The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and the Republic of Singapore issued a joint Commemorative Stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both countries friendship and close bilateral ties.
To symbolize the two nation’s diplomatic relations, the stamps will feature the popular butterflies’ Cethosia luzonica or the “Luzon lacewing butterfly” which represents the Philippines, and Pachllopta aristolochiae or the “common rose butterfly” to embody Singapore.
Around the world, people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope, and life.
The relationships between the two countries for the past five (5) decades remain vibrant, and have grown stronger through the years.
The diplomatic relations were formally established between the Philippines and Singapore on May 16, 1969. The two countries were present during the establishment of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) making them both founding members.
Mr. Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, Philippine Ambassador Joseph Del Mar Yap, PHLPost Chairman of the Board of Directors Norman Fulgencio, Singapore Post Senior Vice President Marjorie Ooi, IMDA Deputy Director Ruth Wong, and PHLPost Business Lines Department Manager, Maximo Sta. Maria has jointly launched the commemorative stamps of both countries.
PHLPost Chairman Norman Fulgencio and Business Lines Department Manager, Maximo Sta. Maria visited the Lion City to formally presented the Souvenir Frame of the joint commemorative stamps.
PHLPost has printed 5,000 copies of the special commemorative stamps designed by PHLPost In-house graphic artist Rodine C. Teodoro, sold for P114.00 each.
Limited copies of Souvenir sheets and official first day covers of Philippines-Singapore 50 years of Diplomatic relationship are now available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office.
There are more than 140 beautifully and elaborately-adorned carriages bearing the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary with her different titles from different parts of the country were part of the 39th Grand Marian Procession.
Our Lady of Fatima
There were between 70,000 to 80,000 people which visited the grand procession. Most are devotees from different parts of the archipelago.
Sacta Maria Stella Matutina of Familia Zapanta and Quiocho, Taytay , Rizal province
This also coincide with celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception last sunday December 2, 2018.
foreign tourists at Plaza de España
There are also several foreign tourists and devotees who also took time to visit the processional carriages before the actual procession had started.
Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba of Pakil, Laguna devotees
participants with colorful traje de mestiza
Virgin of the Poor
The grand marian procession also coincide with the Catholic church observance of the first sunday of advent.
Our Lady of the Barangay
Ina Poon Bato carriage with vegetable, fruits, tillandsia and cut flowers
Tillandsia usenoides
pineapples, string beans, banana blossom and baskets are part of the elaborate floral and agricultural produce arrangement
Our Lady of Hope
Nuestra Señora Delas Flores– the image was owned by Mrs. Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco
lyre band
Mary of Help Christians with devotees from Boac, Marinduque dress in Roman Moriones
The grand procession was very festive and was organized by the Confradia de la Inmaculada Conception Foundation in cooperation with the Intramuros Administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and different Marian congregations.
cadets were also drafted and served as escort to the processional image of Our Lady of Fatima
participants with colorful floral costumes
The three-kilometer procession route are beehives of all sorts of activities. There are people singing, colorful local costumes and devotees distributing devotional pamphlets.
Our Lady of Holy Rosary of Pacita, Laguna
Most of the processional carriages and the images were arranged as early as lunchtime within Paseo de Magallanes near Bureau of Immigration, Intendencia de Manila and Soriano avenue within Intramuros.
The solemn parade started at around past 4:00 pm in the afternoon from Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral and will slowly wind its way through the streets of the Walled City.
beautifully embroidered vestment
The well venerated images include among others the Our Lady of the Visitation of Piat from Cagayan Valley; Our Lady of Guibang in Gamu, Isabela; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Guimaras, Iloilo; Nuestra Señora de Salvacion; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion; Our Lady of Lourdes; Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of Buen Suceso; Our Lady of Pillar; Our Lady of the Abandoned; Our Lady of Victories; Our Lady of La Salette from Silang, Cavite; Our Lady of Namacpacan from Luna, La Union; Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan.
La Virgen Dolorosa de Murcia
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario del Manaoag with camarero and devotees
Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva Ecija province
Our Lady of Divine Shepherdess or La Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu; Our Lady of Soledad of Porta Vaga, patroness of Cavite; Our Lady of Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicol; Nuestra Señora de Dolores de Turumba from Pakil, Laguna; 0ur Lady of La Naval; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Our Lady of the Rosary from Rosario, Cavite; Virgen Milagrosa del Santissimo Rosario from Orani, Bataan.
39th Marian Procession poster at Casa Manila
devotees and pilgrims from Catanduanes, Bicol region
Several other highly revered Marian images accompanied by a contingent of Marian devotees from each town or province.
devotees in light blue barot’s saya
Last year, a replica of the image of Mary, Help of Christians was included in the procession symbolic of the original image which was destroyed during the Battle of Marawi.
Plaza Roma
Some of the participants and provincial delegates were already at the main plaza before 12:00 noon.
Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario
Among popular souvenirs are devotional pamphlets, estampitas, salt, handkerchiefs, cloth among others are popular souvenirs of the event.
sacristans holding candles and rosaries
consorts with candles from Cavite
There are big plans for next year’s 40th Annual Marian Procession with more images and bigger crowd expected to participate.
The town of San Miguel in the province of Bulacan will be celebrating the 1st Mayumo festival slated from September 26 to 29, 2018.
Schedule of Activities
This included the opening of flea market ( tianggue) on September 26 in which different kinds of products from chicharon, pastillas, atsara, native delicacies and products will be exhibited.
There will be traditional games, awarding ceremony for the former barangay officials and kagawad.
On September 27- Noche de Mayumo will be celebrated
September 28- There will be street dancing, parade of bands and cluster showdown.
September 29- There will be a live band concert featuring local talents.
Buhatan , Sorsogon City , Sorsogon province -Philippines
Buhatan River Eco-Adventure is an initiative of the people of Barangay Buhatan, its council and the Samahan ng mga kababaihan ng Buhatan (a newly formed people’s organization).
Buhatan river with nipa palms
This eco-adventure offers kayaking, floating cottage with restaurant that traverse the 5 kilometer river from the local tourism post up to Sorsogon Bay area. Night Cruise is also becoming popular since there are fireflies sightings along the river banks .
floating cottages along the Buhatan river
Floating cottage restaurant also offers local kakanin such as hinagom, linukay, taro chips and chocolate tablea. Other activities that one can enjoy are recreational fishing like bentol (local way of fishing using a modified square fish net) and bingwit, mangrove planting, bird and firefly watching.
Kayak costs around Php100 pesos per hour for 2 persons while floating cottage is around Php1,500 pesos for 10 persons. If there are less than 10 people , It is considered as a private tour .
road widening project
There are a lot of bright prospects happening with the area. There is also the road widening project which aim to ease the vehicular traffic within the province.
muscovy ducks
Buhatan River Eco-Adventure was launched last April 6, 2015 . They are inviting everyone who wants to experience, support ecotourism spots and projects of Buhatan. The 5km river traverse will take around 4-5 hours (almost half-day) so, plan ahead and contact +639399381215
Purok Roxas
We also visited Purok Roxas for a brief tour and meeting with the relatives of my aunt who lives within the area. We ended the visit with a positive vibes .
I woke -up early around 3:30am took a bus ride to Baliwag bus station along EDSA . The bus that i rode did not stop at the Kamuning or Cubao area ( later the bus conductor told me that they will take the ilalim route -under the bridge route ) . The bus driver took us off at the Main street which is about 500 meters away from the station . So i took another bus north bound going to Cubao ( Baliwag bus station) . The bus ride was indeed a hell raising experience . The travel was less than 25 minutes south bound from Fairview/ Novaliches area.
. I met Mr. Philip Reyes ( blogger friend ) at the Baliwag Bus station , He was there around past 4:30am and told me that the first bus left (The bus had a Baliwag town signage) .
I arrived past 4:50am and we waited until past 5:20 am for the next bus going to the town of Cabanatuan . ( with Plaridel town signage) . There were a lot of people waiting to ride the bus and We are quite fortunate to get a seat . It took less than 10 minutes before the bus was filled-up and some commuters were even standing . The travel from Cubao to Plaridel is quite fast . We manage to arrive around 6:30am at the meet-up / pick -up area at the Waltermart -Plaridel .The usual travel time from Cubao to Plaridel is around 1 and 1/2 hours.
entrance arch
We were fetch by 2 vans on our way to the town of Bustos around past 7:00am . The group passed by the town of Baliuag then Bustos ( around 14.5 kilometers) . It took us about 20minutes to reach the municipal hall grounds.
name tags
We were greeted by the municipal tourism guide and staffs, pre-registerd participants got their name plates with proper identification .
huge minasa cookie at the Bustos municipal park
LAS MINASAS GIGANTES represent the iconic and historical confection of Bustos,Bulacan,the MINASA,cookie conceived during the Spanish era at the time when the privileged families of the town built houses made of adobe using egg whites to glue the bricks together.
letras y figuras
Letra y Figuras a stone carving of the municipal’s name, “BUSTOS” in all caps, inspired by the intricate design of the Mercado Stone House , art of letter writing with floral with caricature designs and the people of Bustos’ most favorite finger food, Minasa. It was installed on April 7, 2014.
akalatan bayan ( town’s library )
There is a quaint town’s library that used to share an office with the municipal tourism office. It had a unique green roof.
Ambu – The town official mascot
Ambu is an acronym for Asenso Mamayan ng Bustos . This was conceived about 6 years ago and symbolizes by the hardworking , progressive and friendly nature of the town’s people. While Green is the adoptive color which means progressive an environmental consciousness efforts of the government .
There is also a mini-zoo within the plaza, with reticulated python , albino python and eagles .
commercial stalls
Within the municipal ground there is also an agro-commercial trade fair , where more than 100 stalls offering different kind of products from Bustos and nearby provinces .
Princess of nutrition 1989
This statue was installed to commemorate an event in 1989 where 14 students from 14 Bustos barangays . They were able to realized to build Paraiso ng mga Bata during the incumbency of Mayor Pablito V. Mendoza and the sangguniang bayan led by Barangay Captain Martin Perez. The project was successfully initiated by Dra. Rosalinda F. Mendoza.
Conrado Mercado
Mr.Conrado C. Mercado Jr. – hails from Bustos, Bulacan, Philippines. He was born on (October 20, 1945 – February 27, 2010) to parents Conrado, Sr., a civil engineer and to Conception nee Camacho, a former school teacher.
The youngest of three sons, Conrado is the only one who showed a penchant for the art. His entry into this field is by ni means an accident. He holds A Fine Arts degree from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila which has produced a long line of fine artists.
cocoon -year 2001
He is the founding president of Figure Artists and chiefly instrumental in reviving the then-dormant Society of Philippine Sculptors in which he served as president from 1993 to 1998.
There is also a battle memorial plaza ( Bulacan Military Area ) which commemorates the 1945 battle with the Japanese forces.
There is also an electronic time clock timer which had a countdown time in time for the 100th anniversary of the founding of Bustos.
post office branch
There is also a small post office with some old P.O. boxes and letter box near the municipal town hall. Since it was sunday , The post office is close.
native orchids like Dendrobium anosmum ( sanggumay ) Dendrobium aphyllum ( lesser or fairy sanggumay ) and native ferns
Our group got a short private tour within the house of the mother of the current town’s mayor which is located near the town hall.
cacti collection
large tarpaulin poster within the municipal grounds
There are several large tarpaulin poster within the town’s main plaza advertising the calendar of events and activities .
Here is the official video uploaded by the Bustos Municipal government
We took a quick walk around the municipal town hall , post office, Zeny’s Minasa, Pan de Bustos and we were welcomed by the mother of the current town’s mayor .
Mayor Arnel F. Mendoza
Mayor Arnel Mendoza and Ms. Aprille Keith Lazaro ( member of sanggunian bayan and chairperson of the tourism council ) gave a short welcome speech and gave a short history of the town and various projects.
Bustos tourism office and museum
We were also one of the first group of people who witness the formal opening of the newly constructed Bustos Tourism and Museum .
Nuestra 
Collectors Connection 