Rico Yan PhoneCard Series

Mr. Ricardo Carlos ” Rico” Castro Yan (March 14, 1975 – March 29, 2002) was a popular matinee celebrity, product endorser, model, entrepreneur, columnist, youth leader and spokesperson.

PLDT touch card series was issued few months after his death in 2002 and was valid for at least 1 year. There are some collectors who collected this in MINT condition and the value was Php 100 each. A collector must shed at least Php 500.00 to complete the entire set.

The card can be used in both local and international call. The proceed from the sale were donated to the Rico Yan Youth Foundation.

Got a chance to visit his tomb located in Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque last year.

PLDT Touchcard

The set includes photos that were taken by his family, friends, life quotation and his specimen signature.

The local phonecard collectors do not have an idea on the exact quantity or number of these phonecard that were issued by PLDT. But it was one of the most sought after item or memorabilia which bore feature of Mr. Rico Yan.

This was after movie posters, magazines, personal signed items or photos with signature.

Used phonecards cost a fraction which were sold between Php 50.00 to Php 150.00 for a set of 5. Phonecards were available during collecting club’s auction and were highly sought after by his fans or collectors from all over the world.

During the first few years, phonecards which featured Rico Yan were mostly sold-out during collecting club’s auction. Eventually took me at least several years before outbidding a fellow collector. The set of 5 used phonecards was bought at around Php 120.00 for the set.

Some of the avid phonecard collectors were former OFW’s, those who use to work for PLDT, Bayantel, Pre-Paid Internet ISP Bonanza dealers or resellers.

In some countries like Japan, Australia and Germany, there were some catalogs published by the telecommunication network companies which issued the phonecards.

Local phonecard collecting community seems to have fizzle out during the past few years since big named telecommunication provider such as PLDT, GLOBE, SMART, BayanTel have not issued collectible series for a number of years.

I totally have forgotten my phonecard collection until few weeks ago while cleaning for my collection. It had been almost 20 years since the passing of Mr. Rico Yan and his life works thru memorabilia have given collectors some nostalgia.

Any additional information on the quantities of the phonecard is highly appreciated.

Note : photos of the phonecard is the property of the author.

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Horticulture Walk and Visit to Family Mausoleums within Manila Memorial Park

Manila Memorial Park is the biggest private cemetery with combined total area of all its parks totals 342 hectares. It is located along Dr. A. Santos Avenue along Sucat, Parañaque City. The Sucat property alone covers 142 hectares.

Tan Seng Co family mausoleum and Benigno and Corazon Aquino mausoleum

Plaza of Dignity XIX– This is where the family mausoleum of former president Corazon “Cory ” Aquino and husband Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is located. The park also manages the Holy Cross Memorial Park in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City.

flowers were neatly arranged at the tomb of  President Corazon Aquino and Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

The memorial park was opened in 1964, one of the first place in the country to have to western style concept of lawn burials.  In 1985, the memorial park also boasted of modern crematorium.

lawn type burial place

We have several relatives, distant cousins, family friends and close acquaintances who were buried in different sections of the cemetery.

royal palms, acacia trees, narra and mahogany tree dot this landscape

food stalls

Food stalls from small , medium and large companies had already set-up inside the park as early as October 29. Most of these stall will be open until November 2.

Horticulture and Mausoleums

There were at least 250 species of trees, flowering shrubs, ornamental plants, native trees, ficus, cacti, succulents, ferns, orchids and even variegated palms which can be easily spotted with the park. Most of the trees and ornamental plants were planted by the park management or by the families.

Adonidia merrillii / Bunga China mutant form with several kinds of ti-plant

At least 2 dozen bird species from Eurasian tree sparrow, Philippine pied fantail, turtle doves, pigeon and others which call the park as home. The wooded areas also host a number of bats, butterflies and bees. There is also an informal jogging group who meet at the park.

Valero family mausoleum

Valero family mausoleum is simple with two Egyptian sphinx guarding the main entrance. This remind me of the tomb of Tuazon-Arroyo within Manila North Cemetery.

Litonjua family mausoleum

Narciso Ramos and Angela Ramos family mausoleum

Statesman Narcisco Ramos and Angela Ramos mausoleum is just located within few meters away from a relative’s mausoleum.

Josephine “Jo” Martinez Ramos tomb- daughter of President Fidel V. Ramos is buried near the mausoleum of Narciso and Angela Ramos

Yan family mausoleum

Rico Yan mausoleum

Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan ( March 14, 1975 – March 29, 2002) mausoleum is simple, stylish and modern. Almost every caretaker within the cemetery knows this spot. Another uncle was buried just 100 meters away from this mausoleum.

Some of the fans and friends of the celebrity would visit his mausoleum every March 29 to commemorate his death anniversary.

family tomb with foo dogs and blessed mary statue

family mausoleum

Filipino-Chinese family mausoleum with foo dogs

Mabolo and Talisay tree

Adapon family mausoleum

Adapon family had a unique family mausoleum which resembles an old town church.

chinese style pagoda

Chinese style pagoda mausoleum resemble those in Manila Chinese Cemetery.

california mission style mausoleum

Co family mausoleum -with greek columns

Co family mausoleum is stately with Araucaria pine and Ptychosperma macarthurii, known as the Macarthur palm planted within the family lawn.

This chinese style mausoleum had neatly manicured lawn with large Polyalthia longifolia, the false ashoka native to India, is a lofty evergreen tree.

classical style with Manila palms and Bermuda grass

There were many interesting native trees and flowering plants within the park.

Horticulture Walk and Visit to Family Mausoleums within Manila Memorial Park Part 2