NILO Ocampo is a man always on the move. An athlete, author and well-loved teacher, the 62-year-old exudes the energy of men half his age.
An adventurer with a perpetual love for the outdoors, Ocampo likes to spend his days out and about. His hobbies include jogging, climbing mountains and cycling around the city—proof that growing old does not mean slowing down.
This drive to stay fit extends not just to him, but to his students, as well. When he’s not busy checking exams or making students laugh, the University of the Philippines (UP) professor always urges them to be on the move, hoping his passion for staying active will rub off them in the process.
Born in Sampaloc, Manila, to a family of five, Ocampo said he has always enjoyed engaging in physical activities and the outdoors. Like most children during his time, Ocampo loved running outside and spending the day in the fields during his summers in the province.
It was from his childhood, in fact, that Ocampo traced the beginning of two of his great loves—mountain climbing and cycling.
“Passion ko bisikleta. Ever since bata pa ako, talagang gusto ko magka bisikleta,” he said.
However, with five siblings, Ocampo said it was difficult for his parents to get him his own bike. He remembered saving to buy his own bike, only to have it stolen later, much to his dismay.
“Nag-ipon ako para magkaroon ako ng bisikleta. Pagkatapos ninakaw sa akin. Bata pa kami ng kapatid ko noon. Naloko ako maya-maya kinuha na,” he said.
Despite this, his love for cycling did not diminish. Today Ocampo takes his bike around, at least once a week. No place is too far for Ocampo, who regularly cycles around Luzon or trails the Sierra Madre with his friends. At one point, he even biked from La Union to visit his son who was studying in UP Baguio.
Mountain climbing, he said, was a fascination borne out of his days staying in the province. He said he had always been curious about mountains as a child, but was unable to explore them as his province in Pampanga only had plains.
“Gustong-gusto ko noong mamundok,” he said. His curiosity was sated when he started joining climbs as he got older. Eventually, Ocampo became a member the UP Mountaineers, where he was able to explore new terrain and meet fellow mountain climbers.
He contrasts the convenience of mountaineering to the actual difficulty of living in the mountains, something he says is often romanticized.
“In reality, ang hirap mamundok. Sa mountaineering weekend lang, kaya doon na lang,” he joked; a subtle throwback to his days as an activist, when some of his companions had to hide in the mountains to avoid capture.
Despite his love for physical activity, Ocampo notes that not everyone shares the same enthusiasm for it. The desire to keep active and moving is something Ocampo said many people do not have today. “[Ang mga tao] ngayon, laging nakaupo,” he lamented, “kailangan active.”
Because of this, he tries to get his students moving, even if only in his class.
Although “The Life and Works of Jose Rizal” is not a Physical Education course, Ocampo makes sure his class gets some physical and mental exercises during the semester, employing several unconventional teaching methods along the way.
Take, for example, the first day of school, when he gives students physical exercises not far from that of The Amazing Race. This goes on throughout the semester, when students can expect costume changes, presentations and some dancing on the part of latecomers.
One of his most popular activities is the mountain-climbing field trip his students experienced in Mount Banahaw; which he has done for more than 30 years. During the field trip, students climb and spend a night on the mountain, witnessing him don multiple costumes as he guides them around Banahaw.
Ocampo said he organizes these things because, in addition to teaching students concepts and theories, he wants to remind them to be on the move. Ocampo admitted that he dislikes being stagnant and thinks this generation could stand to do more physical activity. “Dapat pag alas kwatro, alas cinco, tatakbo ka na, mag bibisikleta ka.”
However, he also admits that it is harder to remain active given people’s workload and lifestyle nowadays.
He said activities like the field trip give his students a chance to get some physical activity while learning about the people who live near the area. His multifaceted approach to learning has caught the attention of students and many rave about their tutelage under the popular professor. Ocampo, however, said what he does is all part of the job.
“Kung magtuturo ka kasi parang, teatro iyan,” he said. “Di lang simple lecture, di ba? Di lang visual, all senses.”
Throughout all this, one thing rings true: Whether he’s climbing mountains, cycling around the city or imparting knowledge to his students, Ocampo never fails to keep both his mind and body running and inspiring others to follow suit. Amanda Isabelle Lingao / Special to the BusinessMirror