Government Service
In 1999, Ocampo was appointed to the Board of the National Historical Institute by President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. In 2002, he was appointed NHI Chairman by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2005, he was elected Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippines. As NCCA chairman, he oversaw funding for the arts and provided support for the cultural agencies: national Library, National Archives, National Museum, etc. He emphasized culture as a main theme in diplomacy and was granted full powers to sign, for the Republic of the Philippines, Cultural Agreements with Pakistan, Vietnam, and North Korea as well as Executive Programs on culture with France, Mexico, and the People's Republic of China. He served as Chairman of the National Historical Commission 2002-2011 and concurrently as Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts 2005-2007.
Prior to these national government positions, he served as Co-Chair, with Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, of the Manila Historical Commission 1996-1998.
He recently weathered criticism over his attempt to enforce the existing Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines by reminding artists singing the Philippine national anthem at international boxing bouts of the proper way to sing the anthem, and his controversial decision to paint the Rizal clan house green - to teach Filipinos the origin of the word "rizal" that came from "ricial" meaning a green field ready for harvest.
He successfully worked for the passage of Republic Act 10086 restoring the National Historical Institute into the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Passed in record time, less than a year, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the measure into law in May 2010. Under the new law, the former NHI is reorganized, expanded, its duties and powers clarified and strengthened.
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