Rappler Talk: Historian Ambeth Ocampo on what the Marcos diaries tell us

MANILA, Philippines – Several books have been published under the name of Ferdinand Marcos, but historians have debunked many of them as ghostwritten books that served as propaganda for his dictatorship. 

His diaries – left behind when the Marcos family fled for Hawaii after the 1986 People Power Revolution – offer perhaps the most credible insights into the mind of the dictator. 

Excerpts of his diaries have recently resurfaced as his only son and namesake Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. runs for Philippine president.

On Thursday, March 3, Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug talks to historian Ambeth Ocampo about the diaries kept by the dictator and what the public can learn from his writings.

Ocampo is a professor and former chairperson of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of History, as well as former chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. He has published at least 30 books and has made extensive research on 19th century Philippines.

How useful are diaries for historians? Catch the interview live on Thursday, March 3! – Rappler.com

Watch recent Rappler Talk episodes on Marcos and Martial Law:

• Author Myles Garcia on catching up with Marcos crimes
• Manuel Quezon III on what led to the rehabilitation of the Marcos family
• Ronald Mendoza on lessons learned from Marcos’ crony capitalism