Tuba, Jullifer Joseph O.

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Ambeth Ocampo's Magisterial Lecture challenged my conception of Philippine history as

a college student, but I also found it to be an engrossing and interesting conversation. The
conversation on historical figures Magellan and Lapu-Lapu was one of the subjects that piqued
my interest.

The traditional narrative that depicts Magellan as a hero and Lapu-Lapu as a savage was
pleasantly changed by Ocampo's analysis of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu. He stressed the
significance of placing historical characters in their appropriate perspective and how assumptions
and prejudices might distort our perception of their intentions and behaviors.

I was surprised to find that Ocampo's method provided a more detailed and nuanced
understanding of the circumstances surrounding the Battle of Mactan as someone who had
studied Philippine history in school. Lapu-Lapu was portrayed by Ocampo as a local leader who
protected his community from outside invaders rather than as a violent barbarian who cruelly
killed a noble explorer. As a result of his aims and strategies, Magellan was revealed to be a
complicated and flawed character who may have contributed to his own demise.

As a college student, I learned a lot from Ocampo's account of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu.
It served as a reminder to me of the value of going past the simplistic narratives we are frequently
given and considering historical characters and events from several angles. It also made clear
the influence that prejudices and presumptions have on how we interpret the past and how
analytical rigor and critical thinking can lead us to a more precise and nuanced knowledge of the
past.

Overall, Ambeth Ocampo's Magisterial Lecture was an insightful and instructive

experience that made me reevaluate my assumptions about Philippine history and motivated me
to approach it from a more critical and receptive stance.