13 | June | 2013 | Collectors Connection

Historic Flagpole within the Philippine Postal Corporation compound

Posted on June 13, 2013 by rence chan

Manila Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio , Ermita , Manila -Philippines

Manila Central Post Office with tranvia and a flag pole circa 1930’s

History tell us a lot of stories and historical moments . One such historical spots within the Philippine Postal Corporation is the flag pole or flag post area.

Local philatelists , History buffs and Philpost employees would recount a lot of VIP’s visiting within their premises from national artists , ambassadors, government secretaries , first ladies , presidents among others.

Manila Central Post Office , Insular Ice Plant , Escolta and Aerial View of Manila circa 1931 from the photo archives of the Philippine Postal Corporation

General Mac Arthur during the final days of the second world war would also inspect the Philippine Postal Corporation compound . Old World War 2 videos found in the internet sites would also reveal a lot of hounding stories of the last world war .

WW 2 Japanese War Crimes – Manila link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33SFZc2Xy-Y

Manila Central Post Office circa July 14, 1946

This is the Plaza Lawton aka Liwasang Bonifacio during the military troop review with the old flag pole . The old flag pole used to be located beside the building.

Liwasang Bonifacio and Manila Central Post Office in the 1950’s photo credit Mr. John Tewell

But this is just a story, without any photos or person who would chronicle these auspicious occasion most of the stories are just a moment in passing.

photo from the personal collection of the author

Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino together with former President Diosdado Macapagal along with prominent opposition leaders held a rally within the flag pole on August 21, 1984 one year after the death of Senator Benigno Aquino. In this photo : Senator Lorenzo Tañada , Jovito Salonga, UP Dean Armando Malay and former President Diosdado Macapagal Not seen anymore because they have already spoken were Jose Diokno, Ramon Mitra, Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Salvador Laurel, Student Leader Lean Alejandro. Concerned Artists of the Philippines included among others Directors Lino Brocka and Behn Cervantes

current flag pole in front of Philippine Postal Corporation

From the time the historic building was built in 1926 countless of historical figure were able to visit the compound. But unlike the former location of the flag pole in the 1930’s . The present flag pole is located in the middle of the building.

flag raising ceremony held at the Philippine Postal Corporation flag pole

After more than 27 years, President Benigno Simeon Aquino – the son of former President Corazon Cojuangco -Aquino visited the same flag pole and led the flag raising ceremony on the same spot where his mother and other opposition leaders stood the grounds and held a big rally which hundreds of thousand of people had witness .