Japanese Troops Execute Gen. Vicente Lim

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 31, 1944

General Vicente Lim along with other Filipino guerrillas were brought to a Chinese cemetery and were made to kneel and then beheaded by the Japanese. His body has never been found. 

Vicente Podico Lim (February 24, 1888 - December 31, 1944), a World War II general, Bataan hero, the first Filipino to graduate at the United States Military Academy (Class of 1914) at West Point, and charter member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, was born in Calamba, Laguna to Jose Ayala Lim-Yaoco, a Chinese migrant, and Antonia Podico, a Chinese mestiza. 

After graduating at West Point, he joined the Philippine Scouts as a Second Lieutenant and quickly rose from the ranks. 

He retired from the United States Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on June 30, 1936. 

Lim was admitted to the Philippine Army and became Chief of Staff in 1940. 

On July 16, 1941, the Philippine Army was incorporated with United States Armed Forces. 

Lim was given the rank of Brigadier General under US General Douglas MacArthur. He commanded the 41st Philippine Division which was tasked to defend Bataan.

On April 9, 1942, American and Filipino forces along with the 41st surrendered to Japanese General Homma. 

He survived the Bataan Death March and was admitted at the Philippine General Hospital for his injuries. He convinced the Japanese of his incapacity but secretly conducted guerrilla activities and led the guerrilla movement in Luzon. 

In 1944, he was captured and tortured by the Japanese and was sentenced to die. 

Gen. Vicente Lim was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart by the United States. 

The Philippine government awarded him the Distinguished Conduct Star and the Distinguished Service Star, and was given a posthumous honorary rank of Lieutenant General.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Jose Rizal Dies By Firing Squad

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 30, 1896

At 6:30 in the morning, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, who was dressed in a black suit and white vest was taken from his prison cell in Fort Santiago and was marched towards Bagumbayan (now the Luneta), to be executed by firing squad. 

Rizal, holding a rosary in his right hand and tied at the elbows, was accompanied by counsel Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade, Fathers Estanislao March and Jose Villaclara. 

They walked behind four Spanish guards who were armed with bayonets. 

In the execution field, a squad composed of six to eight Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army prepare their task as executioners. 

According to some accounts, only one of the rifles has a live bullet while the rest were blanks. 

Spanish troops were positioned at the back of the executioners and prepared to shoot them should they fail to fire their shots. 

The Spanish Army Surgeon General, Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo took Rizal’s vital signs and pulse rate and found everything normal. 

The commanding officer raised his saber, a signal for the squad to take their aim. He shouted “fuego” (fire) simultaneously swinging the saber downwards, followed by a burst of rifle fire.

Rizal turned his face towards the squad and then fell face up, with his derby hat thrown ahead. His last words were “consummatum est" (It is finished). 

He was secretly buried in an unmarked grave in Paco cemetery. 

His sister Narcisa went to find him in all grave sites and saw Spanish guards posted at the cemetery gate. She found freshly turned earth at the site and assumed it was Rizal’s burial spot. She then asked the caretaker to mark the site “RPJ” (Rizal Protacio Jose) and gave him a gift. 

In 1898, President Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree ordering December 30 of every year as Rizal Day. Jose Rizal’s remains are now rested at his monument at the Luneta.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia org

Spanish Military Court Charges Seventeen Filipinos

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 29, 1896

Seventeen Filipinos from Bicol who were mostly Masons faced a Spanish military court in Manila on charges of sedition and rebellion and accused of being members of the Katipunan. 

They were among the first victims of Spanish cruelty during the term of Spanish Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja, who was merciless and ruthless to traitors. 

Eleven were executed by firing squad in Bagumbayan now Luneta on January 4, 1897. Executed were three priests, Rev. Inocencio Herrera, choir master in the Cathedral of Nueva Caceres (present day Naga City); Rev. Gabriel Prieto, parish priest of Malinao, Albay; and Rev. Severino Diaz, the first Filipino parish priest of Nueva Caceres who rebuilt the Naga Cathedral. 

Also executed were Manuel Abella, a philanthropist and his son Domingo Abella, a surveyor; Tomas Prieto, a pharmacist and brother of Fr. Prieto; Florencio Lerma, a music professor, playwright, essayist, and theatre owner who operated the first movie house in Naga; Macario Valentin, chief of the night watchmen in Naga; Cornelio Mercado, a public works employee of Nueva Caceres; Camilo Jacob, a photographer; and Mariano Melgarejo, a Naga resident who wrote in his diary "I look forward to the day when Filipinas takes her place among the free nations of the world.” 

Leon Hernandez, a wealthy and influential teacher died in prison after being tortured. Mariano Ordenanza, a clerk in the Bureau of Public Works was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Deported to Fernando Po (now Bioko Island in Africa) were Ramon Abella, son of Manuel Abella and Mariano Arana, who died while in exile. 

Two priests, Fr. Severo Estrada and Fr. Manuel Subarbano, who were also arrested were released after being cleared of all charges.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Jamaica's First Bob Marley Stamp

World Stamp Today:

DECEMBER 29, 1982

Jamaica Post issued its first Bob Marley stamp to honor his life and achievements. 

Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician, and cultural icon who achieved international fame. 

His music was a blending of reggae, ska and rocksteady, and brought Jamaica's music to the world.

(Concept and research: Richard Allan Uy).  Stamp photo: the-sweet-life-ja tumblr com

All rights Reserved

USPS Commemorates Nursing Centenary

World Stamp Today:

DECEMBER 28, 1961

The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp  commemorating the centenary of the nursing profession. 

The 4-cent stamp shows a student nurse lighting a graduation candle.

(Concept and research: Richard Allan Uy)

All rights reserved

Brig. Gen. Mateo Capinpin Dies Of Heart Failure

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 28, 1958

Brigadier General Mateo Capinpin died of heart attack in his home in Biñan, Laguna at the age of 71. 

Mateo Capinpin (April 22, 1887 – December 28, 1958), a patriot, soldier, hero, guerrilla leader and military strategist, was born in Morong, Rizal. 

He took his elementary and secondary education at Laguna High School. 

In 1906, at the age of 19, he joined the Philippine Scouts as a private and was honorably discharged as a major in 1918. 

He joined the Philippine National Guards as a First Lieutenant, a rank of Major in the US Army. 

He came back to the Philippine Scouts in 1920 and was given the permanent rank of Captain. 

Capinpin was sent to the United States to attend the Officers Courses at Fort Benning Infantry School in Georgia. After commanding the 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts for twenty years, he became the commander of the 21st Division, Philippine Army with the rank of Colonel. 

During World War II, he was captured by the Japanese in Bataan. He was among those in the Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to Camp O’Donnell, a concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac. 

He was released in late 1942 and was invited by President Jose P. Laurel to serve the puppet government. 

He used his position in government for the advantage of the guerrilla movement. As a resistance leader, his records and accomplishments are printed in the annals of guerilla history worldwide. His strategies and organizational methodologies have become part of the country’s counter-insurgency strategies and techniques. 

He retired from military service in 1948 and became the Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

The Japanese Army Marches Into Baguio

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 27, 1941

The Japanese army marched into Baguio on the night of December 27, 1941 with out any resistance. 500 civilians mostly Americans were interned at Camp John Hay for several months. 

Earlier, on December 8, 1941, seventeen Japanese planes bombed Camp John Hay in Baguio, the first place in the Philippines attacked by the Japanese forces. American and Filipino soldiers including civilians were killed. 

John Hay Air Station was established on October 25, 1903 after US President Theodore Roosevelt signed an executive order setting aside land for a military reservation for the United States Army in Benguet. It was named after John Milton Hay, Roosevelt's Secretary of State. 

After the December 8 bombing, John Hay’s commander, Col. John P. Horan, ordered hundreds of Japanese residents in Baguio rounded up and placed in two damaged barracks in the camp. 

Around a thousand American and Filipino soldiers abandoned the area on December 24, destroying most of their weapons and equipment and leaving the Japanese internees locked up without food and water. 

The American Residence, built by US High Commission Paul V. McNutt, which used to be the summer residence of the Governor-General of the Philippines is located inside the camp. 

Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita, commander of the 14th Army, used it as his official residence and headquarters. 

On April 26, 1945, American forces together with Filipino guerrillas of the USAFIP-Northern Luzon captured Baguio and Camp John Hay. 

Filipino and American forces pursued the retreating Japanese into the forests of the Benguet Mountains. 

On September 3, 1945 General Yamashita surrendered to General Jonathan Wainwright at the American Residence with British General Arthur Percival standing as witness.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Gov. Gen. Narciso Claveria's Term Ends

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 26, 1849

The term of office of Governor-General Narciso Claveria ended upon his request for early retirement. 

Narciso Claveria y Zuldua (May 2, 1795 - June 20, 1850), was born in Girona, Catalonia. 

He was a member of the General Staff of Spain in 1838. He was a colonel in 1839, Lieutenant General in 1844 and became the Governor-General of the Philippines from July 16, 1844 to December 26, 1849. 

His term was filled with accomplishments and reforms. 

Queen Isabela II of Spain awarded him the title Count of Manila and Viscount of Claveria for his success in dealing with Moro pirates in Balanguingui, which is between Basilan and Jolo. 

He rescued 130 Filipino and Dutch captives held by more than a thousand pirates in that encounter. 

Claveria traveled to different provinces to check on the needs of the people and encouraged agriculture. 

He improved Manila’s streets and suburbs. He corrected the Philippine calendar in 1844, established a military library in 1846, and brought the first steam war vessels from London in 1848 that were used to capture Moro pirates. 

It was also during his term when the newspapers La Esperanza ( December 1, 1846) and Diario de Manila (1848) were printed. 

Governor Claveria came up with an anti-vagrancy decree which ordered provincial authorities to apprehend idlers and employ them in the public works for a month before sending them to their hometowns. 

He was known for printing the "Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos," which was a list that contained 60,000 Spanish and local surnames that were distributed to Filipino families to avoid confusion and duplication for census and taxation purposes.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Brig. Gen. Marcus P. Miller Leaves For Iloilo

Today in a Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 25, 1898

Brigadier General Marcus P. Miller, Commander of the Philippine Expedition, left Manila for Iloilo bringing with him around 2,000 troops upon orders of Major General Elwell S. Otis. 

Earlier, on November 17, 1898, Commodore George Dewey reported to US President William McKinley that the entire island of Panay was already in the hands of the revolutionaries of President Emilio Aguinaldo except Iloilo. 

General Miller arrived in the city on December 29, 1898 to effect an armed occupation in the name of the United States of America but the Americans were not allowed to disembark their ship without the consent of President Aguinaldo. 

The Filipino troops led by General Martin Delgado were earlier successful in fighting the Spaniards. 

In Iloilo, during the Cry of Santa Barbara on November 17, 1898, Gen. Delgado was joined by General Quintin Salas, who led successful attacks against the Spanish troops and liberated Jaro, his hometown. 

The Spanish forces surrendered to General Delgado on December 24, 1898. 

During the Philippine-American War, General Delgado fought the Americans and used guerrilla tactics. He finally surrendered in 1901. 

General Salas was the last Ilonggo officer to surrender to the Americans. General Delgado became the first governor of Iloilo when the Americans established the civilian government in 1901.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Pres. Quezon Transfers The Seat Of Government To Corregidor

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 24, 1941

President Manuel L. Quezon decided to transfer the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government to the island of Corregidor. 

Before they left Malacañan Palace, Jose Abad Santos took his oath as Chief Justice with President Quezon administering the oath. 

Those present included General Basilio Valdez, Army Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense; Jorge B. Vargas, Executive Secretary; and Jose P. Laurel. 

As government officials waited on a ship in Manila Bay to take them to Corregidor, Japanese planes conducted air raids in Manila leaving people dead or wounded. 

From December 12 to 14, Quezon met with his cabinet composed of Jorge Vargas, Jose Laurel, Jose Yulo, Quintin Paredes, Elpidio Quirino, Benigno Aquino Sr. and others. 

They discussed on how to cushion the impact of the Japanese invasion and the total war that would affect the Filipinos. 

On December 30, 1941 in Corregidor, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos administered the oath of office to President Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmeña for their second term. 

On February 20, 1942, Quezon, his family and staff left Corregidor onboard an American submarine. 

Jorge Vargas was appointed mayor of Greater Manila Area and administered the “open city” when the Imperial Japanese forces arrived. 

Jose P. Laurel became President of the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic. 

CJ Jose Abad Santos, who refused to leave with Quezon was assigned as government caretaker for areas unoccupied by the Japanese. He was captured by the Japanese in Cebu but he refused to swear allegiance to the Japanese flag. He was taken to Malabang, Lanao del Sur and was shot to death.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: quezon.ph

Victorio C. Edades

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 23, 1895

Victorio C. Edades (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985), painter and leader of the revolutionary Thirteen Moderns, was born in Barrio Bolosan, Dagupan, Pangasinan. 

His fellow mderns, Galo Ocampo, Carlos Francisco, Vicente Manansala, Hernando Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Demetrio Diego, Diosdado Lorenzo, Jose Pardo, Ricarte Purugganan, Bonifacio Cristobal, Arsenio Capili and Anita Magsaysay-Ho were known to engage their classical compatriots in heated debates over the nature and function of art.  

Edades was named National Artist for 1976. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: davaocitybybattad blogspot com

Fr. Jose Algue, S.J. And The Manila Observatory

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 22, 1856

Father Jose Algue, S.J. (December 22, 1856 - May 27, 1930), a meteorologist, world renowned scientist, inventor, and a Jesuit missionary, was born in Manresa, Spain. 

He studied in Spanish schools and entered the Jesuits on July 17, 1871. He was sent to Toulouse, France and later continued his studies in humanities in 1878 at the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Veruela in Zaragoza. 

After seven years, he moved to Tortosa to finish his studies. In 1889, he accompanied Fr. Federico Faura to Italy and France to get a scientific equipment for the Manila Observatory. 

They toured observatories in the United States, Europe and Cuba. Both of them arrived in the Philippines on February 3, 1894. 

He published “Baguios o ciclones filipinos: Estudio teorico-practico" in 1894 which was a pioneering account of Philippine climate and storms and was a scientific landmark in the Philippines. 

The English version was published in 1904 as "Cyclones of the Far East." He served as a director of the Manila Observatory and founded the Weather Bureau. 

In 1897, Fr. Algue invented the barocyclonometer, which could foretell storms in the Philippines and Asia. 

During the American occupation, he and the Manila Observatory were recognized as assets. 

The Philippine Weather Service was established with him as the first director. 

He published in 1900 the most up to date and complete atlas of the Philippines. 

Under him, the Weather Bureau provided the first systematized warning system of typhoons and cyclones. 

He was responsible for 159 weather stations and 2 magnetic and seismic stations. 

On May 22, 1901, the Manila Observatory became the Philippine Weather Bureau by Act No. 131 of the Philippine Commission. On December 8, 1972, it was replaced by PAGASA by Presidential Decree No. 78. Fr. Algue died in Spain on May 27, 1930.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipediao

The Manila Cathedral

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 21, 1581

The Manila Cathedral was established by virtue of the decree of Pope Gregory XIII as suffragan of Mexico under the title of the Immaculate Concepcion on December 21, 1581. 

The cathedral which was the “Church of Manila”, established in 1571 by Fray Juan de Vivero, the chaplain of the galleon San Geronimo, was raised into a cathedral in 1579. 

The new structure which was made of bamboo, nipa and wood was built in 1581 by the first bishop of Manila, Domingo de Salazar. After its consecration, the cathedral was razed by fire in 1583. 

A second cathedral which was made of stone was built in 1593 but an earthquake destroyed it in 1600. 

A third cathedral began construction in 1614 and was blessed in the same year. An earthquake that shook Manila in 1645 toppled it. 

The fourth cathedral built from 1654 to 1671 was again hit by the 1863 earthquake which also damaged the governor-general’s palace. 

A new cathedral was constructed from 1870 to 1879 and was blessed in 1879. Another earthquake hit the cathedral which destroyed the bell tower. 

During the final days of World War II, allied forces bombed Manila in 1945. The “Battle of Manila” reduced the cathedral to rubbles. 

The present cathedral was constructed from 1954 to 1958 under Most Rev. Rufino Cardinal Santos, DD. In 1970, Pope Paul VI celebrated a Mass at the cathedral. 

Some years later, Pope John Paul II issued a papal bull on April 27, 1981 elevating the shrine to a minor basilica.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: The Manila Cathedral

Capt. Juan Pajota

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 20, 1976

Captain Juan Pajota (1914 - December 20, 1976), a World War II hero, died of heart attack in the United States of America at the age of 62. 

He was trained in the 45th Infantry Philippine Scouts as a lieutenant, and assigned as an instructor for the 91st Division 92nd Infantry of the Philippine Army. 

From Samar, he and his men were transferred to Luzon and had their training camp near Cabanatuan. 

In the later part of December, they received orders to assist the 26th Cavalry Philippine Scouts in the province of Pampanga until they finally retreated to Bataan after engaging the Japanese. 

Together with Lt. Robert Lapham, a member of the 45th Infantry Philippine Scouts, they formed a guerrilla unit operating in the Central Plains of Luzon. 

He was involved in the Raid at Cabanatuan or “The Great Raid” on January 30, 1945, together with the US Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas. 

They fought the Japanese and liberated 511 American Prisoners of War and civilians from a Japanese POW camp in Cabanatuan. 

These troops who were part of the Death March from Bataan were held at the camp after surrendering to Japanese forces. 

In the 30 minute battle, hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed in the coordinated attack. 

Capt. Pajota led his forces and created a roadblock at the Cabo River Bridge and wiped out the Japanese 359th Independent Infantry Battalion. 

The POWs were taken to safety and the rescuers together with Captain Juan Pajota were commended by General Douglas MacArthur and were also recognized by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Philippine Army

Cebu Stamp Club's Ralph A. Ordiz

Ralph A. Ordiz, Membership ID No. M090006 joined CSCI in 2009. He is an English teacher in one of the public schools in Lapulapu City. 

His father was a seaman who constantly sends letters to his mother. When he was in grade 6, he started to take off the stamps from the envelopes of the letters his father sent and eventually his collection grew. 

Years later, he joined a philatelic club in Maasin City, Southern Leyte but the club died just like the other clubs all over the country because people no longer use the snail mail. 

Ralph makes use of the internet to trade with stamp collectors all over the globe. He collects Philippines and worldwide stamps, as well as topics such as WWF, nature, flora and fauna, and countries that no longer exist and also those that stopped printing postage stamps. 

Ralph writes about his collection through his blogpage at www.ralphscollection.blogspot.com 🇵🇭

Jose Ma. Basa

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 19, 1839

Jose Ma. Basa (December 19, 1839 - July 10, 1907), a merchant and reformist, was born in Binondo, Manila to Matias Basa and Joaquina San Agustin. 

He finished his Bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas and at 21, he already operated a thriving business. 

He was part of the Comite de Reformadores, which pushed for Philippine autonomy. 

The Comite’s voice “El Eco Filipino” was published in Spain by Basa’s brother-in-law Frederico Lerena and smuggled into the country by Basa. 

He was accused and arrested by the Spanish authorities for instigating the 1872 Cavite Mutiny. 

Also arrested were his brother Pio, Pardo de Tavera and the Gomburza priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora. The priests were executed while he and the rest were sent to the Marianas on board the ship Flores de Maria. 

He lived there as an exile for two years before moving to Hong Kong. Basa and the others were pardoned by the Spanish authorities with the condition that they will not return to the Philippines. 

His house became the temporary shelter for exiled Filipinos. He was responsible for smuggling Jose Rizal’s books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to the Philippines. 

When Emilio Aguinaldo was exiled in Hong Kong in 1898, he created a junta and appointed Basa as Director of Justice. 

Jose Ma. Basa died in Hong Kong on July 10, 1907.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: National Historical Commission of the Philippines

December 2022 Stamp Meetup

Today's December stamp meetup started at 2pm. Edmund, Dindin, Butch, Jan Jill, Danny, Janus, Ralph, Jerald and Rich gathered at Parkmall, Mandaue City.

We thank each of them for the commitment to the Cebu Stamp Club and the passion for philately. 

Come January 27, 28 and 29, 2023, we will be on a three day stamp meetup adventure in Tudela, Camotes, Cebu. It's a two and a half boat ride from Danao City. German lifetime member Edmund invites the group for a three day stay in his 16 hectare jungle farm with free food and accommodation. We are all excited 🇵🇭

Graciano Lopez Jaena

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 18, 1856

Graciano Lopez Jaena (December 18, 1856 - January 20, 1896), a journalist, orator, and revolutionary, was born in Jaro, Iloilo.

He studied at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro. He tried to enrol at the University of Santo Tomas but was denied admission because the required Bachelor of Arts degree was not offered at the seminary. 

He was appointed as apprentice at the San Juan de Dios Hospital but quit for lack of funds. 

He went back to Jaro to pursue his practice of medicine. 

When he was 18, he wrote “Fray Botod,” a satirical story about a fat priest whose acts were unjust and underhanded. This unpublished story caught the ire of the friars who could not prove that he was the author. 

Lopez Jaena left for Spain in 1879 after receiving death threats for his refusal to testify that there were prisoners who died of natural causes when the real perpetrator of their deaths was the mayor of Pototan. 

In Spain, he studied medicine at the University of Valencia but was not able to finish. 

He joined the Propaganda Movement and founded the La Solidaridad, the newspaper of the Reform Movement whose contributors include Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Mariano Ponce, Antonio Luna, José Ma. Panganiban and Pedro Paterno. 

Graciano Lopez Jaena died of tuberculosis on January 20, 1896 and was buried a day later in an unmarked grave at the Cementerio del Sub-Oeste of Barcelona. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation

Wenceslao Vinzons

Today in a Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 17, 1941

Wenceslao “Bintao” Vinzons led his men in their first battle against Japanese troops in Tigbinan, Bicol, days after their arrival to occupy the Philippines. 

The following day, he led a raid against the enemy in Basud, Camarines Norte. 

He confiscated all the explosives used in the gold mines of his province to be used against the Japanese troops. 

His guerrilla army grew to around 2,800 men and between December 1941 to May 1942, 3,000 Japanese soldiers were killed by them. This made him the prime target of the Japanese authorities. 

On July 8, 1942, Bintao was seized by the Japanese with the help of a guerrilla member who became an informant for the Japanese. 

After his refusal to pledge allegiance to Japan, he was brought to a garrison in Daet. 

He was bayoneted to death on July 15, 1942. The Japanese also killed his wife, two children, his father and his sister. 

Wenceslao Vinzons was 32 years old when he was executed. 

A building at the University of the Philippines was named after him.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Philpost stamp

Diego Silang

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 16, 1730

Diego Silang (December 16, 1730 - May 28, 1763), a revolutionary leader was born in Caba, La Union. 

He worked as a mail courier for the Spanish Clergy in Vigan and was tasked to travel to Manila to bring letters and messages. 

As he went from one place to the other, he saw the abuses of the Spaniards towards the Filipinos so he decided to plot an uprising but was captured by Spanish forces. 

With the help of a priest Fr. Millan, he managed to escape prison. Diego led a revolt that was aimed to establish an independent Ilocano nation and to put a stop to Spanish rule. 

In 1762, the British declared war on Spain and invaded Manila, Diego collaborated with the British, who installed him as governor of Ilocos on their behalf. 

He was promised military reinforcements should he need it in his successful battles against the Spanish forces. Together with him in his battles was his wife Gabriela, also known as “La Henerala,” who was his “aide-de-campe” and adviser. 

To put an end to Silang’s revolt , the magistrate of the Royal Audencia, Simon de Anda decided to hire Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec to assassinate Diego. 

On May 28, 1763, Vicos and Becbec went to Silang’s headquarters in Vigan and with his back turned away from them, Diego was  treacherously shot. 

After his assassination, Gabriela took over and continued the fight against Spanish troops.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.com

Emilio Jacinto

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 15, 1875

Emilio Jacinto (December 15, 1875 -  April 16, 1899), a writer, revolutionary leader and one of the greatest military genius in his time was born in Trozo, Tondo, Manila to Mariano Jacinto and Josefa Dixon. 

He studied at Colegio de San Juan de Letran and took up law at the University of Santo Tomas but failed to finish the course because of the constant abuses of his Spanish classmates. 

He joined the Katipunan at the age of 19 and became known as the “Brains of the Katipunan.” 

Together with Andres Bonifacio and Pio Valenzuela, they formed the core leadership of the Katipunan and started the revolution against Spain. 

He was Bonifacio’s adviser and wrote the Kartilya which became the primer of the Katipunan and contained its rules and regulations. 

Jacinto edited the Ang Kalayaan, the newspaper of the Katipunan. A wide reader, his favorite books include the French Revolution and how to make gunpowder and dynamite. He learned a lot about the art of war, weapons of war and military strategies. 

He looked up to Dr. Jose P. Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar as among his inspirations to become a good writer. He wrote “A La Patria” which was based on Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” and signed using his pen name “Dimas-Ilaw.” 

Jacinto fought the Spaniards during the Philippine Revolution and the Americans in the Philippine-American War. 

In 1899, he was critically wounded in a battle in Majayjay, Laguna which led to his death but some accounts narrate that he died after contracting malaria.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: visitpinas.com

Cebu Stamp Club's Dinah F. Potolin

An educator and the librarian of the Cebu Bible Baptist Church, Dinah has been with the club since 2008, and she is an active member ever since. 

She recalls her elementary years when she saw her mother collecting stamps. She took the stamps and pasted them on a bond paper. 

That was how she did it but when she joined the club, she realized that she was doing it wrong. 

Dinah learned the right way on how to mount and preserve the stamps. 

Dinah F. Potolin with Membership ID No. M080016 is a lifetime member and collects any kind of stamps 🇵🇭

The Pact Of Biak-Na-Bato

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 14, 1897

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, an agreement that ended the hostilities between the Spanish government and Filipino revolutionaries was signed by Spanish Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera and Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. 

The agreement resulted in the voluntary exile of Aguinaldo and his associates to Hong Kong with $400,000 (Mexican). 

Signed in San Miguel, Bulacan, the pact was composed of three parts. The first two were signed on December 14 while the third was signed on December 15, 1897.   

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

Giving Away Manny Pacquiao Stamps

These Manny Pacquiao mint stamps, aside from other philatelic items will be given to members who will be joining the December 18, 2022 F2F Meetup.

Victorio C. Edades

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

DECEMBER 13, 1895

Victorio C. Edades (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985), painter and leader of the revolutionary Thirteen Moderns, was born in Barrio Bolosan, Dagupan, Pangasinan. 

His fellow moderns, Galo Ocampo, Carlos Francisco, Vicente Manansala, Hernando Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Demetrio Diego, Diosdado Lorenzo, Jose Pardo, Ricarte Purugganan, Bonifacio Cristobal, Arsenio Capili and Anita Magsaysay-Ho were known to engage their classical compatriots in heated debates over the nature and function of art. 

Edades was named National Artist for 1976. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: davaocitybybattad.blogspot. by

Royal Decree Replaces Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 13, 1896

Governor-General Ramon Blanco y Erenas was replaced through a Royal Decree. 

His term which began on December 9, 1893 saw the establishment of the first electric light in Manila and the birth of Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan. 

He had a conciliatory position on the revolution to improve Spain’s image but declared martial law in Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas and Nueva Ecija, which represented the eight rays in the Philippine flag. 

He opposed Jose Rizal’s execution and as an apology to the family he gave his sash and sword.        

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

Cebu Stamp Club's Eyan B. Yu

Eyan is one of the nicest and generous guys of Cebu Stamp Club. 

He is an artistically talented grandfather who does paint arts and collects stamps, coins, bank notes, and military toys. 

His U.S. mint stamp collection is in complete year sets from the old to the new. 

He loves to cook for the group and his pansit bam-i is the best. 

Eyan B. Yu joined CSCI in 2008 and is a lifetime member with Membership ID No. M080005  🇵🇭