Western Union

New Issue alert:

Western Union 25th Anniversary

September 30, 2015 The Western Union 25th Anniversary Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting September 30, 2015 at the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Manila Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and at all Regional Offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

Philatelic Week

Before National Stamp Collecting Month there was Philatelic Week.

Philatelic Week was observed officially from 1969 to the 1990s.

Proclamation No. 622 was signed on October 13, 1969, by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos "declaring the last week of November every year as Philatelic Week."

There are four whereases in this proclamation:

"...the collection and study of postage stamps, provides an individual with knowledge not only of his country's history, its people and traditions, but also of the rest of the world;

"...philately fosters international understanding and friendship, and promotes patriotism, interest in arts, culture and science;

"...the promotion of philately in our country will provide an effective means of projecting the Philippines abroad, and consequently boost our tourism industry; and

"...it is desirable that public attention be focused on the significance of philately."

You'll find this on the online Official Gazette of the government at

http://www.gov.ph/1969/10/13/proclamation-no-622-s-1969/

DAVPEX '87

Souvenirs of DAVPEX '87.

Got these during a visit to Davao City in 1987 -- too late, unfortunately.

Had I been around that time the souvenir folder would have contained the Davao City commemorative stamp postmarked on its first day of issue. As it is there is no stamp -- just a souvenir.

Interestingly, it appears to me the Davao Stamp Collectors changed its name to Davao Philatelic Club.

The UM of UM Philatelic Club stands for the University of Mindanao.

Gen. Malvar

New Issue alert:

General Miguel C. Malvar 150th Birth Anniversary

September 27, 2015   

The General Miguel C. Malvar 150th Birth Anniversary Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting September 27, 2015 at the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Manila Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and at all Regional Offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

Afran Stamp Company 1

Did you know that the Afran Stamp Company not only advertised in the philatelic press but also in such magazines as Popular Science and Popular Mechanics?

slogan cancels

A valuable source of illustrations and information about Philippine slogan cancellations is the work by Pablo M. Esperidion serialized in The Philippine Journal of Philately from 1950 to 1959.

This covers the American administration, the Commonwealth, the Japanese occupation and the Republic era. There are 332 slogans listed in all the articles titled "Philippine Postal Slogans."

Esperidion notes at the outset that "Of course, this monograph does not attempt to be complete as there might be some items in existence which, at the time of its preparation, I have neither seen them nor they have come to my knowledge. At any rate, practically all the basic materials referred to in this monograph are from my personal collection...."

I wonder where his collection went.

Manila Observatory

New Issue alert:

Manila Observatory: 150 Years

September 25, 2015The Manila Observatory: 150 Years Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting September 25, 2015 at the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Manila Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and at all Regional Offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.--- [press release added later]PRESS RELEASE: PHLPost releases Manila Observatory 150th anniversary commemorative stamps
September 28, 2015

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released a new commemorative stamp featuring the 150th founding anniversary of the Manila Observatory, the oldest institution of scientific research in the Philippines, established in 1865 by the Jesuit mission in the Philippines.

“The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) congratulate the Manila Observatory on the occasion of its 150th founding anniversary with the issuance of commemorative stamps celebrating the rich tradition of excellence in areas of scientific research and service”, Postmaster General Josie Dela Cruz said.

The stamp features the iconic Manila Observatory building, the official anniversary seal and Fr. Federico Faura, SJ, founder.

According to its website, the Manila Observatory was founded by no less than Father Federico Faura, fondly called Padre Faura (after whom the street was named), who set up its first headquarters in Manila. It was engaged in the systematic observation of Philippine weather. The observatory began serving typhoon warnings in 1879.

The institution embarked on earthquake observations in 1880. In 1884, the Spanish government issued a royal decree formally recognizing the Manila Observatory as the official Philippine institution for weather forecasting.

In 1963, the Manila Observatory was transferred to Loyola Heights campus of the Ateneo de Manila University, where it continued its seismic, geomagnetic, and radio physics research, while expanding into solar physics as well.

Some 101,000 copies of the commemorative stamp were printed by Amstar Company, Inc. and being sold at P15.00 each.

The stamps and official first day cover are now available at the Post Shop, Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and area post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.

NAPEX

There are two cancellations applied to the National Philatelic Exhibition (NAPEX) first day covers bearing the imperforate souvenir sheet labeled FOR MORE AND BETTER PHILATELY.

One was done at the main Post Office and the other at the temporary exhibition hall postal station. The exhibit was held at Escolta in the U.S. library of the Heacock Building from November 28 to 30, 1947.

NAPEX was sponsored by the Philippine Philatelic Club.

The souvenir sheet depicts a block of four 1-centavo Manuel Quezon stamps, each of which could be used singly as postage...you just had to scissor it in quarters!

unlisted Spanish era stamps

Surprising is the number of stamps listed by Don Peterson in Unlisted Scott Catalogue Surcharged Stamps of the 1881-1888 Spanish Philippine Period.

This was published in 1997 by the International Philippine Philatelic Society.

My copy is signed "17 of 200" by the author.

The color plates are indeed helpful, as the author says in the Introduction.

The list of known forgeries is helpful, too.

PPC in Iloilo?

This postal card addressed to the Philippine Philatelic Club of Manila...er, make that Iloilo...was postmarked in Manila on November 14, 1945. Looks like it made it to Iloilo as the backstamp shows.

Puzzling.

(The postal card, by the way, is of the "close IC in VICTORY" variety.)

EFOs

This January-December 1980 edition of the Philippine Philatelic News made me aware of errors, freaks and oddities for the first time.

Shortly after perusing it in the early 1980's I lost no time at all searching for EFOs in my small collection of Philippine Republic stamps.

Hooray! I found one.

It was a major color shift on one of the three values in the "Marcos Shouting" issue.

And, now armed with the knowledge of what to look for in an error, I did find one in the P2 value of the 1982 Bataan Day specimen stamp -- the handstamp SPECIMEN was omitted (only the control number and deleting bars of the denomination were present).

I still have the color shift. The error I sold to a Philippine specialist.

The former is unlisted by Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak, Linda Stanfield and Mario Que, authors of the article, who state that "The listing we have come up with are what the authors have actually seen for they are either from their own personal collections or in the collections of other collectors."

As my collection grew in the 1990's, I did find more color shifts and shifted overprints, all unlisted in this work, of the same time frame (1946-1979) studied by the three catalogers. But, so far, no more errors.

Selyo

Selyo is "Exploring Philippine Culture Through Philately," a quarterly magazine published by the Philippine Postal Corporation.

Contents are mainly articles about the subject matter of new issues.

This comes out in full color, and glossy paper at that!

Volume 1 Issue 3 is for July to September 2015 and 20 pages long including the covers.

Auctioneer Josie Cura distributed some copies during today's auction of the Filipinas Stamp Collectors' Society held at the Philpost lobby.

There were about 30 bidders in attendance.

I scored two successful bids, and also bought a first day cover from the only bourse table around.

first day cover puzzle

What's the story behind the cachet on this first day cover?

It was most likely prepared by "R. DE JESUS" as handstamped on the back. That would be stamp dealer Rogelio de Jesus.

Anyone knows?

Palmer

Published serially in The Philatelic Gazette is "The Postal Issues of the Philippines" by Major F. L. Palmer.

The editions were from December 15, 1910, to May 15, 1912.

This dealt with the Spanish issues, Aguinaldo's revolutionary stamps, and the early American period.

In conclusion, "the author desires to say that it is based primarily upon 'The Postage Stamps of the Philippines' (Bartels, Foster, and Palmer, 1904), as added to by the experience and results of the writer both in the United States and while at Manila, during 1905-7."

Note the promotion in Palmer's rank: from captain (as indicated in the 1904 catalog) to major, in the U.S. Army.

Mamasapano

PRESS RELEASE: PHLPost opens new Postal Station near Mamasapano

September 17, 2015

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has recently inaugurated its new Postal Station near the municipality of Mamasapano in Maguindanao as part of its goal to expand its postal network to serve more Filipino clients.

“We are continuing to expand our network of postal stations in the country, so we can reach more Filipinos who want to send their letters and parcels, particularly in the rural areas, “ Postmaster General and CEO Josefina dela Cruz stated.

Located in the municipality of Datu Abdullah Sangki (DAS), the said newly opened postal station located at the municipal hall compound, National Highway in Barangay Talisawa and is operated by the local government unit of the municipality of DAS.

Residents of nearby towns of Rajah Buayan, Sultan Sa Barongis, and even Mamasapano can now avail of PHLPost services such as domestic and international postage, postal money order, and postage stamps, among others.

The opening of the new postal station was graced by the Datu Abdullah Sangki Mayor Bai Mariam S. Mangudadatu, DAS Association of Barangay Captain (ABC) President Edris Sangki, and Atty. Jorlito Pingal, PHLPost Representative.

The postal station in DAS is the latest addition to the 70 postal stations and more than a thousand postal offices in the country.

Postal Station is a PHLPost-authorized facility established and operated wholly or in part by a person, entity or local government unit for the purpose of performing postal business and sale of any other related products and services.

With a minimum investment of P15,000-P20,000, an LGU or any private citizen can venture into the postal business with the PHLPost.

DECS memo

Signed by Secretary Lourdes R. Quisumbing of the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports on April 30, 1987, DECS Memorandum No. 92, series of 1987, called for the "organization of philatelic (stamp collection) clubs."

It states the following points:

"1. The Philippine Philatelic Club wishes to invite school officials to organize stamp collection clubs in their respective schools. Philately or stamp collection can be regarded as a wholesome and enjoyable hobby for our students and pupils.

"2. The Philippine Philatelic Club conducts lectures on philately and can assist the advisers in organizing stamp clubs in their schools for free. Schools are therefore encouraged to organize stamp collection clubs among the students and pupils. Stamp advisers can write to [postal address of PPC] for free information materials."

This was addressed to bureau directors, regional directors, schools superintendents, presidents of state colleges and universities, heads of private schools and colleges and universities, and administrators of vocational/technical schools.

NAPP's Numbers

NAPP's Numbers Volume One is "A Study of the Plate Number Combinations created by the Overprinting of U.S. Postage Stamps for use in the United States Possessions and Administrative Areas 1899-1946."

This work by Joseph M. Napp lists "plate number and position combinations" for Canal Zone, Cuba, Guam, Hawaii, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Shanghai.

The third edition is copyrighted 2000.
My copy is numbered 178 and is signed by the author.

Introductory terms and definitions are given in this illustrated catalog for the specialist. Cover illustrations are in color and for the inside pages in black and white.

Bought my copy from the IPPS bookstore in the early 2000s.

AFF cover

Three times.

This cover marks the 40th anniversary of the Asociacion Filatelica de Filipinas.

Thrice the name of the club is given (hey, wait a minute, that's FILIFINAS in one of the three!), thrice the "40th Anniversary" and thrice the years "1925 1965" as shown in the cancellation and cachets.

(The AFF was organized on May 10, 1925, by Don Joaquin Ortiz, who edited the first philatelic magazine in the Philippines, Revista Filatelica Filipinas, which became the official organ of this club.)

Hanciau

Often cited in current philatelic studies about the Spanish era is "The Postal Issues of the Spanish Colony of the Philippines" by L. Hanciau.

This was published in serial form in the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal from March 31, 1905, to February 28, 1906.

Hanciau was a Belgian philatelist of note. His first name was Louis.

BCC September 2015 auction

There are three philatelic publications in today's Special Auction of the Bayanihan Collectors Club to be held at Quezon City.

These are lots # 485, 486 and 487 (out of 490 lots of coins, medals, tokens, paper money and books).

The first is for "AFF Philippine Airmail Catalog 1959 new," the second is for "AFF 30th Anniversary 1925-1955 Yearbook," and the third is for "History of the Stamps Issued in the Philippines under Spanish Dominion."

DAVPEX '83

This was the poster for DAVPEX '83 organized by the Davao Stamp Collectors on the occasion of the club's first year anniversary.

The stamp exhibit was held from March 14 to 20, during the weeklong celebration of Araw ng Dabaw, at the Art Centre Davao.

A souvenir program was also printed using the same design for its cover, with a list of the the club's roster of members totaling 52. President was Virginia H. Europa, secretary Fe T. Gionson, treasurer Mary Julpha Antonio and PRO Caesar Somoso.

In his message published in the souvenir program, J. Roilo S. Golez, postmaster general, said the following:

"Philately, like any other fields of Art, requires a great deal of patience, painstaking effort and a comprehensive knowledge of stamps. Through it, culture and history blend. The stamps of an era reflect its temperament, its aspirations and its heights. Thus we see faces of heroes, brilliant ideas and movements toward a common goal."

He continues: "The Philatelist therefore is an artist, a historian and a dedicated worker. Through his collections we can trace the past, evaluate the present and perhaps visualize the future."

The exhibits, mounted on frames or illustration board, covered the entire four walls of the Art Centre Davao (in place of the paintings for sale). Dr. Nicanor del Rosario, a dentist and a member of the club, owned the place (he had his clinic inside). There was a raffle during the opening and this was most likely the time when specimen stamps were given out to members.

The specimen stamps, in glassines, came from the postal people who were guests of honor during the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon.

early catalog

An early stamp catalog devoted solely to the Philippines is the one published in 1904 titled The Postage Stamps of the Philippines.

As noted on the title page it includes "a List of Telegraph and Revenue Stamps Issued Under Spanish Dominion."

This illustrated work by J. Murray Bartels, F. Apthorp Foster and Captain F. L. Palmer covers the issues of the Spanish era, revolutionary period and early American administration.

There are no prices given but it's still referenced by Philippine collectors today who are into philatelic research.

Bandera

New Issue alert:

Bandera 25th Anniversary

September 10, 2015

The Bandera 25th Anniversary Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting September 10, 2015 at the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Manila Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and at all Regional Offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

(press release added later)

PRESS RELEASE: PHLPost launches Bandera 25th Anniversary commemorative stamp

September 11, 2015

Postmaster General Josie Dela Cruz, Inquirer Publications Inc. Board Chairman Marixi Prieto and President Sandy Prieto-Romualdez yesterday, September 10, unveiled the BANDERA 25th Commemorative Stamp to celebrate the newspaper’s silver anniversary at Marriott Hotel, Newport Blvd. in Pasay City.

Bandera, the nationwide daily Taglish tabloid newspaper in the country, with considerable online and social media presence has featured in the silver anniversary commemorative stamps the winning entry in the joint PHLPost and Bandera postage stamps design contest. The colorful stamp interprets the “theme: Bandera, hindi lang basta tabloid”.

“We congratulate Bandera, one of the several newspapers under the successful Inquirer Group of publications on its 25thAnniversary, by releasing these special commemorative stamps to record an important milestone in the industry, while continuing with your mission as the No. 1 source of information to millions of Filipino’s here and abroad”, Postmaster General Josie Dela Cruz said.

Bandera is published by the Inquirer Publications, Inc., first named as Metro Times, which was first published on September 10, 1990.

English is the primary language for the articles until they shifted to Tagalog in 2000s. In November 2001, the Prieto family, owner of PDI, acquired Bandera.

PHLPost printed 101,000 pieces of the commemorative stamp to be sold at P15.00 each starting September 10, 2015 up to September 9, 2016 at the Manila Central Post Office Postshop outlet and post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.

Spenders Stamp News

Coming out bimonthly, the Spenders Stamp News was published by Spenders Philippine Stamps of Manila.

"The SSN is not a club paper," said Felifranco R. Luto, editor and writer. "To PSC members, this stamp news will be a supplement to Hobby Time."

(PSC was the Philippine Stamp Collectors.)

I have Volume 1 Number 1 dated January-February 1982 and subsequent issues for
March-April 1982
May-June 1982
July-August 1982

All were mimeographed copies.

By the time of the July-August 1982 edition, the editor was Linda C. Stanfield (who also wrote a philatelic column for the Youngster magazine).

NVM Gonzalez

New Issue alert:

(Note misspelling of name Gonzalez)

N.V.M. Gonzales Birth Centenary: National Artist for Literature 

September 8, 2015

The NVM Gonzales Birth Centenary: National Artist for Literature Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting September 5, 2015 at the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Manila Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and at all Regional Offices of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

(press release added later)

(note: spelling in press release corrected)

PRESS RELEASE: PHLPost releases NVM Gonzalez Birth Centenary commemorative stamps

September 11, 2015

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released new commemorative stamps in honor of the Birth Centenary of National Artist for Literature Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez (September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999), popularly known as "N.V.M”.

"PHLPost pays tribute to National Artist N.V.M. Gonzales and his contribution to the preservation and promotion of the arts in our country and to the world”, Postmaster General Josie Dela Cruz said.

His literary works and photos were featured in the background of the postage stamps.

According to his biography, “NVM” was a son of a school supervisor and a teacher. Gonzalez attended Mindoro High School from 1927 to 1930, and although he studied at National University in Manila, he never obtained a degree. While in Manila, Gonzalez wrote for the Philippine Graphic and later edited for the Evening News Magazine and Manila Chronicle. His first published essay appeared in the Philippine Graphic and his first poem in Poetry in 1934.

In 1950, he began a long teaching career, beginning with a position at the University of Santo Tomas. Gonzalez also taught at the Philippine Women's University, but it was his length of service at the University of the Philippines that gave distinction to Gonzalez's career - as a teacher at the University for 18 years. Because of his immense talent in creative writing, Gonzalez was one of the only two people to teach in UP at that time sans a degree.

Gonzalez made his mark in the writing community as a member of the Board of Advisers of Likhaan: the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center, founder of The Diliman Review and as the first president of the Philippine Writers' Association.

The special commemorative stamp will be sold at P10.00 each and about 65,000 copies were printed by Amstar Company, Inc. measuring 40X30mm.

The stamps and official first day cover are now available at the Post Shop, Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and area post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.