Today in Philippine History: Battle of Tres de Abril

APRIL 3, 1898

Pantaleon Villegas also known as Leon Kilat, the leader of the Katipunan revolutionary movement in Cebu led 6,000 Cebuano revolutionaries armed with bolos and guns. They fought and defeated the Spaniards in the Battle of Tres de Abril. The Spaniards retreated to Fort San Pedro. The Tres de Abril stamp issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation on June 12, 1998 was a project of Cebu Stamp Club in cooperation with the City Government of Cebu and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC).

Read more on the Tres de Abril stamp here http://darthphilatelist.blogspot.com/2010/04/cebu-celebrates-tres-de-abril-today.html 

It's the Anniversary of The Battle of Tres de Abril

In May of 2007, I came out with an idea to come up with a stamp that will highlight the historic battle of Tres de Abril. Together with Patricia "Noeng" Perez, the Community Affairs Officer IV of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) of the City of Cebu, we started to make this concept into a reality. Noeng who is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated gave her full support to the project.

Fabiolita Ferraris, another  member of Cebu Stamp Club happened to be the regional manager of the Philippine Postal Corporation Region 7. She was the link between CSCI with CHAC and the Philpost Stamp Advisory Committee. It was through her efforts that there was a smooth flow of communication between all parties involved. Later on, the Chairman of the Stamp Advisory Committee, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak who is also a member of Cebu Stamp Club gave his full support too.

The Cebu City Council came out City Council Resolution 3258 during the regular session held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod on June 2, 1997. On June 13. 1997, the city mayor at that time, Hon. Alvin Garcia affixed his signature.

To complete everything, famous Cebuano artist Jose "Kimsoy" Yap was tasked to do the artwork of the famous battle scene. Kimsoy wasted no time in recreating the scene and donated the masterpiece.

On June 12, 1998, the Battle of Tres de Abril became an official stamp as part of the Centenary of Philippine Independence series 6 souvenir sheet.      

I have written the full history on how the stamp came to be, through my weekly column Stamplines in the Freeman newspaper in 1998. A reproduction of the said article is posted at Cebu Stamp Club's official website. You may read the whole story by clicking here. 
 
The top most photo features Jose "Kimsoy" Yap with his masterpiece. Seated beside him are Philpost Regional Director Fabiolita Ferraris and CSCI Founder and President, Richard Allan Uy. Standing from left are CSCI Executives Maria Luisa Potian, Rachel Betos, Teresita Caballero, Patricia Perez, Beeling Yap and Erwin Allan Orosco.

Also shown is the Battle of Tres de Abril painting done by Kimsoy Yap. The stamps included are that of the Tres de Abril battle and Pantaleon Villegas, the leader of the Cebuano Revolutionaries.

The Centenary of Philippine Independence Series 6 souvenir sheet that includes the stamps of the Tres de Abril Uprising, the Negros Uprising, the Iligan Uprising and the Philippine Centennial Kalayaan logo.       

Cebu Celebrates Tres De Abril Today

April 3 each year is a day of celebration for the Cebuanos. This is the day when Cebuano revolutionaries headed by Pantaleon Villegas, popularly known as Leon Kilat won a battle against the Spanish troops in 1898. That battle came to be known as the Tres de Abril Uprising.

Years ago, I wrote an article about the Cebuanos' victory in my column in the Freeman Newspaper. You can read the story about the Tres de Abril Uprising in Cebu Stamp Club's website by clicking here.

In 1998, Cebu celebrated the 100 years of the historic battle. It was also in that year that I came out with the idea of coming out with a stamp featuring the Tres de Abril uprising.
Together with the support of Cebu Stamp Club executives, Philpost officials and the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, the idea became a reality. Cebuano artist Jose "Kimsoy" Yap was chosen to do the painting.

On June 12, 1998, the Philippine Postal Corporation issued the Centenary of Philippine Independence Series 6 Souvenir Sheet which included the Tres de Abril Uprising.

The Cebu City Government together with Cebu Stamp Club unveiled the stamp on August 30, 1998 to coincide with the city's National Heroes Day celebration.

The Tres de Abril stamp is Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated's legacy to the Cebuanos.

In the picture are CSCI Founding President Richard Allan Uy with Philpost 7 Regional Manager and CSCI member Fabiolita Ferraris together with Jose "Kimsoy" Yap Jr. Standing from left are CSCI Executives, Maria Luisa Potian, Rachel Betos, Teresita Caballero, Patricia "Noeng" Perez, Beeling Yap, and Erwin Allan Orosco.

Philpost Website Has a New Look

It's good to see that the website of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) is being updated and has a new design. I think it's a work in progress as some of the pages still lack content.

I just hope that the webmaster of the site will add an email link where people especially stamp collectors can send their email concerns.

One may notice that Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated (CSCI) is not included in the Philatelic Clubs page. We were never asked but it would be great if they would. Besides, CSCI and Philpost Region 7 have been working together in promoting philately since 1996. Postmaster General Hector Villanueva even graced Cebu Stamp Club's exhibit in Dumaguete City last year.

What's flattering though is the inclusion of a portion of the Tres de Abril stamp in the site's banner found at the left side. The said stamp is Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated's legacy to Philippine Philately.

Click on this Cebu Stamp Club link that retells how the Tres de Abril stamp was made.

Below the Philpost website photo shows Cebu Stamp Club officials together with Jose "Kimsoy" Yap Jr. who did the artwork of the stamp.

From left standing: Maria Luisa Potian, Rachel Betos, Teresita Caballero, Patricia "Noeng" Perez, Bee Ling Yap, and Erwin Allan Orosco. Seated are: Fabiolita Ferraris, Jose "Kimsoy" Yap Jr. with the Tres de Abril painting and Richard Allan Uy.