Looking Back

by Ambeth R. Ocampo

Ambeth is such a delight to read. His wit, humor, keen observations and insights on Philippine history never fail to keep us entertained and informed.

-Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera, National Artist for the Visual Arts

Hindsight is the lowest form of intelligence - except for historians. History is the collective memory of a nation but it has to be constantly rewritten. It is the historian's interpretation of,more often than not, questionable facts.

A true historian must first get his facts from primary sources;second, be objectives; third, be interesting. Ambeth Ocampo's historical writings meet these three criteria. He is the historian to watch.

-Alejandro R. Roces, National Artist for Literature

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Essays

215 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Lamberto R. Ocampo better known as Ambeth R. Ocampo (b. 1961) is Filipino historian, academic, journalist, cultural administrator and author best known for his writings about Philippines' national hero José Rizal, and for his bi-weekly editorial page column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "Looking Back." He became the Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2002 until 2010, and was appointed as Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2005 until 2007.

Reviews

[Apokripos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1990, Looking Back is the first published work by Ambeth Ocampo, renowned Philippine historian. This book is a collection of articles which first appeared in the author's column with the same title published on the defunct Philippine Daily Globe. As with my experience reading his award-winning and bestselling Rizal Without the Overcoat, Ocampo's essay manages to make history fun, hip, with a slant towards the amusing and almost always an enlightening discussion of Philippine history — may it be of our glorious past or the foibles of a not a few person or two — for unarguably this is the story of us, a nation, warts and all. Actually, it's the stuff of useless trivia I missed wallowing in days past when as a kid I always tend to kill time browsing Almanacs and Encyclopedias or watching game/quiz shows (for the heck of it, why don't we have Batlle of the Brains on our TV shows today?!).

It's a pity that this edition is now out of print, and to be honest about it, the 2010 "Mini Me" edition by the same book publisher does not render it any justice as it only included a handful of essays from the former one. The admonition that a writer — more so that Ocampo is a journalist first and a historian second — is marked by his times or epoch, in that it can be seen in the first part of the book as the author sets the record straight in some of our misconceptions (or rather what our school teachers failed to do) about our former colonial masters where his articles serves as a foil to comment on the raging political debates of his time, mainly the American bases in the 90s. This for me is one of the strokes of brilliance of Ocampo's essays underscoring that history indeed repeats itself, that we all must first learn of the past before moving on forward to where we and our nation is heading.

Ambeth Ocampo in his works proves time and again that history isn't just about successions of events that happened in the past — it is after all the paved road we all are treading. He admonishes that history isn't about dates, figures, stuff and "great" people cast or sculpted in stone, marble or bronze; it is more than just a subject we must get through to be able to make it on the next grade or level or to earn a diploma. History is living, it's the air we breathe, it's our identity. It just goes to show that what happened back then still has relevance now, and there's always something "new" to learn from something that's "old".

[Michael Gerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of the books of Ambeth Ocampo that I read, and it set off my interest in his books. I have been interested in history before I read them, but Mr. Ocampo's books just added to the fascination. They are well-researched and pleasing to read. To date, I have read eight (8) of his books.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Ocampo writes history with warmth and humor, I wish his books were our text books back in school. I would've remembered more dates and places because the characters 'lived and died' and not just a stagnant and obsolete piece of fact.

It was an energizing activity, reaching back to your origins and finding (or not finding) more than what we knew back then. His arduous research on details of the past leads to picture our admirable Filipinos with much more personality and life.

Less of Rizal, Bonifacio and Aguinaldo. More of Jacinto, del Pilar, the Lunas, Manuel Quezon, Lopez Jaena and Felipe & Marcela Agoncillo.

[Bookbed · Rating 3 out of 5]

"History? Fun? Yes! History, after all, is a collection of stories, complete with characters, settings and plots. History, in Filipino, is “kasaysayan,” which means “salaysay na may saysay.” That translates to 'meaningful stories.' People like stories, right? More so if they bring meaning to them. Some of these stories can be found in the Looking Back series by Ambeth Ocampo." Continue reading our post here.

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[Harvey Fiji · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an anthology of some of Ambeth Ocampo’s columns on Philippine history. While it can be read in sequential order, it can also be read - as I did - by going back & forth & choosing to read each selection that the individual reader may find interesting.

[Mark Ching · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambeth Ocampo's Looking Back is a very short read, but every page is worth it. It reads like a gossip magazine--who knew Philippine history was this interesting? If only history is taught in school like how Ocampo has written about it, then we'd have smarter and more nationalistic Filipinos.



Since I don't want to spoil the book, I'll just give a couple of teasers.



1. Did you know General Douglas McArthur had a Filipina mistress?



2. Do you know what is considered the most haunted Philippine painting?



3. Did you know that there was a time when pictures of dead bodies all done up for burial were popularly printed in mainstream publications?



4. Did you know that there was a king from Belgium who tried all means to buy the Philippines, but in vain?



5. Did you know that Andres Bonifacio sought funding for the revolution from Japan?



6. Did you know that former President Quezon was a potty mouth?



All these and more in Ambeth Ocampo's Looking Back. Read it now.

[Carlo Estadilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has become amazing for me to know more about local history after I knew Ambeth Ocampo. He was my professor for PI (Philippine Institution) 100 back in college. I remember the message he was most passionate about which was to instill motivation for us to read and enjoy history, outside of school context. I say that he didn't fail in giving that motivation to me. This is just the first. I shall read more of his books and other books on Philippine history!

[Dane Maaño · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Ocampo proved that it's not only the historic dates and happenings that mark a hero's life but also the small yet intricate and ironic details of his life that make him human. Had our history books been written like how Mr. Ocampo wrote this one, I guess we'd have better appreciation for history and our national heroes in general.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a piece of history book whom we can memorize the events that happened without batting an eyelash. I had guffaws reading some notes and kind of sad in some chapters as we relegate our heroes as plain icon.

[Matthew Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the original version of the renowned Looking Back book but for me is the more insightful version as it tackles history that we can utilize in today's context. For instance, the narration of American involvement in the Philippines is detailed heavily without whitewashing the events.

[Takipsilim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that got me deeply into Philippine history.

[William Barot]

i was so amazed..!! just like....ahh,, you know that!? i'm speechless!! hahaha,, just a laugh and i can even remember all that impossible outlook for me!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, his writings are solidly humorous. Enjoyed every bit of it. Talking about a piece of history, not only by telling details but making everything picturesque.

[Jerome Quinto, SDB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought history can be written in such amusingly witty fashion!

[LA · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Rina Tabale]

i think this story is very inspiring..

[Carlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of humorious writings/articles of A. R. Ocampo.
Historical events were told more of a chismis than as hard facts, or something like that.