Fernando Poe Jr. Stamps

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

NOVEMBER 25, 2010

Fernando Poe, Jr., a Filipino actor, cultural icon and the 2010 National Artist for Film was featured on stamps to highlight the November Stamp Collecting Month issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation. Series 1 was released on November 10 , 2010 while Series 2 came out on November 25, 2010. 

The stamps became a big boost to the campaign to promote letter writing in the age of electronic media, cellphone technology and social media. 

“Nothing can compare to the personal touch in writing letters, and the smell that goes with love letters," said veteran actress Susan Roces, Poe’s wife who herself continues her family tradition of collecting stamps. 

FPJ or Da King as he was called began his acting career in the 1950s where he played the hero defending the common people. 

These roles earned for him the respect and admiration of the masses where he won numerous awards and prizes both as an actor and film director. 

FPJ ran in the 2004 Presidential election but lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

Poe was formally conferred the National Artist for Cinema post humous award on August 16, 2012 by President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III.

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

Photo credit: fpj-daking.blogspot.com

The Manila-Dagupan Railway

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 24, 1892

The Manila-Dagupan Railway or the Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan was inaugurated and officially began its operations. 

A British company started the construction of the railway line in 1887 with the total length of the line covering 195.4 km long from Manila to Dagupan. 

It operated for four years but was overtaken by revolutionary forces in November 1896 that interrupted rail traffic in different points. 

When the 1899 Philippine-American War broke out, both Filipino revolutionaries and American troops used it as they battle each other in different fronts.

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

Photo credit: philippineamericanwar.webs.com

Cecilia Muñoz-Palma

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 22, 1913

Cecilia Muñoz-Palma (November 22, 1913 - January 2, 2006), a jurist, first woman Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and assemblywoman, was born in Bauan, Batangas. 

Pres. Ferdinand Marcos appointed her to the Supreme Court and served until she retired at age 65. 

She dissented against Marcos and came out with rulings against martial law policies. 

Justice Muñoz-Palma joined the opposition and was appointed by Pres. Cory Aquino to be a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission and was chosen to be its chairman.    

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

Photo credit: gov.ph

The Claveria Decree

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 21, 1849

Narciso Claveria y Zuldua, the 71st Spanish governor-general issued a decree that standardized the names and surnames of Filipinos. 

The Claveria decree listed family names in alphabetical  order based on Spanish surnames. The list was given to the heads of the provinces, who sent some to the parish priests, who in turn gave a part of the list to the head of the barangay, who assisted the oldest family member to choose a surname. 

The decree also stated that those who changed or did not use the name recorded in the new register would be imprisoned.

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

Photo credit: fil-gen-pro.blogspot.com

Pangasinan Falls

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 20, 1899

In their pursuit for Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo and his party, who retreated northward, Brig. Gen. Arthur MacArthur Jr. and Maj. Gen. Henry W. Lawton’s columns link up with Brig. Gen. Loyd  Wheaton’s in Dagupan, that ended the overt warfare in Pangasinan and completing the American conquest of the province. 

Nine days earlier, Aguinaldo tasked Gen. Manuel Tinio, who was based in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to block the American advances in San Jacinto. 

Entrenchments were put up west of the town. Not long after, the Battle of San Jacinto took place.

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

Photo credit: philippineamericanwar.webs.com

Brig. Gen. Trinidad Perez Tecson

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 18, 1848

Brig. Gen. Trinidad Perez Tecson (November 18, 1848 – January 28, 1928), the “Mother of Biak-na-Bato”, was born in San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan. 

She joined Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan and fought during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War under Gen. Mariano Llanera, Gen. Francisco Macabulos, Gen. Isidro Torres and Gen. Gregorio del Pilar. 

Henerala Ningning organized the women to nurse the sick and wounded revolutionaries thus, she was called the “Mother of the Philippine Red Cross” by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

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

Photo credit: filipiknow.net

The Cry Of Santa Barbara

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 17, 1898

Gen. Martin Teofilo Delgado proclaimed the Provincial Revolutionary Government in Santa Barbara, Iloilo. 

Filipino revolutionaries longing for freedom and independence filled the churchyard of the Santa Barbara Church.

The church and its convent became the headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary forces and for the first time, the Philippine flag was raised outside Luzon. 

This event is now known as the Cry of Santa Barbara. Military campaigns were launched from Santa Barbara that were aimed to liberate the province.

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

Photo credit: panaydirectory.com