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Ambeth R Ocampo
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Acclaimed historian, writer, and academician Ambeth R Ocampo, Tatler Asia's Most Influential 2022 honouree, talks about beating fake news
Among the country's numerous historians, authors, and professors, Ambeth R Ocampo makes Philippine history approachable to the younger generation. Although being dubbed by conservatives to be sensationalising the dark and interesting chapters in our Philippine history, Ocampo continues to publish bestselling history books that are bite-sized, comprehensible and engaging, and most of the time shocking.
The esteemed history professor of the Ateneo de Manila University has attracted over 190,000 followers on Facebook because of his social media posts that tickle the curious minds of many. Aside from teaching and writing for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ocampo relentlessly uses his platforms to post the latest cultural events, make people aware of some historical snippets, and educate the public with trivia about current events, historical personalities, and whatnot.
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Above Photo: Anvil Publishing
Photo: Anvil Publishing
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A celebrity was quoted last 2022 saying history is like gossip, and that historical events have different versions because of varying perspectives from sources. With many Filipinos having felt that the work of historians and researchers was being ridiculed by this statement, Ocampo spoke up. But instead of putting an end to the discussion, it actually fanned the flames.
Ocampo shares with Tatler what keeps him going despite the challenges in this so-called Age of Disinformation:
What projects in the last two years are you most proud of? Why?
Ambeth R Ocampo (ARO): I do not waste a crisis. When the pandemic lockdown came upon us I explored other platforms to disseminate my work. I taught online to huge classes producing videos that are now being reproduced for YouTube bringing me out of a physical classroom to a wider audience, I took History from the ivory tower of academia and gave it back to people where it also belongs. I have used Facebook to disseminate engaging Philippine history to an interested general audience. During the pandemic I worked on my heaviest book (literally at 3 kg), YAMAN History and Heritage in Philippine Money, to show how history can be read from everyday objects like banknotes and coins.
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Above Ambeth R Ocampo
Ambeth R Ocampo
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What challenges do you see now in your respective industry? How do you intend to help address these challenges?
ARO: One of the challenges that face historians today is simply living in an Age of Disinformation where fake news travels faster and more effectively than Truth online. By bringing engaging and reliable Philippine history content to social media factors I am in my own little way trying to regain space won over by Fake News.
What can you say to those who’d like to follow in your footsteps?
ARO: Never waste a crisis, turn it around for your benefit and the benefit of others.
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Who do you look up to for guidance, inspiration, or mentorship?
ARO: I have had many mentors in my life, all of them sadly gone. Doreen Fernandez, Gilda Cordero Fernando and Carmen Guerrero Nakpil showed us what lucid writing is all about. Nick Joaquin, Teodoro A Agoncillo, and E Aguilar Cruz showed me what it was to be committed to writing and history as a discipline.
What are your plans for the coming years that keep you going?
ARO: I am the product of many mentors, I teach, write and lecture to give back and hopefully inspire young people to follow the path of Clio, the muse of History. I do all these so that the present will stop reading like the past. I believe in the future of history to change people enough to form us into the nation we want, but often fail to be.
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