The Tribute To Cory Aquino Stamps & Photo Exhibit Video

The whole day yesterday kept me occupied creating the video of the "Tribute To Cory Aquino Stamp and Photo Exhibit" held at the Ayala Center Cebu last month.

This is the first of several videos that I will be loading in YouTube for Cebu Stamp Club. Click here to view the video from YouTube.

Cebu Stamp Club September 2009 Meetup

Cebu Stamp Club members met again today at 2:00 PM for the monthly stamp meetup held at the 2nd floor of McDonalds Jones.

I was glad to see familiar faces in the meetup. Eyan Yu, Edmund Gruenbaum, Elbert Montuno, Reina Tugot, Dinah Potolin, Sharee Ann Trapa, Janice Benolerao with daughter, and newcomer Anthony Jackson Emit.

Although some begged off because of the Mayweather-Marquez boxing match, I appreciate the dedication and commitment of those who came.

Edmund left Germany a few days ago just to join the group while Elbert arrived from far away Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

I always give credit where credit is due. My sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who made the "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute to Cory Aquino" stamp and photo exhibit at Ayala Center Cebu Mall a huge success, and for taking the time every month in attending the meetups.

Elbert Montuno excited everyone by donating again imported and expensive stamp mounts to the club. Sharee Ann Trapa, the club's very active secretary was tasked to evenly distribute the mounts to everyone who came.

The December stamp competition, "Cebu StampShow 2009" was discussed and the competition guidelines and entry form were shared to all.

Reina brought a lot of used Philippine stamps that kept the members busy and committed to donate additional frames to the club to be used in the December exhibition. My personal thanks to Reina for her commitment.

It was a very busy meeting, but we all went home happy and richer with stamps and some stamp mounts.

We Started Ahead!

Cory fever is all over the country once again. Her son Noynoy appearing on national tv yesterday announcing his plan to run as president next year and the celebration of the 40 days of her death with different masses held all over the country flooded the news in tv, radio, print and the net.

Groups and individuals started to come up with exhibits, memorabilias, bags and of course, stamps. My personal thanks to the Philippine Postal Corporation for issuing the Cory stamps.

One thing I am happy about is that here in Cebu, weeks before different Cory exhibits started to mushroom all over the country, we came out with a very fitting tribute to the great icon of democracy using stamps.

Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated's "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute to Cory Aquino" stamp and photo exhibit will continue to be on tour until its culmination in December 2009.

The New Cory Aquino Stamps

What I hoped the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) will issue finally happened. The new Cory Aquino stamps are out!

Philpost issued two new Cory Aquino stamps today September 8, 2009, a day before her 40th day of the period of mourning.

The commemorative se-tenant stamps are each sold at 7.00 pesos and designed by Marco Ruben Trinos Malto II and photographed by Menchit Ongpin.

The first stamp's design features President Cory flashing the Laban sign while in front of a podium. The second one depicts her in her famous smile.

These new stamps will surely be a welcome addition to the Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated's "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute To Cory Aquino" ongoing exhibit tour this year that will culminate at SM City Cebu Mall in December.

"Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute To Cory Aquino" was launched in Ayala Center Cebu Mall on August 27-30, 2009 and was made possible with the support of The City Government of Cebu through the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Stamp Club Incorporated members and officers, Himlayang Pilipino Plans Inc., STRADCOM Corporation, Cebu Star Wars Club, Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo of the Province of Camiguin, Richard Allan Uy, Emie Patalagsa, Atty. Maria Lynna P. Adviento, Ricardo Teves, Edwin Al Cuizon, Richard Beethoven Uy, Edwin Uy, Reina Tugot, Jerald Kervin Uy, Charles Mark Uybengkee, and Eyan Yu.

Click here to read more about the new Cory Aquino stamps.

Cory Exhibit Souvenir Cover

The latest exhibit poster I designed and made was for Cebu Stamp Club's "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute To Cory Aquino" stamp and photo exhibit. I also decided to come up with the official souvenir cover that features the exhibit poster design.

The envelope carries a cache that depicts the exhibit poster. An "AUG 27, 2009" postmark is stamped that highlights the day of the exhibit opening. The words "CEBU STAMP CLUB, INC." and "AYALA CENTER CEBU" are also included. The stamp shown in the above photo is the Oath Taking of President Cory Aquino issued on March 04, 1987.

This limited edition souvenir envelope is a collectors item and available exclusively to Cebu Stamp Club members and friends.

Cebu Stamp Club members at the Tribute to Cory Aquino Stamp Exhibit

I was so touched to see Cebu Stamp Club members at the "Selyo at Kasayasayan 2009... A Tribute to Cory Aquino" exhibit at the Ayala Center Cebu.

Australian member Luke Ferrara flew in from Australia just to be with the group. Aidalyn Arabe left Dumaguete City to view the exhibit and so did Allan Bennett Uy Matiao.

Reina Tugot presented herself to be the official photographer during the duration of the event. Eyan Yu and his son Paul took photos too. Sharee Ann Trapa, Dinah Potolin, Richard Guimbarda, Aileen Liwat, Janus Bariñan, Dra. Eulalia Dy, Jerald Kervin Uy, Ricardo Teves and Julian Kael Uy came in different dates just to lend support. Edwin Al Cuizon and Emie Patalagsa helped tremendously in getting sponsors for the event.

I am truly blessed to have members who are always there to give their full commitment and support to Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated. To them, I offer my gratitude and best wishes!

The Exhibit Opening Was A Blast!

August 26, 2009 at 9:00pm, a group from the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission arrived at my house to get the materials of the "Tribute to Cory Aquino" stamp and photo exhibit. My house is just an 8 minute ride to the mall so in a few minutes, we were all busy setting up and mounting the exhibit materials. By 11:30pm, we were all done.

Exhibit opening day - August 27, 2009, we were adding some finishing touches. The opening program which the Cebu City Government through the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission painstakingly organized was scheduled to start at 5:00pm. I have to take my hat off to CHAC for a job well done in the preparation of the program. They have come up with a 3 day cultural presentation starting from August 27 to 29.

At exactly 5:00pm, the program began. My friend Romualdo "Algen" Generalao was tasked to be the master of ceremony and he sure lived up to everyone's expectation. The Pardo Children's Rondalla treated everyone to a repertoire of songs. The Abellana Dance Troupe presented a variety of cultural dances that awed and captivated the crowd, me included.

Cebu City Councilor Arsenio Pacaña gave his welcome remarks while Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña inspired us with his speech.

Soon after, we went to the second level to formally open the exhibit. Councilor Manuel Legaspi, my colleague in the Cebu Jaycees (JCI Cebu) who is a past president led the ribbon cutting ceremony together with CHAC Commissioner Osman Jumalon. Cebuano historian and CHAC Commissioner Dionisio Sy and yours truly assisted them. Wow! I am glad that everything went well and was more than I expected. It was indeed a blast!

The "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute to Cory Aquino" would never have been a success without the support of Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Stamp Club Incorporated members and officers, CHAC, Himlayang Pilipino Plans Inc., STRADCOM, Cebu Star Wars Club, Governor Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo of the Province of Camiguin, Emie Patalagsa, Atty. Maria Lynna P. Adviento, Ricardo Teves, Edwin Al Cuizon, Richard Beethoven Uy, Edwin Uy, Reina Tugot, Jerald Kervin Uy, Charles Mark Uybengkee, and Eyan Yu.

This exhibit will be in selected schools here in Cebu and will culminate in SM City Cebu in December to coincide with the death anniversary celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal.

Making a Tribute to Cory Aquino Using Stamps

It is almost August 27 but I haven't started the main exhibit pages for the "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009... A Tribute to Cory Aquino" as of last night. Knowing that it is crunch time, I had to wake up early this morning and began working on the 8-page exhibit. Cory and Ninoy stamps, first day covers and references were scattered all over my work table. After creating the layout and the text in my PC, I came out with the printed pages and mounted the stamps and the FDCs. Finally, I am done with it!

All the materials are now set for Thursday's event. The award winning "Las Islas Filipinas", a 64-page philatelic essay on the history of the Philippines has been prepared months before together with the 40-page "Philippine Presidents on Stamps". Other collections include "The Tres de Abril Stamp" (8 pages), "Philippine Heroes in Masonry" (16 pages), "Rizal, Bonifacio and Aguinaldo.. A Tale of Three Heroes" (16 pages) and a lot more.

The "Tribute to Cory Aquino" collection is a short essay on how Cory became the icon of democracy. It includes a page where Ninoy Aquino's poem "I Have Fallen In Love" was featured. He dedicated the poem to Cory and was made into a song by Filipino balladeer Jose Marie Chan.