Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog, page 23

My Inquirer column today on the back stories of our banknotes



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Sturdy desks in Philippine hardwood, like narra, were manufactured for prewar government offices or for sale to the public from Bilibid prison. Prisoners made desks, chairs, even walking canes in a program that gave them vocational skills rather than just sitting their sentences out in their cells.
This photograph from 1916 is from an album of the Bureau of Prisons that features Bilibid and Iwahig. These and a lot more are preserved in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.



(Feed genera...

My first column for 2025.
Remembering my father who told me that most of what I complained about was nothing compared to his experience of surviving World War II.
If you can't read the screenshot here is the link
https://opinion.inquirer.net/179646/w...



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

The view from our bedroom.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

The "OLDEST" PH Calendar?
We change our planners, physical or digital, tomorrow the first day of 2025. It is a time for new calendars as well.
The earliest Philippine calendar came to light in an article on "PreSpanish Philippine Civilization" that appeared in the July 7, 1913 issue of Renacimiento Filipino [Left]. A prewar photograph of the actual calendar [Right], with Baybayin, suggest our ancestors had 12 months and a zodiac.
Decades later preSpanish Philippine calendar was proven...

Was Rizal a "conscious hero"?
Historian Teodoro Agoncillo thought so.
Did Rizal document himself for the future?
*Rizal left us with two "selfies" [Upper, Lower Left]: as a student in Intramuros c. 1878, and in Europe in 1887.
*Rizal's favorite photograph, [Upper Middle] would have been used as a profile pic if he had a socmed account today. This was taken in Madrid in 1890 when he was 29.
*The last three are by his contemporaries:
[Lower Middle]painted by Juan Luna in Paris, 1891.
[Upper Right]...

Sighting National Artists in Baguio.
BENCAB [Top] on Holy Innocents Day and KIDLAT TAHIMIK [Bottom] on Rizal Day.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

This pre-Martial Law photograph of Rizalistas in the Rizal Shrine Fort Santiago from the Manila Times reminded me of meeting my first Rizalista. I was on a grade school field trip and saw an old man by the Rizal Cell. He asked, "bakit may ventilador sa selda ni Rizal?
"Wala naman ventilador noong panahon ni Rizal." I replied.
My classmate butted in and said, "siguro naiinitan."
I kicked him and told not to be "pilosopo" but the old man smiled and said: "Tama! Alam nyo ba na buhay pa si Rizal?" T...

Diet is one of the first 2025 New Years Resolutions I’m sure to break. I should’ve used a plate to cut the crispy skin instead of knife and cleaver.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Sorry for the late posting.
My Christmas column the other day on my. Christmas wishes then and now.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)