Alfredo Carmelo

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

JULY 8, 1896

Alfredo Carmelo, (July 8, 1896 - August 26, 1985), pioneer aviator, dean of Filipino pilots, businessman and visual artist, was born in Manila to Don Eulalio Carmelo de Lakandola and Maxima Casas. 

His father was the founder of Carmelo and Bauermann, a printing company that operated in 1887. 

He studied at the Ateneo de Manila and San Beda College. 

He was later sent to Germany to know more about lithography. It was in Germany where he began flying with his friends who were pilots. 

When World War I began, he went back home. He enrolled at the the Curtiss Aviation School and became one of the first class in aviation and was under Alfred Croft. 

He loved flying so much that he bought a Curtiss JN-4D plane and made two flights with his seagull place on January 20, 1920 over Manila and Cavite which earned for him the distinction as the first Filipino aviator. 

He became an acrobat pilot and won many trophies and awards worldwide. 

Carmelo devoted his time in painting during his later years and did one-man exhibits in different venues abroad and here in the country.

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

Photo credit: Francis Karem Elazegui Neri