actually shot out of it! There is so much liquidity in Manila these days that many speculators have jumped on the bandwagon and have been buying names rather tha...

My Inquirer column today on the art in Paete church.http://opinion.inquirer.net...

My Inquirer column today on the art in Paete church.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/72223/treasure-in-paete


Treasure in Paete
opinion.inquirer.net
Laguna offers a variety of attractions for tourists. Nature has blessed the province with lush mountains, hot springs, cold pools, and postcard-pretty landscapes. It offers folk crafts and distinct cuisine. It is the birthplace of heroes, and Jose Rizal is its most illustrious son.

Contrary to popular belief, Philippine beers are not a macho drink. In 1928 the...

Contrary to popular belief, Philippine beers are not a macho drink. In 1928 the recommended drink for the "thinking" Filipina was San Miguel Cerveza Negra or Black beer! Do you agree with the sales pitch of this advertisement?


2014

This wintry morning a bronze plaque will be unveiled in the Residence of the Phi...

This wintry morning a bronze plaque will be unveiled in the Residence of the Philippine Ambassador in Tokyo as a National Historical Landmark. It is not well known that the mansion, acquired for the nation by J.P.Laurel, was the childhood home of Yoko Ono (widow of John Lennon) who visited in 2012 and shared her memories about the house I have to write up one day.


2014

Destroyed in the National Library during the Battle for Manila was this rare doc...

Destroyed in the National Library during the Battle for Manila was this rare document in pre-Spanish Visayan on bonga bark using cuttlefish ink. It was one of three manuscripts described by James Alexander Robertson as the "greatest literary treasure in the Philippines," Actually, these were forgeries made by Jose E. Marco of Bacolod whose more enduring creations are: the Code of Kalantiaw and the novel by Burgos entitled "La Loba Negra" (the black she-wolf)


2014

My Inquirer column today on 20th century Philippine coinage.http://opinion.inqu...

My Inquirer column today on 20th century Philippine coinage.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/72047/remember-figueroa


Remember Figueroa?
opinion.inquirer.net
There was a time when all our coins, down to the near-worthless one-centavo coin, had the image of a historical figure engraved on them. One could then learn some Philippine history by looking at the face of the coins and about significant Philippine flora and fauna on the reverse.

One of the ironies of my life is that I have to request to consult books I forme...

One of the ironies of my life is that I have to request to consult books I formerly owned in the Kyoto University Center for Southeast Asian Studies. Last time I visited the librarians all came to the front desk to see me, because all the bibliophiles memorialized in their Rare Book Room are six feet under. I am the first living "Collection" they have actually seen. My books are nicely bound and color-coded and stored in an air-conditioned room separate from the main library. Quite impressive really. I know my books will be preserved longer than they would had they been in Manila.


2014

Sorry for the late posting of my Inquirer column today.http://opinion.inquirer....

Sorry for the late posting of my Inquirer column today.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/72001/anting-anting-in-philippine-history


‘Anting-anting’ in Philippine history
opinion.inquirer.net
“Anting-anting,” like those crude bronze objects sold outside Quiapo church, may have gone out of fashion, but people still believe in luck and charms that are supposed to attract good fortune and repel the bad. Take a look at the rear view mirror next time you are on public transport there, most li...