Philippine Stamp Bulletin 2009: Dr. Rodolfo S. Cornejo

The Philippine Postal Corporation issues a stamp to commemorate the birth centenary of Dr. Rodolfo S. Cornejo

Kind of Issue: Commemorative

Denomination & Quantity: P7 (35,000)
Date of Issue: May 15, 2009
Last Day of Sale: May 14, 2010
Size of Stamps: 30mm x 40mm
Sheet Composition: 50 (5x10)
Perforation: 14
Printing Process: Litho Offset (4 colors)
Paper: Imported Unwatermarked
Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.
Designer: Jesus Alfredo D. Delos Santos
Graphic Designer: Angelica Joy B. Mestizo

Project Coordinator: Rodrigo G. Cornejo

Design: Photo of Dr. Rodolfo S. Cornejo, piano keyboard, musical composition and a conductor's silhouete as background

Dr. Rodolfo S. Cornejo was a distinguished Filipino composer-pianist-conductor and professional lecturer. He was a musician who became church organist at the age of 8, a composer at the age of 10, whose composition was published when he was 13 (a military march entitled "Salute" dedicated to then Governor-General Leonard Wood of the Commonwealth Period), a holder of a Teacher's Diploma from the University of the Philippines at 23, a degree holder of Master in Music (Mus.M.) in Composition conferred by the Chicago Musical College at 24.

His Symphonic Suite in 5 movements, which was well received by his American professors in New York, was finished within 28 days.

He served as director-pianist for the American USO Concert Unit in Europe during World War II (a Captain assigned to the 9th U.S. Air Force Special Service Division), and was appointed by then Pres. Manuel L. Quezon as Researcher and Official Composer of the Philippine Government-in-exile in Washington D.C. (ironically, his composition was used as background music for a documentary film taken on the funeral of the President).

After the war he became a piano soloist with the New York Symphony Orchestra, the CBS Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles WPA Symphony Orchestra and others.

He returned to the Philippines and became a soloist with the Manila Symphony Orchestra. He was composer and musical director of Sampaguita and Vera Perez movie companies, directing the musical scores of 27 movies. He taught Humanities at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

His rare and distinct talent was his exceptional ability to render on piano classical and contemporary "on-the-spot" improvisations based on a succession of notes or number given by the audience.

He has been nominated and considered several times for the prestigious National Artist Award in Music.

He passed away on 11 August 1991 at the age of 82.

(the above info is from the Philippine Postal Corporation Philatelic Bulletin)

The 2009 Philippine Stamps (3rd Quarter)

These are the 3rd quarter Philippine stamp issues released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost).

• Philippine Che Yong Cua & Chua Family Association, 100 years (July 15)
• Pheepoy, Philpost Mascot (July 27)
• Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc., Golden Jubilee (July 31)
• Philippines-Brunei Agricultural Cooperation (August 3)
• Philippines-Singapore 40 Years of Dipolomatic Relations (August 28)
• Baguio Centennial (September 1)
• President Cory Aquino (September 8)
• President Cory Aquino re-issue (September 18)
• International Year of Natural Fibers (September 10)
• Deep Sea Lobsters of the Philippines (September 30)

Philippine Stamp Bulletin 2009: Philippines-Korea Diplomatic Relations, 60th Anniversary

The Philippine Postal Corporation issues a pair of stamps in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Philippines-Korea Diplomatic Relations.

Kind of Issue: Special

Denomination & Quantity: P7 (70,000)

Date of Issue: March 3, 2009

Last Day of Sale: March 2, 2010 (As stocks allow)

Size of Stamps: 40mm x 30mm

Sheet Composition: 10 (2x5)

Perforation: 14

Printing Process: Litho Offset (4 colors)

Paper: Imported Unwatermarked

Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.

Design Coordinators: Victorino Serevo (Philippines) and Sojeong Kim (Korea)

Design: Panagbenga Flower Festival (Philippines) and Sonori (Cow Play) in Hangawi (Korea)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Philippines bilateral relations with Korea. Korea is one of the Philippines largest trading partners. The mututal understanding of the Philippines and Korea is shown when the Armed Forces of the Philippines helped Korea and its allies during the Korean War better known as the Philippine Expedition Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) under the United Nations command with Gen. Douglas McArthur, as commanding general.

In celebration of the 60 Years of the Philippines-Korea Diplomatic Relations, the Philippine Postal Corporation will issue a joint stamp together with Korea Post featuring the Philippines' Panagbenga Flower Festival and Korea's Sonori (Cow Play) in Hangawi.

PANAGBENGA FLOWER FESTIVAL

The Panagbenga Flower Festival is celebrated in the whole month of February in Baguio City which is considered not only the Philippine's summer capital because of its cool climate but also the country's flower capital where various kinds of beautiful flowers bloom. The festival showcase the rich and colorful variations of flowers blooming within the city.

Spectacular cars festooned with floral decorations are followed by dancers and citizens who decorate themselves with flowers marching though out the streets cheerfully singing and dancing. It is also during this time of the year that the city blooms with a certain enigmatic smile that captures the enthusiasm of Filipinos.

SONORI (COW PLAY) IN HANGAWI

Hangawi (Chuseok) which falls on the 15th of August of the lunar calendar, is one of the biggest holidays in Korea, when people celebrate the years' good harvest and observe worship service to family ancestors. At this time, when newly harvested grains and fruits are abundant, as indicated in the saying "May everyday be neither more or less than Hangawi!" the Sonori is performed. To the tune of cheerful musical instruments of the farmer's band, two people put on straw mats shaped like a cow and visit door to door, wishing a years' good harvest, peace and tranquility.

(the above info is from the Philippine Postal Corporation Philatelic Bulletin)

Philippine Stamp Bulletin 2009: The Philippine International Arts Festival

The Philippine Postal Corporation issues a set of stamps in celebration of The Philippine International Arts Festival 2009.

Kind of Issue: Special

Denomination & Quantity: P7.00 - 100,000

Date of Issue: February 16, 2009

Last Day of Sale: February 15, 2010 (As stocks allow)

Size of Stamps: 40mm x 30mm

Sheet Composition: 40 (10 x 4)

Perforation: 14

Printing Process: Litho Offset (4 colors)

Paper: Imported Unwatermarked

Printer: Amstar Company Inc.

Designer: Jesus Alfredo D. Delos Santos

Graphic Artist: Angelica Joy B. Mestizo

Design Coordinator: Vanessa M. Marquez

Design: The Seven Arts of Philippine International Arts Festival

Through the efforts of the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), February 16 is declared under Presidential Decree No. 683 as the National Arts Month. The NCCA provides support to various artistic activities in the country through its Grants Programs. It has also provided many talented individual and groups, especially in the performing arts, the opportunity to study in various institutions abroad and/or compete in international festivals or contests, and many of them have returned bringing honor to the country.

This February 2009, the NCCA celebrates the occasion with festivals through the Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF), and strives to be true to the spirit of the harvest theme known as Ani Ng Sining. It will feature the talents and performances of the many artist and groups in the seven arts on whose training, competitions and creative expressions it has invested for the past year and looking forward to a richer, more fertile ground in the coming years for the evolution of artistic modes of expression available to the Filipino creative imagination.

The people involved in the festival has evolved from Manila-centered activities to a truly national event with key activities in all three major island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The logo symbolizes the following: the rice stalks alludes to the rice harvests as metaphor for arts harvest, a product of creative processes that express dreams, aspirations and ideals of the Filipino arts. The flame represents the NCCA's mission of supporting arts in the Philippines, the live stalks bearing the grains represents the 7 arts. The bright colors evoke the festive mood which the PIAF intends to occasion; the colors of the rice grains symbolize the abundance and excellence of Filipino artistry.

In line with these festivals, PIAF is composed of the following Commitees:

The Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts is composed of institutional and individual members representing the fields of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design, environmental planning, and other allied arts.

The Committee on Cinema is composed of distinguished sectoral representatives from the Filipino cinema community specifically in the areas of mainstream filmmaking, independent cinema, film education, film outreach, film restoration and archiving, and film journalism.

The Committee on Dance is composed of both individuals and institutional members representing the sectors on folk dance, ballet, contemporary/modern dance, and commercial/jazz.

The Committee on Dramatic Arts is composed of sectoral and organizational members both from theater organizations and groups and individual practitioners of the field.

The Committee on Literary Arts is composed of individual and institutional members from the literary arts.

The Committee on Music has conscientiously pursued meaningful and relevant endeavors that will promote the total development of the Filipino artist audience. Working together with the rest of the nation, it has devoted its resources towards attaining its general objective and addressing areas of concern.

The Committee on Visual Arts is composed of individual volunteers who are active visual arts practitioners working towards the flourishing of Philippine visual arts.

(the above info is from the Philippine Postal Corporation Philatelic Bulletin)

The 2009 Philippine Stamps (2nd Quarter)

Here is the second installment of the 2009 Philippine stamp issues released by Philpost. The second quarter issues include:

• Augustinian Recollect Sisters (April 28)
• Architectural Heritage: Art Deco Theatre-Cinemas (May 8)
• Rodolfo S. Cornejo (May 15)
• Philippine Birds (May 25)
• Philippine Birds (June 2)
• Taguig, The Global City (June 5)
• Ateneo de Manila University, 150 years (June 14)
• Philippines-Thailand, 60 Years of Diplomatic Relations (June 14)
• Baler, 400th Centenary (June 30)

The 3rd quarter issues coming soon...

The 2009 Philippine Stamp Issues (1st Quarter)

You won't believe it but I keep meeting a lot of people who tell me that they continue to collect stamps. This just proves that the stamp collecting hobby here in the Philippines is very much alive in spite of the advancement in technology and communication.

A very useful guide for us who collect Philippine Stamps is Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated's "Philippine Stamps" e-magazine. This new quarterly publication launched early this year for CSCI members is in pdf format and features the complete issues of Philippine stamps by year and showcases the different stamps and philatelic info taken from the philatelic bulletins released by Philpost.

This year, the Philippine Postal Corporation released beautiful stamps for collectors to enjoy and more are coming. I am posting here the first of a 4-part series featuring the 2009 Philippine stamp issues.

The first quarter issues are as follows:

• Dr. Manuel S. Enverga Birth Centenary (January 1)
• Valentine's Day (February 2)
• Philippine International Arts Festival (February 16)
• Philippines - South Korea, 60 years of Diplomatic Relations (March 3)
• Philippine Birds (March 9)
• Philippine Birds (March 13)
• Philippine Birds (March 23)
• Philippine Minerals (March 30)

Watch for the 2nd quarter issues soon..