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 "MagTV Na" Video

For those who are not from Cebu, here's the home-made vid I took and the director's cut of the ABS-CBN Cebu's MagTV Na show aired last September 13, 2009 featuring my stamps and Star Wars collections. The original vid is rendered in AVI but I had to convert it to MPEG4 for faster uploading in YouTube and divided it into three parts. Just click on the videos to view.

The CSCI Newsletter September 2009 Issue

Every month, as the Editor-in-Chief of all the publications of Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated (CSCI), I always make it a point that what we feature contain interesting and informative articles and news.

The monthly "CSCI Newsletter" and the newest publication, "Philippine Stamps" quarterly e-magazine have been getting good comments from our readers. The great support we are getting for the e-magazines have driven us to strive harder to come out with the best issues all the time.

This month's issue of the CSCI Newsletter talks about the September stamp meetup held at the 2nd floor of McDonalds Jones, Cebu City. It features the new Cory Aquino stamps and the latest Philippines and international stamps. Stamp stories and tips are also included.

For a free copy of the CSCI Newsletter, send an email to cebustampclub_inc@yahoo.com. The Philippine Stamps magazine is given exclusively to regular members of the club.

Both e-magazines are in pdf format.

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.

Typhoon Ondoy

Yesterday's rains brought by tropical storm Ondoy have caused massive destruction to lives and properties in Metro Manila and nearby provinces..

As I watched images after images being shown on tv, I was so shocked to see flood water rise up to levels never seen before. Water in some areas reached as high as the rooftops of one story buildings. Traffic got clogged up too. One scene that really touched me was that of a group of people being swept by the flood while people on a bridge did everything they can to save those below but to no avail.

I feel sad for the people who lost their loved ones in this latest calamity that hit the country. To them I offer my prayers. This calamity is the Philippine version of Katrina in the U.S. some years ago.

My personal thanks to all of those who have shared to help the affected families. God bless the Philippines!

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News. Click here for a full article on Ondoy.

Luck Finally Comes

It's everyone's wish to be rich especially in this time of economic crunch. "How I wish I will be this or that.." is what we always tell ourselves.

But a jobless man in England just found lady luck! He discovered more than 1,500 gold and silver pieces dating back to the 7th century. His find would total many times more than $1.6 milliion.

Wow! What a luck!

Read more about the lucky guy by clicking here. Photo from Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

Philippine Stamp Bulletin 2009: Valentine's Day

The Philippine Postal Corporation issues a pair fo stamp in celebration of Valentine's Day 2009.

Kind of Issue: Special

Denomination and Quantity: P7 - 70,000 (2 designs)

Date of Issue: February 2, 2009

Last Day of Sale: February 1, 2010 (as stocks allow)

Size of Stamps: 30mm x 40mm

Sheet Composition: 40 (10 x 4)

Perforation: 14

Printing Process: Litho Offset (4 colors)

Paper: Imported Unwatermarked

Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.

Graphic Designer: Corazon T. Loza

Project Coordinator: Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

Design: Envelope with hearts in different colors, Red heart with yellow and red roses

Valentine's Day is a special day celebrated every 14th of February. A celebration that speaks about love. Love in very aspect of life. Love for God, family, friends, etc. But this special day is most celebrated by lovers as they express their love in their own different ways.

It is expressed by colorful and fragrant flowers that will serenade the heart of the recipient. Heart-shaped gift items, food items such as chocolates and balloons are given to loved ones to celebrate their affections.

Another way of expressing one's love is through writing a love letter. Love letters have long been part of human history to communicate love, emotions and sincerity of intentions. A silent witness of how love survived and lived through the years.

Distant relatives, friendss and young lovers send valentine cards or letters to show that they are remembered even in far away places. These cards or letters sent through mail, are most of the time kept through the years for sentimental reasons.

The Philippine Postal Corporation join in the celebration of this occasion merrily. Gift items like those mentioned above are sold at the main lobby of the Post Office Building in Manila. A special delivery program dubed "Postman who also delivers flowers" implements the delivery of gift items to loved ones within Valentine's Day itself, if the customer beats the prescribed cut-off delivery time.

(all the above info are from the Philippine Postal Corporation Philatelic Bulletin)

Jumalon's Butterflies

Even as a child my fascination for butterflies was one of awe and wonder. They never cease to amaze me. I always marvel watching these little creatures hover around the gardens with beautiful colors on their wings. It was always a refreshing sight for a little boy filled with colorful imaginations. When I started to collect stamps, among my early collections was that of butterflies which to this day I have kept and treasured.

I used to hear people talking about these beautiful insects found in the Butterfly Sanctuary owned by the late Professor Julian Jumalon but I never had the time to check it out until my friend Osman Jumalon, the professor's son invited me.

The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary, one of Cebu’s tourist attractions is home to 54 butterfly species and scores of moths and fauna. Situated on a 1,460 square meter compound which also houses the Jumalon Art and Entomological Museum, it has been at the forefront in fostering environmental awareness as well as alternative tourism, with people from different nations of varied ages visiting the site for more than three decades.

Professor Jumalon has named more than 20 accepted butterfly species and subspecies. The Chilasa Osmana, a butterfly found in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte was named after Osman while three more butterflies, the Papillo daedalus, junonia, and nepheronia were named after three of his children.

Jumalon's butterflies also appeared on different issues of Philippine stamps. Top most photo features Osman Jumalon with a painting done by his father using butterfly wings, and the stamp of the Chilasa Osmana Osmana butterfly that is named after him. Second photo highlights a Troides Magellanus butterfly inside the sanctuary and its stamp.

WWII Tank Found in Manila Bay

A history buff, I also love to collect World War II toy figures, tanks and planes. I was fascinated when I read today's news about a vintage tank found at the bottom of Manila Bay by a private contractor.

It was the people's belief in the area that an American military ship sank nearby in a battle between American and Japanese forces.

The Sherman M4A1 battle tank was used by the United States military in the second World War. The Sherman was the front line tank of the US Army and was named after Civil War General Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army. It was a symbol of American might and industry.

Read the Philippine Daily Inquirer full article here.

Revised Cory Aquino Stamps Will Be A Hit Too!

Glad I was able to get hold of a few copies of the September 8, 2009 Cory Aquino Commemorative se-tenant stamps.

My friend Marco Ruben Malto, the designer of the stamp relayed "...the first series are already out of stock within 5 days after its release... Philpost is really surprised with the turn out of sale of the Cory stamps, to quote them saying - selling like hot cakes!"

On September 18, 2009, Philpost decided to print 300,000 revised version of the Cory Aquino stamps. These reprints are actually a second series. There are changes in the layout of texts (PILIPINAS) and the denomination (p7). If one compares the two issues, they are completely different from each other.

Stamp collectors in the country believe that the second series will be as popular as the first and will be a big hit too!

The Star Wars Clone Wars Keychain Collection

Everytime I go to malls and toy shops to scout on items that catch my fancy, I always notice the Star Wars Clone Wars keychain figures being prominently displayed. Maybe it isn't a hot item with lots of stocks being displayed in Toy Kingdom, Gaisano Metro, Toys'R'Us and other stores since last year.

Seeing that I could still be able to complete the whole set with lots of stocks available, I decided to start buying them this week. The complete set consists of only 21 figures as seen in the box.

I was curious about the manufacturer of the products so I did some research. The keychains were made by The Promotions Factory, Australia. The TPF website reveals that the figures are grouped in three series, and there are three figures not included in the back portion of the items I bought. These are Jabba the Hutt, Darth Maul, and Count Dooku.

Series 1 consists of Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, Qui Gon Jin, C3PO, Princess Leia, R2D2, and Storm Trooper.

Series 2 has Darth Vader, Jango Fett, Mace Windu, Super Battle Droid, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, Han Solo, and Count Dooku.

Series 3 features Anakin Skywalker, Clone Trooper, General Grievous, Emperor Palpatine, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Wicket and Jabba the Hutt.

Cory and Ninoy on Philippine Christmas Seals

Another popular collecting interest in the Philippines is the collection of Philippine TB Seals now popularly called the Philippine Christmas Seals. The Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc. is the government agency that issues these seals.

Cory and Ninoy Aquino were both featured on these seals. The 2008 Christmas Seal depicts the Outstanding Filipinos of the Century issue of 1999 but overprinted with the words "2008 Collect Seals" in gold foil.

The set also included Philippine heroes such as Apolinario Mabini, Macario Sacay and Jose Abad Santos, presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Ramon Magsaysay, and Diosdado Macapagal. Journalist Chino Roces also appeared on the issue.

Foremost Philippine philatelist who is the authority on these issues is Nemi L. Rivera.

Remembering Martial Law

September 21, 1972 was the day when President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1081 placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law.

All the members of the opposition including Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., students, journalists, and activists were arrested by the military. Around 30,000 were detained.

Newspapers were shut down and the media was controlled. Marcos even closed Congress and took over its legislative powers and responsibilities.

The people suffered during those years. There was no freedom nor democracy. The rights of the Filipino were curtailed.

It took a Ninoy Aquino to reawaken the Filipinos. His death encouraged Cory Aquino to stand against Marcos in a snap election that would see the end of the Marcos dictatorship though the peaceful revolution called People Power.

Let us always be vigilant in guarding our freedom and democracy and let the spirit of EDSA 1 always live in our hearts.

Stamps above feature Marcos during the martial law years.

Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion - Mandaue

My parents believe in quality education. Me and my siblings have to thank them for this. They put me in a Jesuit school, the Sacred Heart School for boys. My younger brother at the University of San Carlos Boy High, a school run by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), and my two sisters at the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion.

Me and my wife shared what my parents believe in so we enrolled our son Jerald Kervin at the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) Mandaue. The school is only a 5-minute trip from our house.

This year, the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) Mandaue branch along with the whole Vincentian Family worldwide celebrates the 350th Death Anniversary of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac, Founders of the Daughters of Charity.

The Vincentian Jubilee Year celebration from September 27, 2009 to September 27, 2010 revolves on the theme "Charity and Mission" is proclaimed as: A Year of Grace, Blessing and Conversion... A Special Year for all in the Vincentian Family and for Persons who are Poor.

At 6:00 AM today, the school publicized the event by a FAMVIN WALK (Walk of the Vincentian Family) where the CIC Mandaue personnel, students and their families together with the alumni walked from the school to San Roque Parish Church where a Eucharistic Mass and short program was held.

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) released a stamp on July 22. 1987 highlighting 125 Years in the Philippines of the Daughters of Charity.

Photo above shows the CIC-Mandaue web banner and the Daughters of Charity stamp. Visit the CIC-Mandaue website by clicking this link.

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.

Philippine Stamp Bulletin 2009: Dr. Manuel S. Enverga

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

Kind of Issue: Commemorative

Denomination and Quantity: P7.00 (65,000)

Date of Issue: January 1, 2009

Last Day of Sale: December 31, 2009 (as stocks allow)

Size of Stamps: 30mm x 40mm

Sheet Compotition: 40 (10 x 4)

Perforation: 14

Printing Process: Litho Offset (4 colors)

Paper: Imported Unwatermarked

Designer: Fernando P. Tiu

Design Coordinator: Benilda N. Villenas

Design: Photo of Dr. Manuel S. Enverga

Dr. Manuel S. Enverga, founder/president of the Luzonian University which he converted into a foundation that now bears his name, the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation in Lucena City, and Representative of the First District of Quezon from 1953 to 1968, spent the remaining years of his retirement from politics nurturing the growth of the higher education institution he founded to provide affordable, relevant, and quality education to his countrymen and to write about his vision for the country, foremost of which was to advance the nationalist cause.

A staunch nationalist, Congressman Enverga authored the change of the celebration of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12 which President Diodado Macapagal adopted and signed into an executive order. He also spearheaded the reexamination of Philippine foreign policy to open trade, scientific and economic cooperation with socialist countries to reduce the dependence on the traditional American market, an advocacy that was clearly ahead of his time. Congressman Enverga has advanced the nationalist cause to a remarkable degree by the sober way in which he spearheaded the move to make foreign policy long shackled to antiquated but no less dangerous cold war myths responsive to the realities of the 1960s.

One of his major speeches in the House of Representatives which dwelt on the military danger and economic disadvatages posed by the American bases in the country has earned the praise of his more enlightened colleagues in the intellectual community. Congressman Enverga has also conceptualized the archipelagic principle that has now been enshrined in the definition of the country's boundaries under the Philippine Constitution. He was born on January 1, 1909 and celebrates his centenary on January 1, 2009.

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

59 Down, 1 To Go For Episode III Bottle Caps!

Completing the Pepsi Cola Bottle Caps Star Wars Episode III took me a longer time than the previous episodes I collected. Episode I has 52 figures, Episode II with 52, and Episode III has 60 caps.

One of the figures that is rare and hard to find is bottle cap # 22 featuring Jabba the Hutt. The toy is much bigger than all the figures of the three episodes.

Thanks to Dennis and Cedric of Ebay, I got most of the missing pieces. I am close to completing my Episode III set with only one figure missing. It should have been eleven but Cedric sent me the ten figs that arrived yesterday afternoon. It included my sought after Jabba the Hutt figure.

Hopefully by the end of the year, I will have the last piece to complete my collection - bottle cap #22 General Grievous. So officially, it's 59 down and 1 more to go!

Visual Illusion

I just saw this in my mail today and I enjoyed and had fun trying it. I might as well share it!

The capability of the eyes to perceive images similar to the photo above is called a visual illusion. The image is seen by our eyes as rather different from what it is.

Click on this link to see more wild designs that boggles the mind.

Cool German Stamps on Bulletins

It's great to have friends from different countries. Cebu Stamp Club's Edmund Gruenbaum of Germany is one of them. My friendship with Ed began in 2005 when he decided to join the club while he was in Cebu.

If we are not seeing each other during the monthly stamp meetups, we meet at SM City Cebu in some of the resto bars to talk about stamps over a bottle of beer and soda. One beer for me, Ricky Teves and Bob my brother, while Ed settles for the soda. It's quite funny because Germans love beer but Ed doesn't drink beer or any alcoholic beverages.

During his birthday last year, we travelled to far away Barili which is around 60 kms from the city just to surprise him.

In one of our meetings, Ed gave me kilowares of used German stamps on paper. Of course, I gave all of it to the members of the club to add to their collection. He also gave me a collection of German stamps on bulletins.

If the Philippines came out with bulletins with the stamp design printed on it, Germany's bulletins had the actual stamps on the bulletins with a date of issue cancellation. Those bulletins introduced me to add Germany to my collecting interest.

Photo above features a recent Cebu Stamp Club meetup from left: Edmund Gruenbaum, Eyan Yu, Richard Guimbarda, Ricky Teves, Sharee Ann Trapa, Richard Allan Uy, Kenneth Turner with wife Gina.

New Online Auction

Auctions add excitement to the stamp collecting hobby. I have completed some of my collections such as the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines and the Philippine Commonwealth through different auctions in Ebay and other venues.

As an added feature of its website, Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated has come up with an auction page that highlights mint Philippine stamps. The price is quite reasonable owing to the fact that Philippine stamps are quite hard to acquire nowadays. Additional items will be posted in the next few days.

Check out the page by clicking here.

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.

Star Wars Early Bird Action Figure Kit

I love the quality of the sculpt of the Early Bird figures I recently got. The figures look great and they were made to capture the nostalgia of the pioneer Star Wars figures that were sold in 1977.

The retro-cool set includes Luke Skywalker with a telescoping saber, Princess Leia in her star puffs hairdo and a laser pistol that exactly looks similar to the one Carrie Fisher used in the movie, R2D2 with a rotatable head, and Chewbacca with his laser rifle and ammo belt.

The Early Bird figure collection was released by Hasbro in 2005 and is among the best Star Wars toy set. I did some research and found out that only 50,000 of these figures were made available and given for free from a mail-in offer found in the Early Bird Certificate Package.

Click here for more info on this set.

Cory Stamps Are Sold Out!

I just got an email a while ago from a friend in Manila informing me that the new Cory Aquino stamps are all sold out. People are really getting their hands on the stamp issue. There is a volume of people making reservations for the stamps at the Manila Central Post Office.

It is indeed a collectors item. Collectors and non-collectors alike are buying the stamps to remind them of Cory, the greatest president the country has produced.

For those who haven't got the stamps yet, don't despair. My friend said that Philpost will be reprinting more of the stamps.

Update: The reprints are slightly different from the first Cory se-tenant stamps issued by Philpost on September 8, 2009. I was informed that the new Cory stamps were released on September 18, 2009. Word is, the second printing will be as popular as the first and it will also be sold out at once.

Stamps Energize Me! (re-published)

I was checking my friendster account when I stumbled on a blog I did a year ago. I kinda like what I wrote in that blog in FS so I am re-publishing it here. So here goes...

"It is six minutes to 5:00 AM but I am still wide awake. Earlier, I found out that the Cebu Stamp Club official website at http://cebustampclub.tripod.com is now the 23rd most viewed stamp organization site ranked by Google. Knowing that all the hard work and the sleepless nights have paid off gave me a sense of fulfillment and excitement.

Founding the club and managing it as well as being its webmaster, editor and writer is no joke. I can't imagine how I got all this energy and enthusiasm to go on.

The passion I have for philately and the active promotion of the stamp collecting hobby energizes me. Yes, stamps energize me. It made me who I am.

I recall an old friend who once told me that he loves to lick the back part of a stamp before mounting it on his album pages. He never uses water on a container but prefers to give his personal signature in each of the stamps he mounts by means of his saliva. Doing so gives him a natural high.

There are many stories I know about stamps energizing people. I have seen members who stay wide awake during the mountings and setting up of our stamp exhibits in malls. They don't even get paid a single cent by doing so. Full of energy and enthusiasm, they happily volunteer and do it for the love of the hobby.

At this moment, I am transported back in time when I first began collecting stamps. I can still feel the joy and excitement whenever a new stamp comes my way. Oh, what a feeling!

Later today, I will be bidding a sought after Philippine Commonwealth set in Ebay. Just thinking of having it in my collection contributes to my feeling of restlessness.."

The photo above is my mint United Nations year album featuring New York, Geneva and Vienna stamp issues.

Philpost Philatelic Bulletins

Whenever a new issue is released, the Philippine Postal Corporation always comes out with a philatelic bulletin.

I had been getting a lot of these bulletins before which I immediately shared to the members of Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated who are collecting new issues of Philippine stamps. In recent years, my allocation dwindled so I find it impossible to accomodate the members of the club.

While working on one of my websites last night, an idea crept into my mind. Why don't I feature an issue's bulletin here in my blog? And that's what I intend to do in the coming days.

The Philpost philatelic bulletin is a very informative guide to those who collect Philippine stamps. It carries interesting information about a particular issue such as: what kind of issue a stamp is, number of copies being printed and its denomination, the artist or designer of the stamp, size of the stamp, name of printer, and a lot more.

My thanks to the Philippine Postal Corporation for sending me these bulletins since 1996.

Updates for the Philippine Presidency on Stamps Site

The new Cory Aquino and Gloria Arroyo stamps are the reasons why I have to spend a few more hours in my pc. There is a need to update the Philippine Presidency On Stamps site with the issuance of these two issues.

The latest Gloria Arroyo stamp was released on August 3, 2009 while the Cory Aquino stamps came out on September 8, 2009.

I have to redo the main page too. The "Selyo At Kasaysayan 2009.. A Tribute To Cory Aquino" exhibit teaser had to be added together with the new group pictures of Cebu Stamp Club members. For the latter, a mouse over effect will be included to save on space. A new slide show had to be made with the inclusion of the logos of Stradcom Corporation and Himlayang Pilipino Plans, Inc.

Hopefully by Wednesday, the new updates will be uploaded and published. Check out the site by clicking here.

The Philippine Presidency On Stamps is an interactive website that features all the stamps of the Philippine Presidents from Emilio Aguinaldo to the incumbent chief executive, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The stamps are from my Philippine Presidents collection.

The site also includes the presidential seal and banner of every president. Their signatures, photos, videos, and informative data make it more interesting.

This is the one of the best websites I have done and it really took a lot of my time conceptualizing, designing and creating it.

Posing With Tourism Secretary Ace Durano

Earlier, I was browsing through the Facebook photos of my friends when I happened to see a photo of Philippine Tourism Secretary Ace Durano with me and my Cebu Jaycees buddies during a JCI Cebu induction at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel.

I have to thank Edwin Al Cuizon, my close friend and president of the Cebu Tour Guide Association for uploading the pic in his account.

Ace Durano has done a terrific job as Secretary of the Department of Tourism. During his watch, the number of foreign tourists in the country has tremendously gone up. The more tourists arrive, the better our economy is.

Seen in the photo from left - George Lao, Emerson Galvan, Dennis Yap, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Edwin Al Cuizon, yours truly, and Kenneth Kabingue.

Buying An Expensive Stamp Book For Less

After meeting a Cebu Stamp Club member whom I promised to sell a duplicate of my Manny Pacquiao souvenir sheet yesterday at SM City Cebu Mall, I decided to drop by in one of the mall's book stores.

I was planning to look around for Star Wars comic books, books for children and interior design. Me and my wife share the same passion for interiors. She's a Fine Arts graduate major in Interior Design at the University of San Carlos some years back.

One by one, I scrutinized the titles of the books until I happen to come across a book that was partly hidden in one of the shelves. It was a 2005 Brookman Price Guide Issue that featured U.S. Stamps plus Canada and Trust Territories, First Day Covers and annual collectibles, and autographs.

I browsed what's inside and found it to be very informative. It was brand new and had 354 pages. The U.S. bar code reveals its price at $21.99. When I searched the local price, I was amused to find that it only cost P25.00!

Of course, I bought the book right away. I don't wanna lose the opportunity of a very wise purchase!

Noynoy Leads In Latest Survey

It came as no surprise to me when I saw on tv an ABS-CBN news report highlighting Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's remarkable lead over all the presidential aspirants from the administration and the opposition in the latest special survey done by the Social Weather Station. The report added that 50% of the respondents in the Luzon area will vote for Noynoy.

The candidates that were overtaken in the survey included Senator Manuel Villar, former President Joseph Estrada, Senator Francis Escudero, and Vice President Noli de Castro.

It will be very interesting to see a united opposition fielding Noynoy as their official candidate for next year's presidential elections. But will the other presidentiables follow what Senator Mar Roxas did?

Many believe that he is the new hope for this country. His character, integrity, and humility has never been questioned. Is he our next president?

If he wins, I am sure his inauguration ceremony will be on stamps It will be the first in the Philippines where a father, a mother and a son are on Philippine stamps.

ABS-CBN's "MagTV Na" Highlights Stamps and Star Wars

It's a very exciting Sunday for me and the whole family. Today is the day that ABS-CBN Cebu's "MagTV Na" show airs the segment featuring my stamps and Star Wars items.

At 10:45am, the show started airing. The first segment shows my childhood neighbor Joseph Kimseng with his vast collection of Coca Cola items, die cast airplanes along with his daughter Mary's collection and his wife's one million peso Barbie Doll collection.

Joseph's house is right across ours when we were kids. Me and my siblings used to be invited to their house whenever his parents threw a party. His mom, whom we fondly called Lola Angging and my grandmother Carmen were best friends. His mom was the godmother of my younger sister Cathy, who now works as a dean at the University of San Jose Recoletos. Both me and Joseph go to the same Jesuit school here in Cebu. He was one or two years ahead of me at Sacred Heart School for Boys.

Back to "MagTV Na", the segment that featured my collections began later. I never thought that the show would feature my son Kervin too.

Working with Mark Mayol, the segment producer almost everyday after the video shoot really paid off. An hour or two before lunch these past days, Mark would call me to request additional materials for the segment's animation. In a few minutes, what he needed were sent to his email.

The result was fabulous! Congratulations to MagTV Na's hosts and crew for a well conceptualized and great episode. My sincere thanks too to my friends, relatives and acquaintances who texted, emailed, and called just to let me know they were watching.

Photo above is from MagTV Na's multiply site featuring hosts Blinky, Erwin, and Mommy Tikay. Click here to visit the site.

The Anakin Skywalker Toy Figure

As my Star Wars collection grew, I started to have favorites.

Although I consider my Pepsi Japan Star Wars Bottle Cap collections as among my faves, I kinda have one figure that always reminds me of my son Kervin when he was around three years old. This is the Episode 1 Anakin Skywalker figure.

When the ABS-CBN Cebu tv crew came to the house two Saturdays ago to do a video shoot of my Star Wars collection and my stamps, the first thing they asked was the Anakin toy.

Their researcher Venice Polancos later told me that they read the feature that came out in Sun Star Daily Cebu regarding my Star Wars collection. The newspaper article mentioned about my favorite toy, the little Anakin Skywalker. You may read the Sun Star article by clicking here.

Now 5 years old, Kervin and I still love to play with it along with the other Star Wars figures and vehicles we have. Playing with the toys together has made father and son more closer than ever. Thanks to Star Wars!

Today at 10:45am, ABS-CBN Cebu's "MagTV Na" will be on air and will feature my Star Wars and stamp collections. Thanks again to Lindo Mark Mayol (Segment Producer), Blinky de Leon (Host), Reggie Molina (Director), Vince Moree Polancos (Researcher), Daki Bolutano (Cameraman), Tata Poligrates (Cameraman), Randy Berrame (Lightman), Ronald Albaraccin (Audioman), and Nick Nadela (Production Driver).

Manny Pacquiao, The People's Champ

Boxing is one sport that I love to see on tv and I never fail to watch a Manny Pacquiao match.

The People's Champ or Pacman as Manny is often referred to, will be in the ring once again come November to fight Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. I believe he will bring honor again to the country by winning over his opponent.

Pacquiao's charm was at its best yesterday when he visited Puerto Rico and was mobbed by Puerto Ricans asking for his autograph with señoritas posing beside him for souvenir pictures.

How I wish I could meet the champ and have him sign my Manny Pacquiao Souvenir Sheet released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) last May 30, 2008.

Who knows? Maybe one day I will have that moment!

The Kennedy Family On A Controversial Philippine Stamp Issue

I seem to remember acquiring some unissued Philippine stamps featuring the Kennedy family some years ago.

The Kennedy family is presently in the limelight with the death this year of two of their prominent members, Eunice Mary Kennedy and Senator Edward Moore Kennedy.

I never bothered to check the stamps again until today. The last time I held the stamps was twelve years ago when I wrote a three part series in my Sunday column "Stamplines" in Cebu's Freeman Newspaper. I titled it "The Controversial Mosden Stamps" (The Freeman August 17, 1997; August 24, 1997 and August 31, 1997).

The Kennedy stamps called the "International Civil and Human Rights Year Issue" along with the "1968 Mexico Olympics Issue" printed by a company set up by Ezzet Mosden, an American stamp dealer created a big controversy here in the Philippines with President Ferdinand Marcos ordering Secretary Antonio Raquiza to stop the release of the stamps in 1968.

The controversy began when Secretary Antonio Raquiza of the Public Works, Transportation and Communications went into a contract with Ezzet Mosden without the knowledge of the Postmaster General Enrico Palomar. It was a simple overlapping of functions by government agencies. It is always the Postmaster General who has the authority to enter into any contract that deals with the printing and/or sale of Philippine postage stamps, not the Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications.

"The International Civil and Human Rights Year Issue" consists of a 1-cent stamp depicting the entire Kennedy clan composed of fourteen family members that includes the patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy and Peter Lawford, a movie actor and brother-in-law; the 2-cents features the brothers John and Robert Kennedy; the 3-cent stamps shows the family of Robert Kennedy; the fourth, a 5-peso stamp highlights President John Kennedy delivering his presidential speech with President Lyndon R. Johnson seated beside him; the last of the set with a ten-peso value shows foreign dignitaries at the funeral procession of John Kennedy. Two souvenir sheets complete the set. The first is valued at 5 cents with a similar design of the 10 peso stamp while the second one is valued at 10 pesos with the 1-cent stamp design.

The Kennedy stamps along with the Mexico Olympic issues popularly called the "Mosden Stamps" were never issued as postage stamps in the Philippines. But it is interesting to note that a lot of these stamps went to the hands of stamp collectors worldwide.

The Philippine Postal Administration never granted recognition to the Mosden stamps as bonafide postal papers. They claimed that the stamps were printed without the approval of the postal administration, no official personnel was present to check and oversee the printing of the stamps, and the quantity of the stamps printed was not known to the postal administration.

Click here to see the Kennedy family tree.

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.