Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 48

Paco Park is one of the most picturesque places for weddings in Manila. The complex was built around the time of the 1820 choler...

Paco Park is one of the most picturesque places for weddings in Manila. The complex was built around the time of the 1820 cholera epidemic. My question to prospective couples is—would you want to start your married life in a mortuary chapel? Sometimes it pays to see the history hidden behind heritage and nostalgia.



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Last lecture day of History 11 at Ateneo. Students are genuinely happy to be rid of me. Too bad not everyone in this supersized ...

Last lecture day of History 11 at Ateneo. Students are genuinely happy to be rid of me. Too bad not everyone in this supersized magisterial class fit in the frame.



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The first May Day celebration in the Philippines was held in Manila in 1903. It was then referred to as the "Fiesta del Trabajo"...

The first May Day celebration in the Philippines was held in Manila in 1903. It was then referred to as the "Fiesta del Trabajo" and a report on the event was published in El Renacimiento the following day.
My Inquirer column today details the different activities that ran from morning to evening.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/173341/m...



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This magnificent table, a gift from Emilio Aguinaldo to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934 used to be in the White Hou...

This magnificent table, a gift from Emilio Aguinaldo to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934 used to be in the White House where it became (in)famous for the carabaos below the table top that gored visitors and employees. The carabaos were cut off, restored, and the table sent to storage at the Smithsonian as it was replaced by a smaller table presented by Elpidio Quirino to Harry Truman.
There are two versions of this 1934 photo, this one with Aguinaldo standing (from the Malacaña...

Floy Quintos and I shared a passion for antiquities, not the high-priced auction darlings but things "cheap and cheerfiul" we bo...

Floy Quintos and I shared a passion for antiquities, not the high-priced auction darlings but things "cheap and cheerfiul" we bought and exchanged objects over the years, marveling at the stories each brought into our lives and collections.
Floy directed me in a number of cultural documentaries he did for NCCA and Loren Legarda, the last was in 2022 as we were cautiously getting out of the pandemic. Shoot was in Intramuros and for safety only I was the one without a mask.
Floy alwa...

Sofitel Manila acted on our posts regarding long lines for check-in and checkout. Left photo was check out at noon yesterday Sat...

Sofitel Manila acted on our posts regarding long lines for check-in and checkout. Left photo was check out at noon yesterday Saturday, Right was check out today at 11.30 Sunday. I hope both photos were not happenstance and that management continues to improve on providing 5-star service.



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Photos from Philippine Book Festival's post

It’s a wrap.
Thank you NBDB and Anvil for the opportunity to meet readers face to face. Readers keep writers writing and publising—-taos pusong pasasalamat!
Signed books non-stop yesterday for almost five hours. Catch the last presigned books at the Anvil booth while supplies last.
See you again at the Manila International Book Fair, will have new titles by then.























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Just when I thought check-in at Sofitel Manila couldn’t get worse than it is. This is check out just now. Looks like an airport ...

Just when I thought check-in at Sofitel Manila couldn’t get worse than it is. This is check out just now. Looks like an airport counter with delayed flights. Sofitel commented on yesterday’s IG post but didn’t get in touch as they promised. PR lang. Sad that Sofitel is a victim of its own success, they can do better.



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Honored and pleased that National Artist Ricky Lee dropped by the Anvil Booth as I was pre signing books for my event tomorrow a...

Honored and pleased that National Artist Ricky Lee dropped by the Anvil Booth as I was pre signing books for my event tomorrow afternoon at the Philippine Book Festival. We see each other only at book fairs, I hope to attend his seminars to learn to write better.



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Standing between these shelves in the National Library of the Philippines Rare Books Division reminds me of a line from Chaucer:...

Standing between these shelves in the National Library of the Philippines Rare Books Division reminds me of a line from Chaucer:
“The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.” (Parlement of Foules).
These boxes contain the “Philippine Insurgent Records” that are the primary source for any study of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. Captured documents of the Malolos Republic were brought to the U.S. and arranged by Capt. J.R.M. Taylor into a five-volume compilation in Eng...