Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 195

Hoping we have good weather next weekend---so you will find out which "bolo" I a...

Hoping we have good weather next weekend---so you will find out which "bolo" I am referring to :)

My Inquirer column today on monsoon and trade winds.http://opinion.inquirer.net...

My Inquirer column today on monsoon and trade winds.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/59373/amihan-and-habagat


‘Amihan’ and ‘habagat’
opinion.inquirer.net
Many visitors want to see my study, if only to see the desk or the room where my columns and lectures are born. My library is usually off-limits because it resembles ground zero—a direct hit from a storm or earthquake. Clutter is natural for me, it suggests physical sloth and mental activity. On the...

My Inquirer column today on floods in the 17thC.http://opinion.inquirer.net/592...

My Inquirer column today on floods in the 17thC.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/59247/floods-and-repeating-history


Floods and repeating history
opinion.inquirer.net
Last Monday, the first day of the rains, I posted a prewar photo from El Renacimiento on Facebook showing women in baro’t saya choosing to wade in floodwaters somewhere in Manila rather than paying to stay dry in a banca or the tranvia parked behind them in the background. I commented that the…

This photo from the early 20th century shows ladies who chose to wade in the flo...

This photo from the early 20th century shows ladies who chose to wade in the flood rather than take the banca or the tranvia in the background. No open manholes and leptospirosis hiding in the murky water. Before we blame history for repeating itself in our time maybe we should ask ourselves why we haven't found solutions to an annual problem.

Heavy rains discouraged me from attending the auction of the Banknote Society of...

Heavy rains discouraged me from attending the auction of the Banknote Society of the Philippines today to see two rare Malolos banknotes on the block. While these are beyond my budget I wanted to handle and examine the notes I have only seen in pictures. Doesn't this peso bill remind you of raffle tickets? :)

Before the Philippine flag was standardized into the form we know today, the sun...

Before the Philippine flag was standardized into the form we know today, the sun had a human face and eight rays that differed depending on who made it. The sun in the flag also appeared as: seals, stamps, and logos on official communications. I'm not sure if this is a stamp for postage, revenue, or documentary tax.

My Inquirer column today on toilet humor during the Philippine Revolution.http:...

My Inquirer column today on toilet humor during the Philippine Revolution.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/58913/toilet-humor


Toilet humor
opinion.inquirer.net
Over dinner my friends exchange notes on: what books we are currently reading, what movies we have or want to watch, and what are the subtexts or related stories behind the newspaper headlines.

The recent diesel spill in the waters off Cavite reminded me of the French explo...

The recent diesel spill in the waters off Cavite reminded me of the French explorer La Perouse who visited Cavite in 1787. This is one of two pretty Philippine illustrations in his book depicting "a view of Cavite from Manila Bay" where the Pinoys look like Europeans :)

Sorry for the late posting but am glad to be back online and reading all your bi...

Sorry for the late posting but am glad to be back online and reading all your birthday greetings.
My column today is on more useless information :)
http://opinion.inquirer.net/58803/more-useless-information


More useless information
opinion.inquirer.net
In April 1886 the Japanese consul in Hong Kong arrived in Manila to look into commercial conditions in the Spanish Philippines and assess the necessity of opening a consulate there. Minami Taisuke met with the governor-general, an assortment of Spanish officials, and notable businessmen and citizens...

No internet was a fine way to start another year. Thanks to those you remembered...

No internet was a fine way to start another year. Thanks to those you remembered and sent greetings. I stole this photo from my sister's wall. Hope to post again when PLDT gets its act together :)