A Proud Dad I Am!

Today is card distribution day and the Parents' Council board meeting at the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion - Mandaue.

Earlier this school year, the parents of more than 2,000 kids gave their full support by electing me as the president of the Parents' Council. My son Jerald Kervin happens to be in grade two.

After I adjourned the board meeting at 12 noon, me and my son decided to have lunch at an eat-all-you-can restaurant in a nearby mall. An hour later, we went back to the school to get his report card. As usual, the class adviser was all smiles and gave a very nice feedback on his progress. She then handed the card and told me that once again my kid is top 1 in class. She led me to the blackboard where I was shown the names of the top 10.

Seeing my son's name leading the rest once again made me proud even more. I really have to give my thumbs up to him knowing that after studying his lessons, he spends a lot of his time playing and making videos with his lego toys and uploading them to YouTube. I see a genius film maker on the rise! 

It's a wonderful feeling to be a dad with a son like him and I thank God for this blessing!

The R2-D2 Mailbox

 

I got this miniature version of the USPS R2-D2 Mailbox from Cebu Stamp Club member Dr. Vicente Avanzado Jr. as a birthday gift. The product is also called the R2-M8 Coin Bank.

In 2007, the United States Postal Service (USPS) installed 400 R2-D2 mailboxes in postal districts around the U.S. as part of the Star Wars 30th Anniversary celebrations. It also coincides with the issuance of the March 28, 2007 Star Wars stamp set.

The mailboxes have all long been replaced but the miniatures continue to remind people that long time ago, in a galaxy far away, the postal service came out with the Star Wars R2D2 mailboxes and stamps.

Thank you doc for this very unique gift!

Jump here to read my previous blog on the Star Wars stamps.

Happy Hearts' Day!

Today is Valentine's Day! Here's a stamp to remind us all of how special this day is.

This 10p stamp was released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) on January 14, 2013. The design was done by Victorino Z. Serevo and Rey Anthony D. Alejandro, OJT from TUP.

The “Mahal Kita” 2013 Valentine’s Day Stamp is a stylized drawing of a couple holding hands, wearing traditional Filipino costumes who profess their love for each other. The man hands in a bouquet of flowers while the woman is shown holding a love letter. 

Philpost promotes this stamp with the following info: 

The Filipinos are really romantic and loving people. And no holiday brings out the romantic in us than Valentine’s Day. 

Nothing matters more than love on Valentine's Day. And nothing conveys love to your sweetheart better than a well-composed romantic letter. A beautiful love-letter has been known to win many hearts and seduce many souls. A powerful weapon in a lover's arsenal, a love-letter is an indispensable part of Valentine's Day celebrations. 

Come what may, romance will never be lost to Pinoys. As long as there are people falling in love, love letters will always be written, cherished and enjoyed forever by the grateful recipient. 

These cards and letters sent through mail, are most of the time kept through the years for sentimental reasons.

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

 
The news that Pope Benedict XVI is resigning caught everyone by surprise including the Church. The 85-year old pope will leave the papacy on February 28 owing to his declining health and old age. A voluntary papal resignation is uncommon. Pope Celestine V abdicated the position in 1294 while Pope Gregory XII resigned in 1415 to end the western schism.

In a statement on February 11, the German pope said: "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is."

His successor will be elected possibly during the beginning of the holy week on 24 March.

Featured above are the Pope Benedict XVI stamps released in Germany and the Vatican.

I am glad that that I have a philatelic remembrance in the form of a postal envelope with a cachet bearing the pope's image. This envelopes were sent to me and Cebu Stamp Club by the Vatican Postal Administration in 2011 and 2012.

See my previous blog featuring Pope Benedict XVI. Jump here.. 

Lucio D. San Pedro, National Artist for Music

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) commemorates the birth centenary of Maestro Lucio D. San Pedro, one of the country's National Artist for Music with a stamp issued on February 11. 2013.

The P10 stamp features a close up photo of Lucio D. San Pedro with the title of his famous song "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" and his signature in the background. The design was approved by the Maestro's family, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.  

Maestro LucioD. San Pedro was born on February 11, 1913 and was recognized for his invaluable contribution to original Filipino music. 

His songs "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" and "Lahing Kayumanggi" have become classics.He created orchestral music that include "The Devil's Bridge", "Malakas at Maganda Overture", "Prelude and Fugue in D minor", "Hope and Ambition". Among his choral musics are "Easter Cantata", "Sa Mahal Kong Bayan" and "Rizal's Valedictory Poem". He made the band music "Dance of the Fairies", "Triumphal March", "Lahing Kayumanggi" and "Angononian March" among others. 

2012 Philippine Stamp Issues (January - December)

Collecting Philippine stamps is one of my favorites and I make it a point to complete them every year. This is also the reason why I always come up with my own specialized album pages for my Philippine stamps. Photo above features my 2012 Philippine Stamp album pages in high-gloss and waterproof A4 paper. 

I have compiled here the 2012 Philippine Stamp issues released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost).

01.02.12 - Lyceum of the Philippines University, 60th Anniversary
7p (single)

01.19.12 - The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
7p, 7p (se-tenant pair)

01.25.12 - Diocese of Malolos, 50th Anniversary
7p, 7p (se-tenant pair)
28p (souvenir sheet of 4)

03.16.12 - City of Davao
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)

03.19.12 - Ateneo de Zamboanga University, 100th Anniversary
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)
28p (souvenir sheet of 4)

03.21.12 - St. Agnes Academy of Legazpi City, 100th Anniversary
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)      

03.30.12 - Philippine Folklores and Legends Series: Maria Makiling, Guardian of the Forests (Definitive)
7p, (single)

04.01.12 - Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU), 50th Anniversary
7p, 30p (singles)

04.10.12 - Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost), 20th Anniversary
7p, 7p (se-tenant pair)

05.01.12 - Philippine Heritage Churches, 100th Anniversary
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)
28p (souvenir sheet of 4)

05.01.12 - Felipe Padilla de Leon, Birth Centenary
7p (single)

05.02.12 - Asian Development Bank (ADB) - 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors     
7p (single)

05.06.12 - 70 Years of Valor    
7p, 10p, 30p (singles)

05.28.12 - GSIS, 75th Anniversary    
7p, 9p, 40p (se-tenant strip of 3)

06.08.12 - 2012 Year of the Dragon (New Printing)    
7p, 30p (singles)
74p (souvenir sheet of 4)
70p (miniature sheet of 10)
300p (miniature sheet of 10)

06.15.12 - White Water Rafting, The Ultimate Adventure in Cagayan de Oro City    
9p (single)

06.18.12 - International Year of the Forests 2011: Global Winner - 20th International Children's Painting
Competition on the Environment    
9p (single)

06.25.12 - Caloocan, The City of Heroes    
7p (single)

06.28.12 - Philippine Folklores and Legends: Habagat, The God of the Winds (Definitive)  
7p (single)

07.27.12 - London 2012 Olympic Games    
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)
112p (miniature sheet of 16)

08.25.12 - Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), 50th Anniversary  
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)

08.27.12 - Speaker Jose B. Laurel Jr., Birth Centenary    
9p (single)

08.31.12 - Ramon O. Valera, Birth Centenary    
7p (single)

09.28.12 - Philippine Folklores and Legends: Amihan, the Goddess of the Moonsoon Weather (Definitive)    
7p (single)

10.05.12 - Manila Hotel, 100th Anniversary    
7p, 7p, 7p, 7p (se-tenant block of 4)

10.05.12 - Paintings of Young Filipino Artists 2012
10p x 10 (singles, se-tenant block of 10) 
officially released on 12.14.12  

10.18.12 - Philippine Marine Biodiversity (Definitives)    
1p, 5p, 40p (singles)


10.21.12 - Canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod    
9p (single)
180p (miniature sheet of 20)

11.04.12 - Carlos "Botong" Francisco, Birth Centenary    
7p (single)

11.16.12 - Philippine Marine Biodiversity (Definitive)
100p (single)

11.20.12 - Pasko 2012
10p, 10p (se-tenant pair)
160p (miniature sheet of 16)

11.28.12 - Philippine Folklores and Legends: Bernardo Carpio (Definitive)
7p (single)

12.07.12 - Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, 75th Anniversary
7p, 7p (se-tenant pair)

12.12.12 - 2013 Year of the Snake
10p, 30p (singles)
80p (souvenir sheet of 4)     

Welcome the Year of the Water Snake!

Here's my Chinese New Year's wish to all my family, friends and visitors to this blogsite.. May you have prosperity, happiness, and good health always.. Kung Hei Fat Choi!