Rare Hauls at Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club Meeting

Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club meets every third sunday of the month at the main lobby of the Manila Central Post Office within Philippine Postal Corporation compound.

Manila Central Post Office with OFW bank ( formerly called Postal Saving Bank )

The club usually host a small bourse or auction. Prices may vary, Most of the items starts with Php 10.00 starting bid, While some have posted prices. The general public together with the members have a chance to browse through the list of items most of which are philatelic items like packets of stamps, first day covers, commemorative issues, stamp from around the world are auction off.

commercial shoot at the entrance of the post office

Got a chance to visit the meeting after the eyeball of Bottle Collectors of the Philippines  (Mga Lumang Bote)FB group held at the Calvo Memorabilia and Bottle Museum in Escolta.

Filipinas Stamp Collectors Club Bourse

Some items may also includes banknotes, ephemeras, photos, postcards, books, toys, bottles, phone cards sometimes a host of other curio stuffs like dolls, die cast cars, medals, coin holders.

University of the Philippines certificate of matriculation

University of the Philippines ( College of Law)  certificate of matriculation is just Php 50.00. This could be e around the late 1950’s. The item starting bid was just Php 50.00 with Mr. Harandi won the bid.

De La Salle University first day cover block of four ( circa June 16, 1961)

De La Salle University first day cover issued in 1961 ( block of four stamps) starting bid was just Php 50 and did not went up. The item bid won by Mr. Reuben Bala Jr.

Bank of the Philippine Islands first day cover 150th anniversary

Philippine Orchids imperforate sheet circa 1960

Philippine Orchids imperforate sheet start bid at Php 50 but went up to Php 250

Between 450 to 520 items were auctioned off to the general audience. Despite the gloomy weather, more than 40 participants came at the meeting. There was a rare chance of watching over a commercial shooting.

The shooting started during the morning and according to the guards, the commercial team schedule is until past night time.

Most of the items consigned at the bourse are from old and serious collectors, some of which have accumulated tons of stamps and other stuff over the years or decades. There were a couple of participants who came all the way from San Pedro and San Pablo Laguna province, I also saw Mr. Reuben Bala Jr. and Mr. Dionisio Taeza who hails from Cavite province.

Php 10 emergency banknote from Mindanao issued from 1944 to early 1946

We also managed to meet Mr. Boy Francisco, who sold some excess emergency banknotes from Mindanao and commonwealth era paper bills.

The club’s next meeting will be held on October 20 Third Sunday of the month from 1:00 pm to past 4:00 pm.

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American Regime Manila Thru Postcards (Part 3)

Manila and her immediate towns and landmarks were always the main feature during the American regime.

Escolta street earn the moniker “Queen of Manila’s street” since this one of the oldest street and a major street of the city.

One of the oldest streets in Manila, Escolta was created in 1594. Its name was derived from the Spanish word escoltar, meaning “to escort”. This was further developed during the late Spanish and American colonial regime when tall buildings were built.

Another important note is this street would host ticker tape parade when visiting dignitaries, crowned beauty queens and heads of states even until the mid-1970’s.

There was an obscure ordinance in Manila that requiring men to wear formal dress when within Escolta. This was finally repealed in the early this millennium.

American Regime Postcards

Avenida Rizal

Avenida Rizal is one of the important commercial centers of pre-war Manila. This comprises of Quiapo, Santa Cruz district. The business activity from Avenida Rizal is an extension from nearby Escolta. Some businessmen preferred this district since rentals is a little bit lower compared to Escolta, Chinatown or Binondo.

Bridge of Spain with trolley tracks and industrial area

Bridge of Spain – Is one of the most featured bridge of Manila during the late Spanish and American regime.  This postcard was probably printed before 1914 flood which had almost destroyed the bridge.

Government Printing Plant– postcards was issued around 1909. This building was one of the casualties of the last war.

Philippine General Hospital– This hospital is one of the facilities built by the Americans.

Manila Hotel– is the grand dame of hotels in the city, opened in 1912, it was once the residence of General Douglas Macarthur. Ernest Hemingway, to say, ‘It’s a good story if it’s like the Manila Hotel,”. This hotel is one of the most featured hotel in the country.

Most of the landmarks featured were infrastructure built by Spanish and American colonial government. Please try to visit my previous post on postcards issued during the American regime .

Link to “American regime Manila thru Postcards” Part 2 and Part 1

Sources and References:

Collins English Dictionary : Postal Card

Littrell, Robert, Ed; Postal Cards of Spanish Colonial Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico, UPSS, 2010.

Personal interview from postcard collectors

Philippine Postcards page 130 to 137 Consuming Passions