Balagtas cover

The purple post office cachet is handstamped while the Manila Variety Store Co. cachet is printed on this special event cover commemorating the 160th birth anniversary of the poet Francisco Balagtas, also known as Francisco Baltazar, whose Florante at Laura is required reading in Philippine schools.

Rizal two-in-one FDC

There are two first day cancels on this cover.

First is the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, with the purple post office cachet, and second is the Rizal green definitive overprinted for official use, which date of issue falls on the 52nd anniversary of his martyrdom, with a blue post office cachet for the occasion.

philatelic exhibitions

There's only one listed for the Philippines in Wikipedia's list of philatelic exhibitions --

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_philatelic_exhibitions_(by_country)

It's the "PHICIPEX 1954 Philippine Centenary International Philatelic exhibition, Manila, 25 April-9 May 1954".

World Peace Day

If it's World Peace Day, why the World War II bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

This special event cover marked the second year anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, and the Peace Festival held there in 1947.

anti-tuberculosis slogan

This 1947 Manuel Quezon first day cover received another use later for a slogan cancellation, but the Rizal sepia stamp is of the Commonwealth period!

The first day of usage for this slogan cancel dated August 19, 1948, coincided with the 70th birth anniversary of Quezon. It was used until September 19 of the same year.

happy days

"

"Return in happy days" sounds more fun than "Return in 7 days" or whatever!

Mabitac

New Issue alert:

Mabitac: Ika-Apat na Raang Taon

January 2, 2016The Mabitac: Ika-Apat na Raang Taon commemorative stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available starting January 2, 2016 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 commemorative stamps celebrating 400 years of Mabitac

January 18, 2016

The Philippine Postal Corporation released new commemorative stamps celebrating the 400 years anniversary of the Municipality of Mabitac, in the province of Laguna.

The “Mabitac: Ikaapat na raang taon” commemorative stamps features the old church of the town of Mabitac which was established by the Franciscan missionaries in 1616 with the official seal of the municipality at the background.

The first church is situated on a hill made of light materials and was dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, its patron saint. It is located above Calvary or Kalbaryo Hill and is known for having a staircase of 126 steps, which has a panoramic view of the town of Sta. Maria and Laguna Lake. The church celebrated the popular festivity of the Three Kings, a re-enactment of the Magi's journey every 6th of January.

The said commemorative stamps is a reflection of the town’s historic past, celebrating 400 years of unity by its people.

PHLPost printed 101,000 pieces of the commemorative stamp sold at P15.00 each. The stamps and first day cover issues are now available at the Manila Central Post Office Postshop outlet and post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.