Happy Birthday to Cebu Stamp Club's Ricky Teves

Cebu Stamp Club's Vice President Ricardo "Ricky" Teves celebrates his natal day today.

When I founded the club in 1996, Ricky was there to assist me in the best way he can. Being college fraternity brods, our friendship began in 1994.

Ricky comes from a family of collectors. Cebu's famous stamp collector Don Victorino Reynes is a very close relative. His mother is part of the famous Reynes clan of Cebu.

To brodix Ricky, I wish you many years of happiness, success and friendship.

Goodbye Press Secretary Cerge Remonde

Philippine Press Secretary Cerge Remonde's sudden demise today is a huge loss to Cebuanos and to the local media of Cebu.

I still recall the day when me and Ricky Teves, Cebu Stamp Club's vice president were personally invited to his birthday party in his house in 1998. He was very involved with the Knights of Rizal that most of those who came were KOR members. Both me and Ricky got invited to join the KOR but got our hands full running Cebu Stamp Club.

He introduced to us his wife Marit, who in the later part of the evening gave Ricky some treasured stamps.

Humble, vibrant and charismatic, Cerge was destined to make the people of Cebu proud. When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won the presidency, she appointed him press undersecretary in 2001. Soon he found himself heading the presidential management staff. He was then appointed press secretary in 2009.

To the family of Cerge, I offer my condolences.

Above photo is from SunStar Cebu website.

updates:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) to the late Cerge Remonde on January 21, 2009. Marit Stinus-Remonde received the posthumous award that was given “for his outstanding service to the Republic of the Philippines and in recognition of his life as an exemplary media man and public servant.”

Exchanging Toy Soldiers For Stamps

Bernard is a faculty member of the University of Cebu who also collects Sports on stamps. During one of the "Pasko Sa Sugbo" (Christmas in Cebu) events organized by the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, I was introduced to him as one of the judges for the Christmas Decor competition in the Establishments category. CHAC appointed me as the Chairman of the Board of Judges.

In one of our conversations, we talked about collecting toy soldiers. I shared to him that aside from Star Wars and stamps, I collect toy soldiers as a minor collection. These include Tamiya's famous generals set that consists of General MacArthur, General Patton, General Eisenhower, General Montgomery and Field Marshal Rommel; and World War II American, German and Japanese soldiers.

I also have a special spot for figures portraying Gettysburg and the American Civil War. When he learned about this, he invited me to visit him in his office the following day.

Inside his office the next day, he showed me nine metal figures that consist of 3 Union Soldiers, 3 Confederates, and 3 figures from the American Revolution. He brought up the idea of exchanging the figures for some stamps featuring Sports. I readily agreed and went home with the new treasure I got.

I did come back the day after, and gave him all the mint Sports stamps, FDCs and souvenir sheets in my collections. It was a barter that both of us were happy and satisfied.

Ricky Teves, my best friend who is also into collecting shared to me that metal figures are not common these days as toys are now made of plastic or rubber. This makes my metal soldiers quite rare and unique.