Cebu Stamp Club's June 2010 CSCI Newsletter

This month's issue of Cebu Stamp Club's CSCI Newsletter is now available to the club members and patrons of philately.

President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III Takes His Oath Today

For the Philippines, today is a day of hope, a day of change and a day of unity.

The whole country watched as Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III takes his oath of office at exactly 12:00 noon as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

I am glad I voted for him. In spite of his shortcomings, I know that he will be a good president.

To President Noynoy, May God Bless you and this country!

Philpost Issues Noynoy Commemorative Cover

To highlight the inauguration of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III today as the 15th president of the Philippines, the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) issues on the same day the limited edition Commemorative Cover of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.

The commemorative cover features a cachet of Noynoy but the stamp used is the 7-peso President Cory Aquino Memorial stamp 2nd edition issued on September 18, 2010. Because the Cory stamp came out in a se-tenant issue, the other design featuring Cory flashing the L-sign (Laban) is also used.

The cover is valued at 15.00 but Philpost has released only 2,000 pieces of the cover. Each FDC has a unique number on the left edge so that each FDC will be different from each other.

Update 07.01.10:

My friend and Cebu Stamp Club member Henry Chua informed me that during the inauguration ceremony of President Benigno Aquino III which was a holiday, post office tellers went to the inauguration site and sold out 1,500 of the 2,000 covers made. The remaining 500 pcs. were quickly bought by stamp dealers and collectors.

Noynoy-mania Hits the Country!

With just a day before his inauguration as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino's popularity has exploded into a marketing event.

Noynoy-mania has hit the whole country by storm. Various merchandises featuring the next president are now sold in stores as well as in cyberspace such as eBay.

These items include Noynoy yellow t-shirts, Noynoy inaugural watches, Noynoy dolls, fans, cups, button pins, hats, umbrellas and a lot more.

It's quite interesting because this is the first time that a Philippine president has become a marketing sensation.

I'd love to get hold of a Noynoy watch and the new Time magazine featuring the president-elect. Of course, I can't wait to have the stamps with the FDC's too.

Australia's Adopted and Adored

To raise awareness of responsible dog ownership and support the dedicated work of organisations re-homing lost and abandoned dogs, a special stamp issue is released on June 29, 2010 by Australia Post.

The stamps designed by Simone Sakinofsky feature five dogs that are given a second chance. The dogs have spent time in a shelter before being adopted into adoring new families.

All the stamps are valued at 60 cents each.

Fishes of the Reef

With the basic postage rate going to 60c, Australia Post issues on June 28, 2010 a new and colourful definitive issue titled Fishes of the Reef. This issue is in two parts with Part 1 issued on 21 June 2010 and part 2 issued on 28 June 2010, when the new postage rates become valid.

Australia's tropical and subtropical waters support an astounding range of marine life, particularly in the reef areas. The largest coral reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef spans more than 2,000 kilometres of our north-eastern coast. This area alone is home to an estimated 1,500 species of fishes, up to 8,000 species of molluscs and 360 species of corals. Fishes are an important part of reef ecology and the eight fish species in this stamp issue occupy the waters of Great Barrier Reef. Several are also found around reefs off northern and Western Australia.

United Nations 65th Anniversary Stamps

The United Nations Postal Administration comes out with three sheets of 15 stamps and three souvenir sheets today June 28, 2010 to celebrate the sixty fifth anniversary of the United Nations.

The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24 each year.

As the world celebrates this milestone, it is recognized that throughout its 65-year history the United Nations has played an integral part in shaping global events through its humanitarian and peacekeeping activities.

Australian Beaches

Australia Post releases today three of Australia's most renowned and beautiful beaches.

Located within Mt William National Park in north-eastern Tasmania, The Bay of Fires has rocks and stones along the beach that are visible reminders of the land bridge once connecting Tasmania to the mainland.

Cape Tribulation, in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in northern Queensland, is in one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of this area.

In the east of Esperance in Cape Le Grand is Hellfire Bay, one of Western Australia's best known and most spectacular national parks.

All three stamps were designed by Janet Boschen.

Cebu Stamp Club's June 2010 Stamp Meetup

After holding the meetup in different venues these past months, we came back to our original meetup place on June 27, 2010 at McDonald's Jones, Cebu City.

The June 2010 Meetup tackled more on the previous month's adventure in Alcoy. The excitement hasn't subsided yet inspite of the weeks that passed. This prompted Sharee Ann Trapa, our club secretary to invite the group to her birthday on July 23, 2010 and hold the July meetup there.

Eyan Yu pledged to bring pork liempo while I offered three chicken lechons. Janus Bariñan along with other members will be bringing food too to make the occasion a feast.

The group decided to hold only one grand stamp auction for the year and it's gonna be during our December Christmas party.

In line with its civic duty, it was also agreed that the club will come out with civic activities and projects such as tree plantings, feeding programs for kids, and the sponsoring of school supplies to grade 1 pupils in one of the city's public schools soon.

Another mega stamp exhibit is set to take place in August this year in one of the malls here in Cebu and will highlight the stamps of the new president, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

CD copies of all the CSCI Newsletters issued in 2009 as well as stamp freebies were distributed to all those who came.

Characteristic Streets in Hong Kong

Hongkong Post issues on June 24, 2010 the Characteristic Streets in Hong Kong special stamps. The set consists of six stamps of different designs and in three denominations designed by Gideon Lai.

The stamps feature Pottinger Street ($1.40), Nathan Road ($1.40), Hollywood Road ($2.40), Temple Street ($2.40), Des Voeux Road West ($3), and Stanley Market ($3).

Isle of Man Railways Set

The Isle of Man is uniquely served in terms of transport. The Victorians left their mark with some of the finest locomotives and trams in existence.

The transport enthusiast can travel the length of the Island by antique means – steam trains, horse trams and electric tram cars are all proudly maintained while the journey takes in some fabulous scenery.

The June 24, 2010 issue features a set of six stamps of the train and electric transport with some stunning images and a collectable souvenir sheetlet.

IOM's History of Manx Coins Set

The history of coins on the Isle of Man dates back 300 years to when the first official Manx coins were cast in 1709 and became legal tender by an Act of Tynwald on 24th June 1710.

They were cast in moulds, probably at Castle Rushen in Castletown, and the reverse side bore the family crest of James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby. On the obverse is the familiar Manx triskeles surrounded by the old Latin spelling of the motto QVOCVNQVE GESSERIS STABIT, which translates as ‘Withersoever (which ever way) you throw it, it will stand’.

A new stamp issue to be released on June 24, 2010 marks the tercentenary and details the most significant developments in coinage on the Isle of Man over three centuries. Renowned numismatic authority and author Mike Southall MBE did the text and design of the stamps.

Hungary Highlights Chopin's Birth Bicentenary

Frederic Francois Chopin, known as the poet of the piano, was one of the greatest composers of classical music. The musician, who lived in the first half of the 19th century, was the pioneer of the use of national Romantic and folk music motifs. 2010 has been declared the year of Chopin by UNESCO and Magyar Posta is marking the occasion by releasing a postage stamp.

On the special stamp there is a portrait of Chopin, the house where he was born and his signature. At the centre of the design of both the first day cover and the commemorative postmark is Chopin's favourite instrument, the piano. The first day cover shows a silhouette of Chopin seated at the piano and in the postmark there is a stylised design of hands playing a piano.

The stamp designed by Imre Benedek goes on sale on June 18, 2010.

New Stamps Honor Filipino War Veterans

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) releases on June 18, 2010 a commemorative issue featuring the 50th Anniversary of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP).

The Php 7.00 se-tenant pair of stamps show the gallantry and heroism of Filipino war veterans during World War II and in the Korean War.

Canada Issues Rotary International Stamp

On June 18, 2010, Canada Post comes out with a 57-cent stamp celebrating the centennial of Rotary's service in Canada.

The stamp's design features an anonymous figure sporting the traditional Rotary vest.

Rotary International is one of the largest and successful service organizations worldwide. With Service above Self as its motto, members of the 33,500 Rotary Clubs who are all volunteers work locally, regionally and internationally to combat world hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio.

Mother Teresa and Henry Dunant on Irish Stamps

On 17 June, 2010, An Post issued two stamps to honour International Humanitarians, Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Mother Teresa, who ministered to the poor and afflicted in Calcutta, India.

The stamps and first day cover valued at 55cents each were designed by Ger Garland.

The Bukidnon State University is on Stamps

On June 15, 2010, the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) released a se-tenant pair of stamps featuring the 86th anniversary of the Bukidnon State University located in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon in Mindanao.

The Php 7.00 se-tenant pair of stamps highlight the school logo and the main and education buildings of the institution.

Britain Releases The House of Stuart Stamps

The Royal Mail releases today June 15, 2010, a new issue on British royalty featuring the House of Stuart. This is the fourth in the Kings and Queens series of stamp issues which profiles every monarch from 1399 to the present.

The Stuarts ruled Scotland for over two centuries before inheriting the English throne and established a reputation as both ambitious and accident-prone. Of nine monarchs, six of them died violently.

They ruled Britain from 1603, when the Union of the Crowns caused James VI of Scotland to become James I of England. Stuart rule ended in 1714, but in between there was the Fire of London, the gunpowder plot, civil war and the beheading of Charles I, which makes this issue truly fascinating.

Featured above are the seven Stuart monarchs that reigned over the British Isles from the union of the crowns of England and Scotland.

Philpost To Issue Noynoy Stamp

It's all over the news today!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) is set to issue a commemorative stamp featuring President-elect Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.

“It has been part of our tradition that when there is a new president, we would come out with a new stamp,” said Assistant Postmaster General Luis Carlos.

The stamp is set to be issued after the new president's oathtaking on June 30, 2010.

“There is a protocol that we have to follow. The pictures of Senator Aquino that would be used in the stamp would depend on the photos that would be provided by president-elect Aquino’s staff. As soon as we receive the pictures, we would process it immediately,” Carlos adds.

The Noynoy Aquino stamp will surely be a hit. I can't wait to have a complete set so I can add it to my Philippine Presidents on stamps collection and website.

New Zealand Celebrates 100 Years of Maori Rugby

New Zealand Post comes out with an issue on June 9, 2010 celebrating 100 years of Maori Rugby.

This new stamp release pays tribute to the players, coaches, administrators and supporters who have taken New Zealand Maori rugby through the decades, overcoming challenges to emerge stronger and more relevant than ever.

The stamps are designed by Len Hetet of Whakatane, New Zealand and valued at 50c and $1.80.

New Philippine President Proclaimed Today

A historic event unfolds today here in the country. Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino has been formally proclaimed minutes ago as the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

Noynoy won the May 10, 2010 Presidential Elections after garnering a record 15.2 million votes or 42% of the ballots cast in the country's first automated national elections.

The 50 year old bachelor and son of Philippine hero Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino and former Philippine president Corazon "Cory" Aquino formally takes office on June 30, 2010.