Collectible Asian Games 2018 Stamps

Pos Indonesia has issued a special series of stamps  few months ago to commemorate the 18th Asian Games.  This is the second time Indonesia that hosted the event.

“To enliven the 2018 Asian Games held in Palembang and Jakarta from Aug. 18 through Sept. 2,23018 with 40,000 postage stamps to mark the sports event have been released nationwide,” Hasnan, the deputy chief of Pos Indonesia in Palembang, South Sumatra, said on Saturday.

According to Hasnan, the special stamps of the 2018 Asian Games have been issued in limited numbers and will not be reprinted when sold out within the next few days.

Philately enthusiasts are advised to head straight to the nearest post office to get their hands on the limited edition stamps, only 2000 of which have been distributed in Palembang, one of the host cities of the Games.

The special Asian Games stamps bear pictures of athletes in action in sports such as soccer and volleyball.

Stamps serve to commemorate Indonesia’s role of playing host to the 18th Asian Games, thereby preserving the memory of the historic moment in postage form.

As of press time, the limited Asian Games stamps had been sold out in many Indonesian post offices.

Miss World 2013 finals move from Jakarta to Bali

 rally

JAKARTA, Indonesia  — More than 1,000 Islamic hardliners demonstrated against the Miss World beauty contest in host country Indonesia Thursday, denouncing it as “smut and pornography,” as protests grow ahead of the show’s weekend opening.
Opposition to the pageant in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation has intensified in the past week, with demonstrators and some officials calling for the event to be scrapped.

Miss World 2013 contestant with Ms. Julia Morley and reigning Miss World 2012 from China ( photo :  regional.kompas.com )

Organizers have already dropped the contest’s famous bikini round but the move has failed to appease hardliners and protests have been growing, with Thursday’s the biggest yet. Nine (9) candidates were selected to speak in front of the media, and our  Miss World-Philippines representative Megan Young was happily one of them. She was obviously liked by the Press as she showed her articulate side even more.

Miss World Philippines- Megan Lynne Young speaking in front of the press (photo: Miss World )

Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono announced that now all of the pageant events, from the opening ceremony to the coronation night, would be held in Bali.

However, contestants, he continued, would be allowed to visit other provinces, but not as part of the program series.

“We take this decision after considering the pros and cons of the event for both the public and the organizer,” Agung said on Saturday.

In the initial schedule, after the first week of events came to an end in Bali, all 129 contestants from around the globe would then travel to Jakarta, where they would compete in different events culminating with the final on Sept. 28  at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC).

Miss Megan Young screen capture from tonight ‘s presentation ( RTCI Indonesia)

wearing a white-long sleeves Francis Libiran gown with a combination of intricate details like swarovski  crystals and embriodery

Miss World 2013 had started its opening ceremonies  live telecast tonight  -at the Exhibition Gallery at the Westin Inn Hotel , Bali .   The Philippines started sending delegates in Miss World since 1966.

Bread Story-Philippines

Bread Story, SM San Lazaro , Manila -Philippines

Bread Story -SM San Lazaro branch

Bread Story is one of the latest food bakery which opened their store in SM San Lazaro , Their first store was located in SM South mall and their clientele is growing .

freshly baked breads

The manager said that the store got their franchise from Malaysia  and  outside the country their branches can be found in  Singapore, Indonesia, Dubai, Kuwait  and Australia. I like their tag line – A beautiful loaf story. The ambiance of their place  and the color of their store ( mint green ) caught my eye.

Walnut Apple Cinnamon

Aside from smelling the aroma of freshly baked bread, you can also view their kitchen and see the bakers working.   The aroma and texture of baked goods as they come out of the oven is strongly appealing but it is a quality that is quickly lost.

Since the flavor and appeal largely depend on this freshness  which the bakeshop had captured . Cakes and pastries are also available at the counter in reasonable prices.

poster of the best sellers

Since its initial operations in February 12, 2012 , the store had now 4 branches all located in various parts of Metro Manila- They have SM Fairview, SM South Mall- Las Piñas City, Robinson Galleria and SM San Lazaro- Manila .

Blueberry  Cinnamon

Bread Pitt

This bread was had a catchy name and richly textured

The store mission : Making a beautiful loaf story in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Dubai, Australia, Kuwait  and now, the Philippines.

Website: http://breadstoryph.com/

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/breadstoryph

Emailbreadstoryph@yahoo.com

Lego Around The World Christmas Exhibit at SM North EDSA

SM North EDSA, Quezon City

Lego Christmas advertisement 

tarpaulin poster of the event

   The author went to  the exhibit  last November 12, 2011 , Unfortunately  that day  I  was not able to bring my everyday companion which is a digital camera (my primary reason in going to the mall  is  Christmas shopping  )  without thinking of an exhibit being held at the place.

Petronas Twin Tower  of Malaysia

I had to come a week later , in order to take pictures of the wonderful exhibit. With many curious on-lookers and two nosy security guards watching carefully on  every moves of every individual taking pictures and passers-by.

Merlion  of Singapore along side with Bank of Asia building of Thailand and Petronas Twin Tower of Malaysia

They would constantly be reminding everyone not to take pictures inside the plastic covered  exhibit . Baka masira ang exhibit ” The exhibit might get ruin.

Saint James Church , Kadayawan Festival of Davao and Nativity Scene 

Some passers-by would make a snide  comment ” Ang sungit naman ng mga guards na iyan, akalain naman nila sisirain ang mga exhibit na iyan” .   The guards are  sulky  , They thought that we will destroy the exhibit.

Philippine jeepney, Statute of Rizal and Saint James Church 

I politely told them that the lego bricks on display are just temporarily fixed they might get topped by just a mere blow of the wind ” .

 Great Wall of China , Forbidden Palace Gate, Tiananmen Square and Dragon Dance 

  I saw a lot of children and children at heart viewing the lego exhibit.  Someone from the organizers told me that there are a lot of lego collectors around the world and even in the Philippines.

Snowman

 LEGO Group  a privately held company based in Billund , Denmark . In 1934, his company came to be called “LEGO”, from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means “play-well”. By 1947 the company began its expansion by making plastic toys. Two years later in 1949 , Lego began producing the now famous interlocking bricks, calling them “Automatic Binding Bricks”. These bricks were based largely on the patent of Kiddicraft Self-Locking Bricks, which were released in the United Kingdom in 1947.

Farm lands complete with planted vegetables,  tractors, livestock and farm houses

The company’s flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, mini figurines  and various other parts. Lego bricks can be assembled and connected in many ways, to construct such objects as vehicles, buildings, and even working robots. Anything constructed can then be taken apart again, and the pieces used to make other objects.

 capitol building of Camarines Norte

The toys were originally designed in the 1940’s in Denmark and have achieved an international appeal, with an extensive subculture that supports Lego movies, games, video games, competitions, and  at least about half a dozen  Lego theme amusement parks .

Grand Carousel 

A big portion of  the exhibit was executed by a Filipino lego collector  named Mr. Jigs  Manaloto . He started to collects the building blocks since he was 6 years-old! Together with four other enthusiasts they are responsible for building this project in the Philippines.

Star wars in battle  

Lego exhibits are on the tour in several Asian countries  like Indonesia in 2009, 2010 in Malaysia, 2011 in the Philippines and next year in Thailand (2012 ).

Poster of the event held at SM Mall Of Asia – Main Atrium

 I was able to catch their public exhibition last August 12 to 27, 2011 at the SM Mall of Asia  with the theme ” Lego Pilipinas Tara Na at SM Mall of Asia ! ” featuring various Philippine tourist spots  and  last September in Greenbelt-5   Makati  which is very successful.

Relief  Map of the Philippines depicting various tourist spots  photo taken last August, 2011

According to one of the staff  ” the reception of the public is very warm , from young children who barely can speak , teenagers  and even senior citizens “. We are planning to have several more public events next year in the country.

                                                                    

Eiffel Tower of  Paris, France with a curious passers-by

This is not just ordinary tour,  ( you learn geography , famous landmarks, architecture , culture )   People who buys lego sets can also extend a helping hands to the children across the region.

poster 

In partnership with World Vision -Philippines , an  international advocacy organization ( with local chapter) which focused on and assisting the needs, rights and responsibilities of children through sustainable development and education.

 There are 2 ways to help the cause, One is the  Php 100 pesos and Php 200 pesos donation by making a Lego Santa and a Lego Christmas Tree .  Another highlight  during the opening of the event was the lightning of the Christmas Tree by World Vision ambassador Mr. Sam Concepcion . 

winter village accompanied by santa clause 

The exhibit is divided into 4 categories

 Lego Lego Asia– famous Asian landmarks including the Philippines are featured.

Lego Europe– famous landmarks of Europe are featured.

Lego North Pole –  white Christmas and snow theme park are featured .

Lego -Universe –futuristic , science fiction movie characters  are featured.

Taipei 101 Building and Tokyo Tower standing side by side – two of Asia’s most important landmarks

 Snow man and a snow resort

Warriors in a fight scene

Clone Turbo Tank

Lord Garmadon

At the center of the exhibit rise a Christmas Tree Lego bricks made from over 750,000 pieces ! with a Length of 5 meters, Wight  of 5 meters and a Height of 7 meters or almost 21 feet  ! This is a landmark on its own.

Christmas Tree made from Lego bricks at night time 

Lego Christmas tree taken on a different angle during late afternoon

Aside from the exhibit, there is also a contest where kids from 4 years old to 14 years old are invited to join  the lego making contest.

Children busy making their own lego set

Participants will have the chance to win LEGO products worth 5,000 pesos  . Age categories are 4-6 yrs. old, 7-10 yrs. old and 11-14 yrs. old.

Letting your kids play bricks is also a way of interaction with other kids, it improves hand-and-eye coordination and  challenges their imagination to build structures they want as it boosts their self-esteem.

The children are encourage to built their own lego set using their creativity and imagination, there is no right or wrong .

pictures of different kids  with their lego toy creation posted in a wall 

Then their works are taken pictures and are posted on the Lego Picture wall or their facebook account were everyone can view what these children had created.

LEGO AROUND THE WORLD EXHIBIT

SM City North EDSA The Block

2nd Floor, The Block Bldg. North Ave. cor. EDSA, Quezon City

Telephone # 929.6686

Exhibit runs from November 12, 2011 to January 12, 2012

References:

Clague, Kevin, Miguel Agullo, and Lars C. Hassing. LEGO Software Power Tools, With LDraw, MLCad, and LPub. 2003. ISBN 1-931836-76-0

Willicense, Fransisco. “The LEGO Incorporation: How LEGO Started” ISBN 0-18361-46372

 WWW.Lego.com : http://www.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx

26th South East Asian Games Stamps -Palembang

STATE-owned postal firm PT Pos Indonesia has launched a series of 26th South East Asian Games stamps as part of the national effort to celebrate the biennial competition, which runs from Nov 11 to 22, 2011.

“It is a good step to making the Games successful. The series of stamps will be a great promotion,” South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin said during the launch in Palembang .

According to Muddai Madang the Palembang SEA Games organizer said that the Games stamps would boost the events popularity.

“We hope that the stamps will be distributed nationwide, even to remote areas, so the fiesta atmosphere of the Games can be experienced by all Indonesians,” Muddai said.

Pos Indonesia will print 7,000 stamps in six series of the Games stamps, which are Selamat Datang di Jakarta (Welcome to Jakarta), Selamat Datang di Palembang (Welcome to Palembang), table tennis, badminton, football and pencak silat traditional martial arts.

Modo and Modi are mascot of the games which symbolizes the Komodo dragon.

The mascot of SEA Games 2011 is an animal of Indonesia almost gone. The mascot is komodo (Varanus komodoensis).

Modo and Modi wear traditional costume of Indonesia. Modo (male) wears blue blouse with batik scarf. Whereas Modi (female) wears red kebaya (traditional woman blouse) with batik scarf.

Name of Modo and Modi, actually is spelling modification of words ‘muda-mudi’. Words muda and mudi are from words pemuda (young man) and pemudi (young woman). It symbolized that athletes compete in SEA Games are the young.

Modo and Modi have good characters. Their characters are: hard worker, honest, fair, familiar, friendly and sportive. The good characters of Modo and Modi are a hope in order cooperation and friendship in harmony among 11 participant countries of Souteast Asia can be continued eternally.

Each stamp is priced at Rp 2,500 and available to the public at all post offices across the country since last week until Dec 31, 2014.

The Games series stamps are valid until Dec 31, 2016.

Website: http://www.posindonesia.co.id/