Jaime Cardinal Sin

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

JUNE 21, 2005

Jaime Lachica Cardinal Sin (August 31, 1928 – June 21, 2005), the charismatic Archbishop of Manila died at the age of 76 due to renal failure. 

The government through Presidential Proclamation No. 863 gave him a state funeral and a period of national mourning with thousands attending his funeral. Cardinal Sin was instrumental in toppling Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ regime through People Power 1 in 1986 that installed Cory Aquino as president. 

Again in 2001, he intervened that led to the ouster of Pres. Joseph Estrada and made Gloria Arroyo president.

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

Photo credit: http://manilacathedral.org/

Erap's 73rd Birthday

Former Philippine President Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada celebrated his 73rd birthday yesterday April 19, 2010.

Erap's birthday wish is a "clean and victory for him and his party in the upcoming elections."

The Pwersa ng Masa standard bearer adds, "I have already been given everything that I asked for, including my renewed freedom. But my freedom is empty if I cannot use it for the greater good of the Filipino people, that is why I am running and I hope to be able to serve the people as president again."

Shown above is the November 10, 1998 stamp of President Joseph Estrada taking his oath as the 13th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

An Interesting Erap Stamp

Joseph Ejercito Estrada became the 13th president of the Philippines in 1998. His term would have ended in 2004 but EDSA 2 cut short his stay in office and catapulted his vice president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the presidency.

In 2000, the Philippine Postal Corporation issued a set of stamps featuring the Philippine Presidents. The stamp that bore Erap's vignette featured the year "1998-2004". The Erap stamp was not that interesting during that time. But after his ouster, collectors started to have a second look at the stamp.