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.

Cebu Stamp Club's June 2011 CSCI Newsletter

These past months had been very hectic for me but in spite of the busy schedule at work and at home. I still found time to sit and come out with fresh issues of the CSCI Newsletter for Cebu Stamp Club.

This latest issue features a lot of interesting and exciting articles. Some of my blogs that I wrote for the month are included for those club members who don't have time to read blogs online.

The CSCI Newsletter is exclusively available only to Cebu Stamp Club members of good standing. To have a copy of the newsletter please send membership or renewal inquiries to cebustampclub_inc@yahoo.com

Canada Adds Third Royal Wedding Stamp

On June 28, 2011 Canada Post comes out with the third installment that will complete the Royal Wedding series.

The domestic Permanent™ stamp shows a candid photo of the newlyweds in their open landau shortly after completing their wedding vows at Westminster Abbey. The stamp will commemorate the first Royal Visit to Canada after their wedding.

“This stamp is an excellent way for Canadians to commemorate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first visit to Canada,” announces the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport). “I am pleased and proud that Canada will welcome the Royal Couple on their first official visit abroad.”

USPS Mark Twain Stamp is Now Out

World famous author and humorist Mark Twain was honored on a postage stamp on June 25, 2011 by the United States Postal Service (USPS).

This commemorative First-class Forever stamp is the 27th stamp in the Literary Arts series.

The First Day of Issue ceremony was held at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, MO.

Postal Service Board of Governors member James H. Bilbray said that “Our literary tribute this year rightfully honors Mark Twain, author of one of the greatest novels in American literature and the man whom William Faulkner called ‘the first truly American writer’.. Mark Twain was a rarity, as he was one of the first writers to exploit the vernacular voice in his books, using the speech of common Americans.”

Mark Twain (1835—1910), is the author of great works such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest novels in American literature.

The postage stamp portrait features an old Mark Twain; the background showing a steamboat evokes a way of life along the Mississippi River that played a big role in many of Twain’s works, as well as in his own life. Art director and stamp designer Phil Jordan collaborated with stamp artist Gregory Manchess, who based his portrait of Twain on a photograph taken in the year 1907.

New Rizal Stamps Are Out

The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) came out with commemorative stamp issues on June 19, 2011 to celebrate the sequicentennial birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal.

The Jose Rizal 150th birth centenary issue includes two se-tenant pairs valued at 7p each and a souvenir sheet of 10 at 150p.

The Goethe Institute's 50th anniversary issue highlighting Rizal was also released on the same day. The stamps in a block of four are valued at 7p each.

The Top most images show the stamps for Rizal's 150th birth anniversary and the souvenir sheet that highlights different Rizal monuments in the county, followed by the Goethe Institute stamps featuring Rizal.

Remembering Jose Rizal @ 150

President Benigno Aquino III led the nation in paying tribute to the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal who celebrates his 150th birthday on June 19, 2011.

To formally kick-off the celebration, he led the flag-raising ceremonies at the Rizal ancestral home compound and offered a wreath at Rizal’s statue as a boy. A 21-gun salute in honor of the national hero was accorded by members of the Presidential Security Group.

The President enjoined the Filipinos to emulate Rizal’s heroism and praised him for choosing to do the right thing. “Rizal could have used his wealth and education to become rich and marry any girl he fancied, but he chose to correct the injustices done to the motherland.. Even with the crossroads that he faced, Rizal never strayed away from the right path.” Aquino said.

Furthermore, he adds “For most people, heroism is measured by how we face our everyday struggles.”

The President was presented with five commemorative tokens for the Jose Rizal @ 150 celebration. These are; a certificate of restoration of the Noli Me Tangere by German Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Ludwig Weber Lorssch; the e-Rizal tablet from Gov. Ejercito; a “Rizal at 150” commemorative medal from Central Bank governor Amado Tetangco, Jr.; a “Rizal at 150” commemorative stamp from Post Master General Antonio de Guzman; and a book on the “Lineage, Life and Labors of Jose Rizal” by Tulay Foundation chairman Manuel Chua.

Later, the president unveiled the tallest statue of Rizal together with local officials of Calamba, the hometown of Rizal. The 22-foot bronze monument designed and created by Jonas Roces of Marikina stands on a 6.7-hectare property in front of the Calamba City Hall complex.

Members Gather for the June 2011 Stamp Meetup

It was a rainy Sunday when Cebu Stamp Club members met again for the June 19, 2011 stamp meetup at the second floor of McDonalds Jones, Cebu City.

Together with my son Jerald Kervin Uy, we welcomed everyone including the guest of the day Bob Gooding who came with his wife, Nenita. Bob is an Englishman who presently lives in Australia.

Foreigner members, Kenneth Turner with wife Gina and Edmund Gruenbaum were present too. As usual, Ken brought along his stamp freebies that made all of us busy. Eyan Yu, Sharee Ann Trapa, Ralph Ordiz, Richard Guimbarda and Dinah Potolin who was with her kids got their haul of the day.

During the course of the meeting, I shared to the group the registration fee for the upcoming Cebu Stamp Club @ 15 Grand Reunion which will be held at the Montebello Villa Hotel on August 28, 2011. The choice of food was announced. The mouth-watering lunch buffet would include: cucumber, shrimp & mango salad, fish fillet w/ blackbean sauce, chicken pork adobo w/ potato, mixed vegetables w/ oyster sauce, rice, lechon, chicken inasal, chocolate roll, and soda drinks. For snacks there will be chicken sandwiches with fries and drinks. The formal wear was also mentioned.

The John Paul Celebration Exhibit layout was shown to the members and the ribbon cutting of the exhibit is set on August 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Ayala Center Cebu. Members will then proceed to the reunion venue at Montebello Villa Hotel, just an 8-minute ride from Ayala.

Philatelic sharing followed after the new stamp issues for the quarter released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) were announced. Check out more photos at Cebu Stamp Club's Facebook page. Just type Cebu Stampclub