Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 53

I grew up knowing Sergio Osmena from his formal, almost humorless, mugshot on the P50-peso bill. Finding this photo of him smili...

I grew up knowing Sergio Osmena from his formal, almost humorless, mugshot on the P50-peso bill. Finding this photo of him smiling made me see him in a new light. What was he like behind the paper bill? It reminded me of the move to make Ninoy Aquino on the old 500-bill smile. What will our banknotes say of the Philippines if Osmena and the others smile?



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Necessary Fictions. Donated to the National Library in 1913, James Alexander Robertson declared three bark manuscripts, wit...

Necessary Fictions.
Donated to the National Library in 1913, James Alexander Robertson declared three bark manuscripts, with writing in baybayin using cuttlefish ink, "the greatest literary find in the Philippines." He declared them to be the only extant pre-Hispanic documents that escaped destruction by overzealous friars who erased our native culture. The manuscripts were displayed in the Library till they were lost or destroyed in the 1945 Battle for Manila.
This is a photo of one o...

BAYBAYIN can be found in the "Relacion de las Islas Filipinas" (Rome, 1604) by the Jesuit Fr. Pedro Chirino. He documented the p...

BAYBAYIN can be found in the "Relacion de las Islas Filipinas" (Rome, 1604) by the Jesuit Fr. Pedro Chirino. He documented the pre-Spanish syllabary as having three vowels and twelve consonants, and provided the key to reading and writing it.
It is significant that Chirino acknowledged that there was universal literacy in our own writing system, declaring that:
"“All these islanders are much given to reading and writing and there is hardly a man, and much less a woman, who does not rea...

I am "Green" under the "Blue." Pleased and honored to be Speaker at the 198th Commencement Exercises of De La Salle Universi...

I am "Green" under the "Blue."
Pleased and honored to be Speaker at the 198th Commencement Exercises of De La Salle University this morning. I spoke to the graduates about Rizal who said:
"I enter the future, with a memory of the past."
He never said: "ang di marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan di makararating sa paroroonan." That's fake news.
I hope they were entertained and inspired.
From left: Provost Dr. Robert Roleda, me, University President Br. Bernard Oca, FSC, and SVP Finance...

People usually see Historical markers but rarely stop to notice or read them.Along Singalong Street, on Gate 6 of St. Scholasti...

People usually see Historical markers but rarely stop to notice or read them.
Along Singalong Street, on Gate 6 of St. Scholastica's College you will see a plaque that marks the spot where National Artist Jose Garcia Villa was born on august 5, 1908. It is not well known that the poet's father was Col. Simeon Villa one of the aides that was in Palanan when Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the enemy in 1901.
Thanks to Mrs. Shoolie who drove me there for this photo.



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How different is Manila today from before?

How different is Manila today from before?



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People are asking how I survived doing three lectures this weekend: one at the Art Fair Philippines and two, back-to-back at the...

People are asking how I survived doing three lectures this weekend: one at the Art Fair Philippines and two, back-to-back at the Ayala Museum. The secret is the energy I get from the audience who nod in agreement, smile or laugh in the right places and leave the hall with something to think about.
This selfie from last year's History Comes Alive at the Ayala Museum was taken by Wawi Navarosa (Left) the photo on the left are tokens gratefully received after the talk or booksigning. It is nic...

@ArtFairPhilippinesChanneling Shiva the Destroyer

@ArtFairPhilippines
Channeling Shiva the Destroyer



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Ash on my forehead this year is more discreet than the one imposed on me last year in the U.S. I know its just ash but I hope I ...

Ash on my forehead this year is more discreet than the one imposed on me last year in the U.S. I know its just ash but I hope I have grown to be a better person in the last year :)



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Went through my rounds at the crypt in Sanctuario de San Antonio this afternoon and saw on her tombstone that Josine Elizalde le...

Went through my rounds at the crypt in Sanctuario de San Antonio this afternoon and saw on her tombstone that Josine Elizalde left us two years ago today.
Hers was a house of memory, her great-great grandfather Joaquin Pardo de Tavera (1829-1884) served as legal counsel for Gomburza; her great-grandfather Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera (1857-1925) was a scholar who wore many hats, the last being National Library Director; her mother, Dr. Mita Pardo de Tavera was Social Welfare Secretary d...