Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 212

My Inquirer column today.http://opinion.inquirer.net/44941/fir...

My Inquirer column today.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/44941/first-books


First book(s)
opinion.inquirer.net
History teachers have a fetish for firsts: first sundial in the Philippines, first adobo, first destructive storm/earthquake, first woman president, first hero, first Miss Universe, First Filipino. Endless is the list that torments students who not only have to know these bits of useless information...

Its a holiday in Tokyo today--coming of age day--am glad I have no classes, temp...

Its a holiday in Tokyo today--coming of age day--am glad I have no classes, temperature dropped and its now snowing outside!

When I read the first page of Horacio de la Costa's "Jesuits in the Philippines"...

When I read the first page of Horacio de la Costa's "Jesuits in the Philippines" I realized I was good at research but could never hope to write as beautifully as he did. First edition published by Harvard, my copy was from a second-hand bookstore inscribed by de la costa to his Ateneo classmate and friend Leon Ma. Guerrero, another writer I admire.


Autographs

Winged Victory atop the obelisk of the Bonifacio monument in Caloocan by Nationa...

Winged Victory atop the obelisk of the Bonifacio monument in Caloocan by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino. It is a great work whose details be seen with binoculars or the lens of a good camera. This masterpiece gave the area formerly known as Grace Park (because it was owned by His Grace the Archbishop of Manila) its present nickname "Monumento."


History 2

My Inquirer column today.http://opinion.inquirer.net/44589/how......

My Inquirer column today.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/44589/how-to-talk-about-books-you-have-never-read


How to talk about books you have never read
opinion.inquirer.net
One of the things I hated about history classes in school was memorization. Some of my teachers made us memorize assorted facts: dates, names, places and events that fit into exam questions. Of course, all these were forgotten after the course ended, because the stray data were not relevant to life.

WE are getting closer to 25,000 likes!Yikes! Thank you all for following and r...

WE are getting closer to 25,000 likes!
Yikes!
Thank you all for following and recommending this page.

My Inquirer column today on how books are running me out of the house.http://op...

My Inquirer column today on how books are running me out of the house.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/44465/books-and-ipads


Books and iPads
opinion.inquirer.net
January comes from the Latin Januarius, the first month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, so named to honor Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings and transitions, and of doors and doorways. At midnight last Dec. 31, my family and I were on the 28th-floor helipad of a building in Makati w...

I've always admired the way Japanese sleep in the train: no nodding, no snoring,...

I've always admired the way Japanese sleep in the train: no nodding, no snoring, no open mouths, they always get up when the train stops at their station thus this was a rare scene from the Tokyo Metro. He probably is tired from dancing Gangnam-style. Do this in Manila and Houdini will make your glasses, wallet, briefcase, and shoes disappear.


Smile

"El Presidente" is a film whose production design was presumably based on histor...

"El Presidente" is a film whose production design was presumably based on historical photos like this one taken in 1899 showing Emilio Aguinaldo's arrival at Barasoain church for the Malolos Congress. At first glance I was impressed by this magnificent state carriage complete with liveried footmen and coachmen wearing fancy hats (one not in photo has a curly wig) until I was told it was actually borrowed from the town funenaria.

Todays news becomes tomorrow's history. How will a future historian make sense o...

Todays news becomes tomorrow's history. How will a future historian make sense of an event if the primary source, an eyewitness account looks and sounds like this. To get an idea of the challenges a historian faces in his work try to make sense of this.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=561283193887285&set=vb.221514641282198&type=2&theater


Aminin mo, naguluhan ka din!
Aminin mo, naguluhan ka din! Hehe! :) Rude comments shall be banned. #NoHate