If history bores you, try enrolling in Ambeth Ocampo’s class at the Ateneo de Manila University, listening to his talks and interviews, or reading his books and articles. Or you can simply join Ocampo’s 196,000 followers on Facebook where he shares pop trivia, posts the latest cultural events, or dishes out interesting historical snippets. As a bonus, his followers are treated to Ocampo’s patola outbursts, his blistering replies reserved for tragically ill-informed posts.

As can be gleaned from Ocampo’s posts, there’s always something to discover if only we look closer. Such as the time when he scrutinised an old letter signed by Rizal, which revealed smudges that turned out to be the national hero’s fingerprints. Or when he came across a correction on a book, handwritten by another historian, Teodoro Agoncillo.

Ocampo can be very entertaining but he never loses sight of the role of history in understanding the present. More so in the time of fake news and revisionism. “By bringing engaging and reliable Philippine historical content to social media, I am, in my little way, trying to regain the space won over by fake news,” he says.