What to See at Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort

Cebu Stamp Club's Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort) Stamp and Photo Exhibit is a historical philatelic presentation featuring my collections.

Things to see in the exhibit are the portraits of Lapulapu, Cebu's first hero and Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator who was killed by Lapulapu in the Battle of Mactan.

Images and stamps of Cebu's protector, the Sto. Nino de Cebu and Pedro Calungsod, the first saint of Cebu. The four Swiss guards earlier present in the John Paul II and the Pedro Calungsod exhibits are recommissioned to guard the images.

The Cebuano Philately Section composing of 6-ft panels feature blow-up images of the Sinulog stamp, the 2012 Pedro Calungsod Canonization stamp, the Magellan's Cross stamp, the First Philippine stamp, the Sto. Nino de Cebu stamp and the Lapulapu stamp. 

Philippine stamp images featuring Spanish galleons, Lapulapu, Ferdinand Magellan, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and historical events.

The "Las Islas Filipinas" section features stamps depicting Philippine history in storybook form. These include the Pre-Spanish Period and the Coming of the Spaniards, the Spanish Period, the Propaganda Movement, the Philippine Revolution, the American Period, the Philippine Commonwealth, World War II, the Japanese Occupation, Guerrilla Movement, the End of World War II and the Granting of Philippine Independence.

Cebu Stamp Club's legacy, the Tres de Abril Stamp highlights the exhibit. A 16-page thematic collection titled Philippine Heroes in Masonry is also included.

Portraits of all 15 Philippine presidents and their inaugural stamps are mounted on the Cuerpo de Guardia.

The Stamps and Philatelic section panels carry different thematic collections. These are:

a) The Philippine Presidency - a 48-page collection featuring the stamps and philatelic items of the Philippine Presidents.
b) Philippine Heroes on Stamps - 32 pages depicting the stamps of Filipino heroes.
c) Rizal's Famous Lines - the famous lines of the country's national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal represented with stamps.
d) A Tribute to Cory Aquino - stamps and philatelic items of my personal tribute to the great icon of democracy, President Corazon C. Aquino.
e) The Pedro Calungsod Stamps - official stamps, souvenir sheets and first day covers of Pedro Calungsod, Cebu's first saint.

More photos here.

In the Company of Filmmakers

 

One of the latest activity I did was joining the Cebu Filmmakers Club and the Cebu Filmmakers and Screen Actors Guild. Through these groups, I believe that I can better my craft as an actor and a filmmaker.

Last Sunday, I was among those who came for the 2nd anniversary dinner celebration of the Cebu Filmmakers Club founded by Albert Chan Paran held at Joven's Grill in I.T. Park here in Cebu.

I got to meet well-known Cebu Filmmakers such as Bien Fernandez and Diem Judilla. Aside from the overflowing food, we got to share and talk about movies be it mainstream or indie.

As I talked to each and every member, I learned that a lot of us shared one thing in common. We collect stamps!

Tonight at 6:00 PM, I will again be joining the group for the 4th Sine-sine Chika-chika to be held at the Urban Kamalig, Cebu City.

Cebu Stamp Club Members @ the Fort Exhibit

It is very heartwarming to see Cebu Stamp Club members attending in full force my latest presentation for the club, the Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort) at the Cuerpo de Guardia of Fort San Pedro, Cebu City, Philippines.

Who were the members who came? Richard Beethoven Uy with daughters Hsingyi and Khezh Rylette, Ricardo Teves, Jerald Kervin Uy, German nationals Edmund Gruenbaum and Herbert Walter, spouses Dinah and Steve Potolin, Sharee Ann Trapa, Aileen Simbajon, Marvin Bonjoc, Ferdinand Wilt Butch Talon, Elmer Silva, Edsel Marie Enriquez, Rachel Betos and Ray Manongas. Thanks guys for the support.

After 17 years, the club continues to make waves and is the acknowledged leader in philately here in the country today.  

Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort)

The Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort) Stamp and Photo Exhibit opened yesterday at the Fort San Pedro with a bang.

The honorable mayor of the City of Cebu, Mike Rama graced the event along with a lot of guests. Cebu Stamp Club members Richard Beethoven Uy, Ricardo Teves, Elmer Silva, Charles Mark Uybengkee, Jerald Kervin Uy, Khezh Rylette Uy, Hsingyi Uy, Edsel Marie Enriquez, Dinah and Steve Potolin, Ferdinand Wilt Butch Talon, Aileen Simbajon, Marvin Bonjoc, Sharee Ann Trapa, Edmund Gruenbaum, Herbert Walter, Rachel Betos and Ray Manongas all came to support the event. 

I was glad that my friend Dante Luzon and Atty. Clarence Paul Oaminal of the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) Channel 47 joined us too.

The program started at 4:00 PM a few meters away from the Cuerpo de Guardia, the site of the exhibit.

Thanks to Erwin de la Cerna together with his staff and the Cebu Normal University Tourism Management students who are on-the-job trainees at the fort for the support. Special mention to the masters of ceremony Eli Espina and Jessa dela Pena and to all those involved in the opening program.    

The Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort exhibit is open to the public from April 15 to June 12 , 2013 and is Cebu Stamp Club's third mega exhibit for the year. The first was the Pedro Calungsod, John Paul II Celebration Exhibit at the Cebu City Museum on December 28, 2012 to January 16, 2013, followed by the Pedro Calungsod, John Paul II Celebration Exhibit Mall Tour at the Atrium A of the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu from January 21 to 25, 2013.

Click here to jump to see more photos of the event at Cebu Stamp Club's official Facebook page.

Preparing for My Stamp Exhibit at the Fort

Preparing for a one-man stamp and photo exhibit for Cebu Stamp Club is not a joke. There are a lot of things to be considered such as the title and theme of the exhibit, stamps and philatelic materials to be included, the venue, the sponsors, the opening program, the logistics, the setting up and dismantling and a lot more.

My latest presentation for Cebu Stamp Club, the Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort (Stamps and History @ the Fort) took me three weeks to prepare and three days to set-up at the Cuerpo de Guardia at Fort San Pedro, the oldest Spanish Fort in Cebu City.

I am just glad that my brother Richard Beethoven "Bob" Uy, Ricardo Teves and Elmer Silva together with Hsingyi Uy and Jerald Kervin Uy were there to help me during the exhibit set-up days on April 13 to 15, 2013. 

Erwin de la Cerna, the executive director of Fort San Pedro provided the transportation and manpower to pick up the exhibit materials in my house.

The City Government of Cebu through the Fort San Pedro administration informed me that they will shoulder the cost for the opening ceremony on April 15, 2013 at 4:00 PM.

Himlayang Pilipino Life through its vice president, Charles Mark H. Uybengkee never hesitated to sponsor the event as well as the Philippine Postal Corporation through Area Director Carlo Reynaldo S. Argana. Many thanks too to Rachel A. Betos, the marketing head of Phlpost.

With everything in order, we decided to have lunch at a nearby Chinese restaurant knowing that the launching of the exhibit will be a blast.

Day of Valor, 71st Anniversary

It's a holiday today as the whole country commemorates the 71st anniversary of the Day of Valor or "Araw  ng Kagitingan". It is also called Bataan Day or Bataan and Corregidor Day.

During World War II, Filipino soldiers together with their American counterparts fought valiantly against the Japanese invaders. On the early morning of April 9, 1942 Major General Edward P. King Jr., the commander of the Luzon command surrendered to the Japanese troops along with more than 76,000 (67,000 Filipinos, 11,796 Americans and 1,000 Chinese-Filipinos) disease-ridden and starving soldiers under his command defying the orders of General Douglas MacArthur and General Jonathan Wainwright.

The prisoners of war were then forced to walk 140 kilometers from Bataan to Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. Thousands of them did not survive who either died from dehydration, untreated wounds or were executed on the spot by the Japanese. Of the 76,000 POWs, only 54,000 made it to the camp. This came to be known in history as the Bataan Death March.

The stamps featured above were released on May 5, 2012 by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Day of Valor.

Cebu Stamp Club and Philpost Renew Partnership

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) here in Central Visayas has a new head in the person of Area Director Carlo Reynaldo S. Argana. 

Early this morning, I was accompanied by Rachel Betos, the marketing head and one of the co-founders of Cebu Stamp Club to Director Argana's office to pay a courtesy visit and discuss programs that Cebu Stamp Club and Philpost will embark on this year.

Among the things we agreed is to revive the forming of stamp clubs in different schools here in Cebu. All of us are very excited as this will bring back the interest of the youth in the hobby of stamp collecting.

I still recall in 1996 to 2000 when the two groups were very successful in creating clubs all over region 7. This was made possible through the effort and passion of Regional Director Fabiolita Ferraris to promote the hobby. Mrs. Ferraris is a lifetime member of the club. I never hesitated to volunteer to be the speaker on the topic of philately in different venues for my love for philately. We even went to as far as the provinces of Bohol and Dumaguete.

When there were already a lot of clubs, Philpostpex was created. This was a philatelic competition between school stamp clubs and the professional stamp organizations. Prizes were awarded to the winners in the two levels and in different categories such as Thematic, Topical, Foreign and National.

Director Argana has committed that Philpost continues to be a partner for my latest exhibit for Cebu Stamp Club on April 15 to June 12, 2013 at the Cuerpo de Guardia of Fort San Pedro. The "Selyo ug Kasaysayan sa Fort" (Stamps and History @ the Fort) is a philatelic historical presentation that relives history through the wonderful world of stamps.

This major presentation also highlights the Philippine's no. 1 stamp organization as it celebrates 17 years in promoting philately.    

The 17th Anniversary Logo

Time flies so quickly for us at Cebu Stamp Club. I can vividly remember the day when I conceptualized the club in 1996 until it was organized on August 24, 1996. Creating a new club was no joke. I even shed a tear during the first supposed meeting held at the Cebu Central Post Office when only one person came. This made me promise myself that I will exert more effort to have more members for the club and be able to promote the hobby to everyone. It was in January 1997 when we were registered with the S.E.C.

It's now 17 years and looking back at the club's humble beginnings, I can safely say that we have come a long way. I owe the success of Cebu Stamp Club to the members, patrons of philately, the academe, the Cebu media, the different government organizations, civic groups, commercial establishments and our sponsors.

Special mention to Philpost, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, Himlayang Pilipino Life, Cebu City Museum, Fort San Pedro, The Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, The Freeman, Sun Star Cebu, Mr. Charles Mark Uybengkee, Governor JJ Romualdo of Camiguin and Emie Patalagsa.

Monthly stamp meetups, mega exhibits, auctions, new websites, increase number of the membership, online philatelic promotions, December anniversary reunions and creation of school stamp clubs continue to be our programs for the year and in years to come.

The 17th anniversary logo was designed and conceptualized by yours truly to hype up the club's activities this year.