Here are the five life lessons that I learned from attending an Ambeth Ocampo lecture at the Ayala Museum:

1. You have to read between the lines to know what is real.

Some people call him a contrary historian because he seems to always see the bad light in some parts of our history. He says he’s just interpreting what the documents tell.

2. Heroes aren’t born perfect.

They have their flaws, weaknesses, and shortcomings. So yes, they are also humans like us. Too bad they’re glamorized by out textbooks and forgotten except in monuments. Don’t we make life perfect on social media, too?

3. History doesn’t repeat itself.

We repeat history because it was either too “beautifully” written or not at all.

4. Storytelling

Storytelling – hat is, going beyond the dates, places, and names – would have been an excellent arsenal for an engaging History class in all levels of education. (This is lovingly dedicated to all the History teachers that tortured me on their subject period). I went from laughing my heart out (never occurred to me in my History classes ever) to feeling sad yet learning 100% the whole time.

5. Find your niche and stay there.

Sir Ambeth is focused on teaching and continuously unearthing 18th and 19th-century Philippine history. This is passion zone. This is where he got scholarships, citations, and awards. 

Me and Professor Ambeth Ocampo during the book signing. He asked what I do for a living, so I said I work from home as a virtual professional. He asked, “Isn’t that difficult?” “So is working 9-to-5, sir,” I said. “Kung sabagay,” he replied.

The museum geek strikes again.