EDSA People Power Vintage Postcards

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or acronym called EDSA. The highway stretches about 23.8 kilometers (14.8 miles) and traverses major Metro Manila towns and cities like Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay.

This multi view photo postcard with yellow border was among the most popular postcard sold and was out of stock just few months after this was release. The reason was the yellow border which associate the new regime.

EDSA History

EDSA used to be called Avenida 19 de Junio from 1946 to early 1950’s then Highway 54 from the mid- 1950 to 1959. On April 7, 1959, De los Santos’ birthday, Republic Act No. 2140. It was then referred to as Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA since then.

single view postcard of the people who joined the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution

It was at the Ortigas corner EDSA which is near Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo where the popular four day uprising from February 22–25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime. There were at least several hundreds of thousands to more than 2 million people which went to the 4 day peaceful rally.

It with triumph of the peaceful revolution, Popular National Bookstore printed postcards while other smaller bookstore soon followed. This was popular items send to postcard / deltiologist in different parts of the world.

There were at least a dozen or so multi-view photos per postcard, While there were also single photo postcard which captured the people en mass.

multi-view photos of the EDSA 1986 People Power Revolution

Some local deltiologists and souvenir sellers quickly capitalized the newly released people power stamps issued by PHLPOST and sell them on tourists, deltiologists and maximum philately collectors from all parts of the globe.

1986 People Power Revolution stamps and souvenir sheet (mint condition)

The new administration of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino together with Vice President Salvador “Doy’ Laurel were featured in the 4 pieces set of stamps (60 centavos – quantities: 1,000,000, 1.20 pesos- quantities: 1,000,000, 2.40- quantities: 641,500 and 3.00 pesos -quantities: 1,000,000 ) and a souvenir sheet stamp ( Php 7.20)quantities -50,000. The stamps also comes within presentation folder, which had a premium and first day issue with different cache designs.

First Day Cover had -Makati cancellation, Camp Crame cancellation, with another variation Makati and Camp Crame cancellation. The stamps and first day cover were printed by APO Neda Printing Company. The used stamps were sold at much cheaper price compared to the mint one.

2021 marked the 35th anniversary of the peaceful change of power with postcards and stamps serves as reminder of the not so distant history.

EDSA People Power :Popularity of Postcards

EDSA People Power postcards during the 1980’s up to early part of 2000 were sold in many bookstore and was used for different purposes. It was used for school projects by students of both private and public schools in their Social Studies, Araling Panlipunan, History, Humanities,Political Science among other subjects. It was reprinted several times and sold en mass by some bookstores in Divisoria and sold in the provinces.

However it is not somewhat rare to find EDSA 1986 People Power postcards even in local stamp bourse, curio stores and online auction sites.

Sources and References:

Personal interview with postcard collectors

Scott’s Stamp Catalog 1987 Philippines

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PHLPOST Issues President Corazon Aquino Second Series Floral Paintings with Scent Stamps

Boracay Room- Sofitel Luxury Hotel , Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Pasay City – Philippines

Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz , Ms. Pinky Aquino -Abellada and Ms. Deedee Siytangco

The Philippine Postal Corporation in observance of former President Corazon ” Cory ” Aquino sixth death anniversary on August 1, A second series of special scented stamps which depicted her lifeworks on her favorite subject matter ” flowers ” was finally launched on July 29, 2015 at the Boracay Room of Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City.

There was a small gallery of stamps and first day covers from the past issuance of PHLPOST. There were 11 such stamps that depicted President Corazon Aquino from 1986 People Power stamps to the current scented paintings on stamps.

As her duties in Malacañang Palace ended in 1992 , a new journey for President Corazon Aquino was invited by a group of friends to join a painting class. She hesitated because , she said, she could not even draw. Ms. Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the eldest child of Cory and the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr. prodded her mother to pursue painting.

painting featured in stamps

” I told her , Come on mom, they’ll make nice gifts’ . It’s not so much the painting but the one who painted it. A painting is also something that you can leave to your children ; it becomes a treasure . Because of my persistence , she finally gave in , ” Ballsy told SELYO ( official magazine of PHLPOST )  in an interview.

SELYO Magazine – July, August , September 2015 issue

A GIFT that MONEY Cannot BUY :

Cory would paint on different surfaces and materials including trays , flat stones , porcelain, canvas and even bags. Painting relaxed her, and it brought her closer to her family. Soon she became enamored with the craft , Cory started giving them away her paintings as gifts to family members, close friends, colleagues in politics and wedding godchildren.

MMDA Chairperson Mr. Francis Tolentino

We also saw Mr. Francis Tolentino during the lunch, he just stayed for a few minutes

According to Ms. Deedee Siytangco, They received their first and only painting by Cory in 1999 when her daughter Ms.Sandeee Marasigan , gave birth to daughter Amanda on January 24- which also was the birthday of Cory Aquino .

L-R Ms. Zyann Ambrosio ( ABS-CBN channel 2) , Ms. Sandra Aguinaldo -(GMA channel 7 ) and Ms. Ina Andolong ( CNN-Philippines)

The event is well covered by major television station and broad sheet like Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and Philippine Daily Inquirer. I am quite lucky together with Ms. Jimmy Ang ( APO Philatelic Society ) to have the privilege to cover the event .

Ms. Rina Jimenez-David and Ms. Julie Yap -Daza

The former President stood as sponsor at the wedding of Sandee and husband Andrew . She gave them an oil on wood painting of flowers . Famous People like Mr. George Schultz , a former Secretary of State of US President Ronald Regan , remarried , Cory gave him a painting on wood . He send Cory A wonderful “thank you ” note.

Mrs. Teena Sarino and Mr. Jeffrey Consumo

Mr. Jeffrey Consumo is the art instructor for former President Corazon Aquino and her friends. While Mrs. Teena Sarino is one of Mrs. Cory Aquino friends and classmate in painting sessions.

Ms. Ms. Lilia de Lima, Ms. Teena Sarino, Mr. Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña , Mr. Ceasar Sarino with Ms. Deedee Siyangco  and Ms. Macaria Leonardo ( standing )

Mr. Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña, Metrobank Foundation president, former Cabinet Secretary, said: “Tita Cory played a pivotal role in the development of our country even after her presidential term. She served as Metrobank Foundation chairperson in our board of advisers from 1993 until the time of her demise.  The foundation had purchased Php 100,000 worth of stamps and First Day Covers.

 a short press conference and q and a portion was held Bulong Pulugan sa Sofitel 

Another prominent figure , Brunei royalty , invited Cory to visit even after her presidency . ” She brought him , ” Your Majesty , I know you can buy anything you want but I’m into painting now and I thought I’d give you something that’s not for sale.” She presented him with her painting. They were pleased , and it made mom happy” This was according to Ms. Ballsy Aquino -Cruz. recalled.

ceremonial autograph signing

Cory’s subjects revolved around faces, landscapes, rosaries and most notably flowers.Her favorite subject was flowers. People would say , Your mom really likes flowers ! Yes, she did but she always said she painted flowers because it was the only thing she could paint” ! Ms. Ballsy Aquino -Cruz recalled.

complete set of stamp souvenir, sheetlet and first day cover with cancellation marks

Five different paintings of ” Tita Cory” is included at the special block of 4 stamp and a souvenir sheet. About 400,000 copies in four design of the special scented stamps is printed using imported unwatermarked paper and floral scented ink.  PHLPOST has also printed 50,000 copies of the souvenir sheet at Php 120 each plus 12% VAT.

Here are the link to last year’s stamp launching : https://renz15.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/phlpost-launched-the-flower-paintings-of-president-corazon-aquino-on-scented-stamps/

President Corazon Aquino memorabila exhibit at Glorietta