Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 21

History for CNY 2025

History for CNY 2025.
In Chapter 25 of El filibusterismo there is a reference to a "Pansiteria Macanista de buen gusto" [Macanese Panciteria of Good Taste]. I always thought Rizal made this up until I saw the photograph [Left] of the approach to Binondo Church from a bridge where you can clearly see a sign on the wall of a building that proves Rizal referenced an actual pansiteria.
Today when I cross the same bridge I look towards the church [Right photo] wondering if the abandoned old ...

Public Historian's Life 4

Public Historian's Life 4.
The Oldest Book in UST.
Five years ago, I visited the University of Santo Tomas Rare Book Section [Right]. It reminded me of the Maternity Ward of a hospital where you press a slip of paper with the name of the baby on the glass and a nurse will bring out the infant for viewing.
I was shown the oldest book in the university, "La Guerra Judaica," published in Sevilla in 1492 (that's 29 years before Magellan was killed in Mactan!). The book [Left] is about the Jews ...

Historian’s life is also about the present

Historian’s life is also about the present.
LUSSO is one of my favorite restos in Greenbelt. More so because it’s a place where I bump into Karen Davila fresh from her hard talk show and Gaita Fores fresh from meeting Gordon Ramsey.



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My Inquirer column today on the Malolos Congress that was a mix of elected and appointed representatives

My Inquirer column today on the Malolos Congress that was a mix of elected and appointed representatives.
Link in the comments.



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Public Historian's Life 3

Public Historian's Life 3.
Holidays are declared so that we remember significant events in the emergence of the Filipino nation. However, holidays tend to generate forgetfulness. Today was a special non-working holiday to commemorate the 126th anniversary of the establishment of the First Philippine Republic a.k.a. "The Malolos Republic" on January 23, 1899.
A day before, January 22, the Malolos Constitution was adopted. This prompted me to open my "baul" or Cabinet of Curiosities and...

A PUBLIC HISTORIAN's LIFE

A PUBLIC HISTORIAN's LIFE.
This morning I examined the original passport of Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera [Right]. Would you believe it is big and formal as a university diploma? [Left] so different from the handy passports we use today.

Contrary to popular belief, historians still need to physically visit libraries and archives to consult the primary sources for their research. THERE IS A LOT THAT IS NOT ONLINE.

Working in the Pardo de Tavera-American Historical Collection Reading Room in t...

Photos from Ambeth R. Ocampo's post

My Inquirer column today is the second part of Zhao Rugua's short but detailed account of the Philippines 800 years ago.
Link to column in comments.





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How I became a historian

How I became a historian.
"Why is Rizal wearing a heavy winter overcoat in the tropics?"
That was the question my father asked on my first trip to Luneta or Rizal Park.
That question changed my life.
In retrospect, father was just being silly, but his question probably formed me into the curious Public Historian I am today.
Early in life I learned to see the world differently, always from a different angle, and my method has always been to
LOOK CLOSELY
CONNECT BROADLY
THINK CRITICALLY
and EXPRE...

My mother would have been 92 years old yesterday

My mother would have been 92 years old yesterday. You can find her in the National Museum of the Philippines, represented by two portraits in the "Photo-oleo- exhibit. This portrait was presented to my mother by a jilted suitor and was kept by my grandfather. Each time we visited my grandparents I would always ask for this photo-oleo and he always declined. When he passed away I inherited it and shared with with the public in the National Museum.
After many years, the long loan has come to an e...

This page from one of Rizal's many notebooks shows his interest in Egyptian hieroglyphics

This page from one of Rizal's many notebooks shows his interest in Egyptian hieroglyphics. However, I seriouslt doubt if he spoke ancient Egyptian :)



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