Ambeth R. Ocampo's Blog

Browsing in the Ateneo Rizal Library this afternoon I came across a series of articles on Dovie Beams and her lurid affair with Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. that appeared in the Marcos-friendly "Republic Weekly" from April 1971.
I was very disappointed that someone had cut out all the sexy photos from the article "The Real Story: Dovie Turns The Screw" by someone who hid under the initials "A.E." Were the pictures taken by a fan of Miss Beams or a librarian who wanted to keep the stacks free o...

Heritage Question.
Malate Church has been rebuilt and remodeled many times over the centuries. I took a photo of the facade recently and compared it with a photo from 1900. Except for the missing pediment restoration is faithful.
Which version of the church should we have today? Malate church in 1762, during the British Occupation? The church before or after the great earthquake of 1863? The church as photographed in 1900? Or the church photographed after typhoon Yoling in 1970?
Te...

🎉 I earned the fan favorite badge weeks in a row, recognizing me for consistently having meaningful conversations with my fans while sharing unique, relatable content!



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

See you next Saturday at the Ayala Museum.


Who was Juan Luna--the man behind the paintings?

In celebration of Luna's birth month this October, join Ambeth Ocampo for a lecture delving into the artist’s life and the works that defined him.

Register at https://ayalamuseum.org/events/ambeth...

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

My Inquirer column today on stray Filipiniana in Australia that I have to return for.


After my recent lectures in Canberra and Sydney, some remarked in jest, that I would be at a loss because Jose Rizal did not visit Australia. Rizal is not the end-all of my research, and I find

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Antonio Luna without his military uniform. If he were alive and in government today the corrupt would be cursed, slapped, or thrown in jail.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Filipiniana in Australia.
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra commemorates Australians who died in from the First World War to recent battles where they served in the Peace Keeping Forces, One would think that places like these should remind us not to have war anymore, but alas we do not listen to history.
Arenas of battle are etched on stone in the arched cloisters where I was surprised to find the Philippines.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

ATM Cubao Southbound MRT station. Long lines to buy tickets because lone Machine is Out of Service.i don’t want to imagine what it’s like during Rush Hour.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Gregorio Brillantes (1932-2025) was a writer I wished I had known better, if only to improve on my artless craft that was, compared to his spanned the "Distance to Andromeda." He was a quiet, inspiring presence, when I started 40 years ago.



(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

A Sunday watch on Youtube, thanks to Lance Cham.
Please subscribe more episodes in the can.


Welcome to another episode of Ambeth Revealed hosted by Lance Cham!Historian Ambeth Ocampo takes us into an underrated chapter of his life: the five years he...

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)