Cebu's Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Bamban Bridge are on Singapore Stamps

Who would ever thought that Cebu's Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Bamban Bridge in Tarlac will be featured on Singapore stamps while Singapore bridges will be featured in ours?

This is what the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) and Singapore Post (SingPost) collaborated. The two postal administrations issued these stamps to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries. Date of Issue was August 28, 2009.

Peggy Teo, Assistant Vice President of Singapore Post emphasizes "...bridges connects both countries, symbolically, and bridges is also one of the themes that is well-liked and loved by collectors.”

Opened in 1991, the Marcelo Fernan Bridge links Cebu and the island of Mactan. It was named after Cebu's favorite son, Supreme Court Justice Marcelo Fernan who died of cancer that same year.

The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo destroyed the old Bamban Bridge so a new modern bridge had to be made in 1998. The new Bamban Bridge is considered as among the world's longest bridge. It links Bamban, Tarlac and Mabalacat, Pampanga.

The Singapore bridges included in the stamps are Henderson Waves and Cavenagh Bridge.

For more info on the stamps, click here

My Hobby Buddy

When I started the hobby of collecting stamps, Star Wars, Justice League and die cast cars, I was practically collecting alone.

It was just me accumulating things to satisfy my interest. My older son and daughter never bothered to check the things I collect. Maybe they were just not interested.

In 2004, a new baby came into the family. At the age of one, Jerald Kervin showed an interest and loves to tinker with my action figures. That's when I realized that he is the one I have been waiting for.. my hobby buddy.

He enjoys playing with my Star Wars items. I couldn't imagine my boxes being opened and played but I opened it for him and we play the toys together. He likes stamps too and has an album filled with dinosaurs.

I am glad to have a son who is my hobby buddy. It makes collecting more enjoyable and fun!

My First Stamps

ABS-CBN Cebu's Mark Mayol asked me a question that I recalled nobody asked for a long time. "What was you first stamp?" The words floated in my mind. Such a very basic question but no one ever thought of asking me!

I started collecting when I was in high school. The death of my grandfather Uy Kieng San (Charles Uy) led me to start collecting stamps. Weeks after he died, I happen to open his steel cabinet. What I saw amazed me! Before my very eyes were hundreds and hundreds of envelopes from China and Taiwan. In the later part of his life, my grandfather started an import/export business and communicated frequently with Taiwanese and Chinese companies and corporations.

The envelopes bore beautiful stamps from the two countries. Instinctively, I started cutting the stamps from the envelopes and was able to amass several boxes of these stamps. Soon, I saw myself exchanging the doubles to my friends and acquaintances.

The more stamps I exchanged, the more new stamps I accumulated. It was then that I started to segregate the stamps by countries and topics.

It was in 1994 that I started buying mint Philippine stamps and first day covers in the post offices. From that time on, my collection widened. My specialization would include different era in Philippine history. Spanish Dominion, Aguinaldo Period, American Occupation, Philippine Commonwealth, Japanese Occupation and the Republic Period.

I soon found myself collecting Canada Year sets, United Nations year issues, American Presidents on stamps, Popes on stamps, birds, fishes, butterflies, scouting on stamps, dinosaur, Kings and Queens of England, and Princess Diana.

Who would ever thought that those first China and Taiwan stamps I had would lead me to found Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated, write about stamps in my regular column in the Freeman newspaper, write stamp articles in Sun Star Daily Cebu, win awards in National, Regional and local stamp competitions, create different publications featuring stamps, and design, maintain and publish philatelic websites.

Those stamps made me who I am and I thank God for introducing me to this very wonderful hobby called "the hobby of kings, and the king of all hobbies."

To me "stamps will never die, they just fade."

Cebu Celebrates President Osmeña Day

September 9 of every year is a holiday here in Cebu. We Cebuanos commemorate the birthday of Cebu's favorite son, President Sergio Osmeña.

Yesterday's commemoration of the Grand Old Man of Cebu's 131st birthday was organized by the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC). The immediate family of Don Sergio led by his grandson Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña came to the event. Everyone placed flowers at the foot of the marker on Lapu-Lapu St. The marker was erected to identify the place where the former president was born.

Highlight of this year's commemoration was the announcement of Mayor Tom that his last act as mayor is to set up the 10-hectare Osmeña Shrine in Barangay Kalunasan as a memorial park for all religions.

Georgia Osmeña, the mayor's younger sister shared the ideals of her grandfather in another gathering. “Sergio Osmeña Sr. was a sitting president when he ran for reelection. But he refused to use the resources of the government for his campaign. He believes that they were the people’s money and that one should not use or abuse to further one’s own personal ambitions the resources of the government.” Georgia had earlier announced her intention run as mayor of Cebu City in the coming elections.

President Sergio Osmeña is immortalized in Philippine Philately. Check out my website at http://philippinepresidents.110mb.com/ for all his stamps.

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 University of Southern Philippines Foundation's Jose P. Rizal Post Cards

A few years ago I was priviledged to work on a special project with Dr. Lourdes Jereza, the Vice President of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation here in Cebu City.

The project involved a photo reproduction of the 1906 Jose Rizal Post Cards composed of 14 pieces with each card highlighting stanzas from Rizal's masterpiece, "Mi Ultimo Adios."

Issued in limited quantities, the reproductions were a hit. The original post cards are on exhibit at the University of Southern Philippines Museum in Lahug, Cebu City.

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.