Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 252

Maligayang Pasko! Another of Rizal's illustrations for his translation of Anders...

Maligayang Pasko! Another of Rizal's illustrations for his translation of Andersen's "Ang puno ng pino" showing children taking the decorations from the Christmas tree. Note they did not have electric lights from China, rather they used real candles. Not a fire hazard if you are careful.

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Heroes

My Inquirer column today on presidential gifts.

My Inquirer column today on presidential gifts.


Gifts
opinion.inquirer.net
Until I wrote today's column I thought that the expression "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" was an allusion to the Trojan horse and to the saying, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." In high school we learned about Greek gods and goddesses who had super powers complicated by human thoughts and e...

At the time Rizal was writing the Noli me tangere, he translated some Hans Chris...

At the time Rizal was writing the Noli me tangere, he translated some Hans Christian Andersen tales into Tagalog for his nephews and nieces. This charming drawing was made to illustrate "Ang Puno ng Pino" (The Little Fir Tree) I wonder when Christmas trees were introduced in the Philippines and whether Rizal can be credited for it.

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Heroes

My Inquirer column today on Mabini's letters and memos to the President.

My Inquirer column today on Mabini's letters and memos to the President.


'Bibinquera ng Presidente'
opinion.inquirer.net
Christmas is finally upon us and my columns should be light and cheerful to greet the dawn of 2012. I have drafted columns on gift-giving and food but there is room for just one more depressing column from Apolinario Mabini's letters to bid 2011 farewell.

Housewives in the pre-war Philippines learned to make complicated pastries and c...

Housewives in the pre-war Philippines learned to make complicated pastries and cakes from a Tagalog cookbook entitled "Pasteleria y reposteria..." Imagine this on your Noche buena table.

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History

Kasama ang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, Virgilio S. Almario a.k.a Rio Alma sa na...

Kasama ang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, Virgilio S. Almario a.k.a Rio Alma sa nakaraang Filipino-American Bookfair sa San Francisco. Yung gusali sa likod mukhang kopya ng Invalides sa Paris, lugar na pinaglibingan ni Napoleon.

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Near Famous

The recent plane crash near the airport reminded me of Ramon Magsaysay who was a...

The recent plane crash near the airport reminded me of Ramon Magsaysay who was aboard the presidential plane "Mt. Pinatubo" when it crashed in Cebu in 1957. This sad photo shows the finding of the President's standard in the wreckage.

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History

My Inquirer column today on how Apolinario Mabini almost became Supreme Court Ch...

My Inquirer column today on how Apolinario Mabini almost became Supreme Court Chief Justice.


Blocked from being chief justice
opinion.inquirer.net
There are two statues of seated figures in flowing robes on the wide steps of the Supreme Court building in Manila. I don't know if they are silent sentinels keeping watch on the entrance to the Court. Perhaps they represent historical figures, former justices who were there to protect the instituti...

Lucio and Simplicio Godino were celebrity Siamese Twins in the pre-war Philippin...

Lucio and Simplicio Godino were celebrity Siamese Twins in the pre-war Philippines. This was a photo of their wedding to sisters Natividad and Victorina Matos. I cant imagine what the wedding night was like. See my Inquirer column today for details. Photo from Lopez Museum.

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History

My Inquirer column today on legal questions regarding Lucio and Simplicio Godino...

My Inquirer column today on legal questions regarding Lucio and Simplicio Godino the famous pre-war Siamese Twins of the Philippines.


Siamese twins
opinion.inquirer.net