Santo Niño de Cebú 1521 to 2021 500th Anniversary Commemorative Stamps issued by PHLPOST

Santo Niño de Cebu and the logo of the 500th anniversary ( quincentennial ) logo with this year’s theme Santo Niño , The Abiding Presence Of the Father In Our Journey of Faith were issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation ( PHLPOST) This also includes a first day cover. The stamp had a face value of Php 12.00 each or Php 24.00 for the se-tenant pair.

This coincided with the commemoration of the first baptism in the country which happened on April 14, 1521.

(a se-tenant pair of stamp with face value of Php 12.00 issued by PHLPOST)

Commemorative Stamps and Launching

Postmaster General Norman “Mr. Postman” Fulgencio together with His Excellency Archbishop Jose Palma of Archdiocese of Cebu unveiled the commemorative stamps to mark the 500^th anniversary of the arrival of the image of Señor Santo Niño and the first baptism that both took place in Cebu.

The launching ceremony of the historic commemorative issuance of postage stamp characterized the expression of faith and deeper devotion among the Filipino Catholic Community to the Holy Child Jesus.

Santo Niño is known for his miracles and people’s devotions that transcend religions. In the words of Pope Francis, the Holy Child is the Protector of the Philippines for half a millennium. This oldest religious icon of the country has been enshrined and widely venerated at the Basilica del Minore del Sto. Nino in Cebu City under the care of the Augustinians of the Province of Sto. Nino de Cebu-Philippines.

The popular image of the Sto. Nino was given by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan to the local queen Humamay (later named Juana), after her baptism on April 14, 1521. On April 28, 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s expedition landed on the island of Cebu. One of his soldiers found an image of the Child Jesus in a hut believed to be the same image Magellan had given the queen of the island forty-four years earlier.

National Cultural Treasure Proclamation

The Minor Basilica of Santo Niño was proclaimed as National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, exactly 500 years after the first Catholic baptism in the Philippines.

Under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, or Republic Act 10066, a national cultural treasure refers to a unique cultural property that possesses “outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation.”

It was announced on Wednesday that the basilica and the pavilion of the Magellan’s Cross have been declared as NCT.

Dr. Rene Escalante, Chairperson, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Philippine Postal Corporation Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and The Most Reverend Archbishop Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines during the launching of the Commemorative Stamps to mark the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Santo Niño which was held at the historic Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City.

The most familiar religious icon which was featured several times by the postal authorities was also launched by the agency.

Stamps and Official First Day Covers of “Santo Niño at 500 –1521-2021: Santo Niño, the Abiding Presence of the Father in Our Journey of Faith” are now available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, all Mega Manila Post Offices, Postal Area 1,Tuguegarao, Postal Area 2, San Fernando, La Union, Postal Area 4, San Pablo, Area 5, Mandaue, Postal Area 6, Iloilo, Postal Area 7, Davao, Postal Area 8, Cagayan de Oro, and Postal Area 9, Zamboanga.

Photo credit: Philippine Postal Corporation -office of the media affairs and the author for additional article

Advertisement

Vintage Christmas Greeting Card Issued by Cadwallader Pacific Company

Cadwallader Pacific Company is one of the international company which had offices in Manila and Cebu. The company issued some Christmas Greeting Card and were given to their customers, employees and friends.

Cadwallader Pacific Company Christmas Greeting Card

Cadwallader issued photo postcard with Igorot in native attire and a drawing ( caricature ) of Filipino couple in native costume at the back of a carabao. The woman wore a balintawak dress with native salakot ( native woven hat)

The male escort (presumably her suitor or husband) wore a traditional barong with native woven hat (sombrero) typical of the late 1950’s or early 1960’s life in a barrio.

The design is simple and a good example of mid-century Filipiniana theme greeting card. To save the cost of sending this greeting card, This can be directly mailed to the recipient without additional cost for envelope. Just like postcard. Cadwallder’s local P.O. Box 285 was address at the Manila Central Post Office.

These greeting cards were printed in small quantities and some collectors would covet these types.

Identify the Postcard by Ortigas Library Winners

Ortigas Library Foundation conducted an online contest a couple of months ago which generated a lot of buzz among heritage, postcard, stamp and memorabilia collector at their FB page between August 25 to August 26, 2020 with the first 30 persons who correctly identify the postcards during the time frame are eligible to win.

Identify the Postcards

I got a private message from Mr. Carlos Iñigo Roxas ( postcard, stamp collector) about the online contest. Internet was intermittent, it took us almost 10 hours before we were able to send the reply via the Ortigas Library FB site.

Identify the 3 American era postcard which includes 1. Insular Ice Plant, 2.) Road of Antiquity Colon street view of old Cebu and 3.) Fort Malabang in Mindanao.

Personally got two of the three postcards in my private collection. I later found out that Mr. Carlos Iñigo Roxas, Mr. Allan Martinez, Mr. Ian Millare,Ms. Jasmine Goforth, Mr. Joaquin Carlos de Jesus, Mr. Conrado Bugayong,Mr. Dionne Caytiles and a couple of heritage advocates also won the top prizes too!

For Carlos Roxas and the author, It was bitter sweet victory, it was a last minute reply/ entry due to slow internet connection.

I manage to get my note cards/ gift card about 1 month later. Since they only allow winners to claim them between ( Tuesday to Thursday)

For those who were not able to guess the postcards correctly, One can buy the limited note cards / gift cards at the Ortigas Library Foundation office and ideal gift for your friends, heritage advocates, postcard / note card collectors this yuletide season. Each box contains between 10 to 12 note card with various reprint of old postcards from American and Commonwealth era.

Maraming Salamat po sa inyo, Ortigas Library Foundation and Ms. Jennifer Santos.

Ortigas Library Foundation

Address: 2nd Floor, Ortigas Building, Ortigas corner Meralco Avenues, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
1602 Tel: (02) 631 1231

Different Color Variation of Waling-Waling at Mr. Jaime Chua’s Farm

Waling-waling is in blooming season this time of the year. Its flowering season usually at the start of the rainy season. July , August up to late September are the  blooming season for this orchid species. Some population can bloom by late October or February in higher elevations are also reported in Davao and Cotabato provinces. Orchid fanciers and collectors would always look for outstanding colors, variations, proliferousness.

Scientific Name

Vanda sanderiana or Euanthe sanderiana  better known as the Waling-Waling to common people.

Vanda sanderiana (pale form)

This orchid species was named after Henry Frederick Conrad Sander a noted orchidologist. The orchid is considered to be the “Queen of Philippine flowers” and is worshiped as a goddess by the indigenous Bagobo and Manobo tribes. Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach originally described named this orchid Vanda sanderiana in 1882.

Legendary Goddess

It has two several forms pink and white, also referred to as alba. It was discovered around August 1880 . The natives called the legendary air-plant waring-waring which Roebelin was told, meant “beautiful goddess.” The Diangans -Bagobo who lived around the foothills o the big mountain had another name for it: Diwatang Madayaw. Literally translated, it meants ” Beautiful lady from heaven.”

waling-waling pinkish color

This particular orchid species is the highlight of the annual Kadayawan Festival, the upcoming Negros Horticultural Society Show Augsut 28 to September 5, 2017 and the Philippine Orchid Society forthcoming show from September 2 to 16, 2017 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Mr. Jaime Chua is a plant and orchid collectors for many years and he is also a landscaper, plant judge.

He had about 500 mature Waling-Waling orchids mounted growing on palm tree trunks and on trunks of Anonang trees or scientifically called Cordia dichotoma . His farm boasts of different color variations and sizes.

He had a farm located at Busay , Cebu province. Busay is about 304.01 meters or 997.42 feet elevation , which is still considered as lowland. But the topography and his cultural techniques, fertilization, climate are some of the reasons of his success in growing this particular orchid.

This orchid species does not like a lot of wind movement unlike the typical Vanda species.

Vanda sanderiana with 9 spikes

Mr. Jaime Chua has been collecting outstanding Waling-Waling specimen orchid which he uses in his breeding program. He had several Waling-Waling crosses which he multiplies through tissue culture. He also breeds other Philippine orchid species.

The latest has 9 flower spikes that were still unopened as of August 19, 2017. Aside from the common form and color of Waling-Waling, Jaime has Waling-Waling with dark pink petals, petals with a tinge of orange, albata and alba.

Vanda sanderiana variety albata Photo courtesy: Mr. Jaime Chua 

The Philippine Orchid Society which was founded in 1946 also uses the orchid in the logo .

Bibliography and References :

Graphic Magazine 1957

pages 227 to 229 Philippine Orchids, Reg S. Davis and Mona Liza Steiner ,published M & L Licudine Enterprises , 941 Quirino Avenue Don Galo, Paranaque, copyright 1952

pages 30 to 32, Davao Floriculture Journal , copyright 2000

online reference:  http://www.orchidspecies.com/euanthesanderiana.htm

Staurochilus guibertii blooming in the Farm of Mr Jaime Chua

Staurochilus guibertii (Linden & Rchb.f. ) Christenson 1994 is another native orchid species which is currently in bloom at the farm of well-known orchid , plant collector and landscaper from Cebu.

The owner of this blooming specimen orchid is Mr. Jaime Chua which acquired the plant as a clump about 4 years ago.

The common name was Guibert’s Staurachilus [French Orchid Enthusiast 1800’s] and used to be described under Cleisostoma guiberti by Linden & Rchb. f. 1862 and Trichoglottis guibertii (Linden & Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1872 . Trichoglottis guihertii (Linden & Rchb. f.) Ames & Quisumb. 1935.

Staurochilus guibertii naturalized on Anonang tree

The orchid is found in limestone areas in the Philippines at elevations of sea level to 500 meters. It is endemic and the flowers had a faint early morning fragrance, gardenia-citrus.

He attached the specimen orchid on Anonang trees or Cordia dichotoma. The tree is also a prefect host for native vandas , aerides and other orchid species. The tree is also found in other Asian countries like southern China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand,India,Pakistan, Vietnam,Malaysia, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea.

The tree is known to have medicinal properties and its branches are used to drive away termites.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Jaime Chua and permission was sought, The purpose of the usage is for non-profit and educational purposes. 

Disclaimer: The author does not engage in buying and selling of this orchid species. Those who wanted to contact Mr. Jaime Chua , There is a link of his FB account. 

Website Links and Reference:

Philippine Native Orchid Species Cootes

IOSPE : http://www.orchidspecies.com/staurochilusguibertii.htm

http://www.orchid.url.tw/myflowers/others/staurochilusguibertii.htm

RFRI: https://rainforestrestorationinitiative.wordpress.com/2016/01/25/anonang/