New Papal Exhibit in December

Once again yours truly is preparing for a bigger papal exhibit come December 2026. Its launching will coincide with Cebu Stamp Club's 30th anniversary.

John Paul II Philatelic Exhibit 2026 is set to be launched in one of Cebu's mall. Get in touch with us at stampsphilippines.rav@gmail.com

 

Religious Exhibits

I conceptualized and presented a religious themed one-man exhibit for Cebu Stamp Club from my collections. 

The exhibit featured Pedro Calungsod and John Paul II in two venues.

Cebu City Museum on December 28, 2012 - January 16, 2013 and at the Active Zone Atrium of Ayala Center Cebu from January 21 - 25, 2013. To God be the glory! 

Pope John Paul II Celebrates A Mass In Manila

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JANUARY 15, 1995

Pope John Paul II celebrated a three and a half hour Mass and addressed a crowd numbering around 4 million during the closing of the World Youth Day at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. 

He arrived earlier at Malacañang aboard the Popemobile from the Apostolic Nunciature but had to ride the presidential chopper with Jaime Cardinal Sin and Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni owing to the huge crowd on the streets. 

Pope John Paul II’s second visit to the Philippines began on January 12, 1995. He first came to the Philippines in 1981. 

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

Photo credit to the owner

A Philatelic Gift from Poland

 

 

 

 

 

I am very glad to receive this philatelic gift yesterday from Andrzej P., a philatelist friend who comes  from faraway Poland, the birthplace of the soon to be saint John Paul II. These John Paul II philatelic items released by the Polish Post Office on different dates are a welcome addition to my Pope John Paul II philatelic collection.

These materials will definitely be included in a new stamp and photo exhibit I will be presenting for Cebu Stamp Club immediately after the Pope's canonization this year.
 
More photos at Cebu Stamp Club's official Facebook page.

In return, I sent him philatelic items issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation featuring Pope John Paul II, San Pedro Calungsod and other Catholic-themed issues.

Sede Vacante

Pope Benedict XVI finally bids farewell to all the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church on February 28, 2013. With the pope's resignation, the Vatican declares today a "Sede Vacante" or Vacant See.

During this period, the coat of arms of the Holy See changes. Instead of the papal tiara over the keys, it is replaced with the umbraculum. This symbolizes the absence of a pope and the governance of the Camerlengo. The coat of arms of the Camerlengo ornaments the symbol and is replaced immediately after a new pope is installed.  

The Vatican Philatelic and Numismatic Office revealed that after the pope's resignation, "Sede Vacante 2013" stamps will be released. The stamps valued at 70 cents (for Italy), 80 cents (for Europe and Mediterranean), 2 euros (for Africa, Asia and the US) and 2.5 euros (for Australia) will have an identical motif and is valid until a new pope will be inaugurated. The stamp design shows the Vacant See symbol - a striped umbrella over crossed keys and the words Sede Vacante, Citta del Vaticano and MMXIII.

The first printing of "Sede Vacante" commemorative stamps began in 1939. The "Sede Vacante" stamps after the death of Pope John Paul II were a blockbuster. 750,000 copies were printed with values of 60, 62 and 80 cents. See photo above.

John Paul II Celebration Exhibit in August

A few days after Pope John Paul II passed away, this philatelist came out with a presentation to pay tribute to the great Pope. Interesting stamps and philatelic items from different parts of the globe were exhibited at the Mactan Shrine in Lapulapu City, Cebu; Talisay City Post Office, Talisay City; Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City and at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation main entrance hall.

The successful exhibit tour also coincided with the launching of Cebu Stamp Club’s official website during the Ayala Center Cebu presentation. It drew a lot of members and was the start of the club’s commitment in bringing stamp collecting to the I.T. level.

On August 28, 2011 at 10:00 in the morning, to celebrate the beatification of John Paul II and to highlight Cebu Stamp Club’s 15 years in promoting philately to everyone, John Paul II Celebration Exhibit, a first-of-its-kind presentation will be launched at Ayala Center Cebu. Featured are the stamps and covers issued in the countries of the world where the late Pontiff has visited and the complete collection of John Paul II’s stamps and philatelic items issued in the Philippines. This exhibit includes large photos of the late pontiff, and the complete images of all the 265 popes in history from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. An interactive presentation, a scale model of St. Peter’s Basilica during the beatification of Pope John Paul II completes the presentation.

The Vatican Postal Administration will be shipping some materials to add that will include the Pope John Paul II beatification issue and the Pope Benedict XVI stamps issued by Vatican Post.

To cut the ceremonial ribbon, the club has thought of inviting His Eminence Jose Palma, the Archbishop of Cebu to do the honors. This will be the biggest presentation that Cebu Stamp Club has embarked so far.

Pope John Paul II Stamps That Were Never Issued

When Pope John Paul II became the new pope, the Philippine Postal Administration decided to come out with a set of stamps that were intended to be released to coincide with the new pope's first visit to the Philippines.

In 1980, the stamps were printed as it was in this year that the pontiff was expected to visit the country. Right after the printing of the stamps, it was learned that the pope's visit will be in 1981. The printed stamps with the 1980 year were ordered destroyed but a few copies leaked. These stamps are now considered as rarities.

On February 17, 1981, the Pope John Paul II Pastoral Visit stamps were issued but this time, the year 1981 replaced the 1980 year. Italy's Staderini SPA printed the stamps and the imperforate souvenir sheet. The First Day Covers were postmarked with Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Iloilo, Bataan, Legaspi, Bagiuo, and Manila International Airport.

Above photo shows the stamps bearing the 1980 year and the 1981 official stamp mounted on an uncancelled post card.