Thursday, October 16, 2008
ON PHILIPPINE POSTAGE STAMPS
Philately is the study of postage stamps. It comes from the Greek words Philos (friends) and Atelei (to be exempt from charge). It is also a term often used to refer to the art and science of stamp collecting. Interestingly, one can learn about a country’s history, culture, passions, nature, and industries through the study and collection of postage stamps.
A year or so ago, Clare Amador of YouthTrip invited me to join the Postal History Walking Tour, which she dubbed as "an afternoon of big words and old stories; a small trip in history guided by black and white images and anecdotes." Regrettably, due to a prior commitment, I was unable to attend. However, the other day at Manila City Hall, I met Lawrence D. Chan, the man who conducts the free Postal History Walking Tour held every third Sunday of the month.
If you're looking for something to do this Sunday, October 19, there is one walking tour being held. And for its highlight, there will be an auction of collectible items -- from vintage postage stamps to pastcards, and from Filipiniana books to old coins and currencies -- to be conducted right after the tour.
Incidentally, until Friday, October 17, at the lobby of the Post Office is the "One Frame Exhibit" sponsored by the Philippine Philatelic Federation National Exhibition.
Here's a couple of trivia on Philippine stamps:
* The first stamp in Asia was issued on February 1, 1854. One carried the word corros instead of correos, a genuine error highly valued nowadays by stamp collectors.
* General Emilio Aguinaldo issued his own set of postage stamps in 1898 under the new republic.
* The Philippines under the American rule issued a set of seven pictorial stamps on May 3, 1932. The vignette for the 18c was intended to show Pagsanjan Falls and is so labeled, but it was erroneously printed with the image of the Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park instead.
For additional information on the free guided tour, contact Lawrence D. Chan atL_rence_2003@yahoo.com
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
Labels: auction, Manila Post Office, Philippine history, postage stamps
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:43 AM
18 Comments:
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pusa said... wow i'd love to attend that tour but unfortunately i wont be here in manila this weekend :(
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Señor Enrique said...
Better take note of Lawrence's email address, Agnes, and just contact him directly for the next scheduled tour. He is also involved in various societies with interesting events and activities lined up in the offing, which you may want to cover as well.
Ingat and enjoy this weekend!-
Amadeo said...
Here's another trivia.
To this day, I do believe that the late Pres. Ramon Masaysay is the only Filipino president featured in a US postage stamp, and the 10-year-from-death rule waived for him, too.
He was America's favorite Filipino, the "Masaysay is my guy" type.-
JayAshKal said...
Oo nga sayang... anyway we'll just wait for the posting (maybe??) of that tour.
Like most kids, I did collected stamps kaya lang puro used at di yung bago.-
Dennis Villegas said...
Oh how i wish I could join the walk, but alas, i have a commitment as I will be a godfather on october 19. I really like the photo of the Postman statue, very nice silhouette against a cyan sky. Without his bag, I would have mistaken him as General MacArthur...
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escape said...
thanks for the information. when i was in high school and elementary, i collected stamps and they're all intact. but ever since that time, i never got back to collecting stamps seriously though i still keep envelopes with stamps and postage.
i really want to visit the post office but sadly, i have a hectic schedule this week until monday. but i still hope that ill be able to visit it.-
carlotta1924 said...
wow senor, finally something worthwhile to do over the weekend! hehehe :D thanks for the links too. i would love to go on that tour. =)
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Photo Cache said...
senor are you going to attend and/or cover this event? i used to collect stamps, well i still do but am not too serious nowadays. i remembered going to the lawton just to make sure i get the stamps i want to post my letters. the postal workers were very nice and courteous as i remember. they would show me everything they have for sale and i would choose which ones i want. of course during those days there were very few choices, but still the fact that i was served well by a govt employee stayed with me.
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Señor Enrique said...
I didn't know that, Amadeo. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure the Magsaysay family are quite proud of that fact.
Next time I run into Lawrence Chan, I will ask him if any of his collector friends has this U.S. stamp of Magsaysay.-
Señor Enrique said...
In some ways, Mario, I think I will prefer the used stamps along with the envelope if ever I were a collector. Somehow it shows so much history. But then again, the hardcore collectors probably prefer the mint editions.
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Señor Enrique said...
Now that you mentioned it, Dennis, you're right ... the statue kinda looks like MacArthur :)
Btw, even the Lacson statue at Plaza Lacson (formerly Plaza Goiti) looks like the American general.-
Señor Enrique said...
There will be other opportunities to join this walking tour, donG -- every third Sunday of the month, that is! Just take note of Lawrence's email so you can contact him for any questions in the future about his tours :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Hi Carla!
This seems to be an interesting tour. And of course, the auction afterwards. I'm curious about those Filipiniana books.-
Señor Enrique said...
I, too, was rather delighted at the friendliness of the postal staff, Photo Cache. They were all very helpful and eager to answer my questions when I was over there the other day.
I'd love to join this tour; if not this Sunday, definitely the next :)-
escape said...
maraming salamat senor. you also gave me the way to contact sir alex lacson for that online interview.
ill join the third sunday pag wala akong byahe.
salamat salamat!-
Señor Enrique said...
Walang ano man, donG. Ingat lagi sa iyong mga biyahe.
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said... Hi Eric! Im happy you met Lawrence and I hope you had a good time seeing the stamps. On my first walk with Lawrence, I suddenly bought some wwf and heritage stamps hehe hope to bump into you one of these days :-)
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Señor Enrique said...
Hi Clare!
Yes, Lawrence is a wonderful guy involved in so many cool activities. His tour was canceled last Sunday because he had an important conference to attend to. But will certainly go to his next one in November :)
Trust all is well with you, Clare.
