The Anthem Philatelist

Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire. Liberia, which means "Land of the Free", was founded as an independent nation by free-born and formerly enslaved African Americans. Recently it has witnessed two civil wars, the Liberian Civil War (1989–1996), and the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003), that have displaced hundreds of thousands and destroyed its economy. The national anthem of Liberia, "All Hail, Liberia Hail" was composed by Olmstead Luca in 1869. The words to the anthem of this second oldest independent African nation were written by the nation's third president, Daniel Bashiel Warner , and adopted upon independence in 1847. Presumably, the anthem first had a different melody, as the current music was written in 1860. Warner, a n African-American, was born on Hookstown Road in Baltimore County, Maryland to a father who was a fa...

The words for the national anthem, written by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, one of Norway's great dramatists and poets, were first published in 1859. The original poem had six verses; the first verse and last two verses are used nowadays as the anthem. The music was composed by Rikard Nordraak, cousin of Bjørnson and a friend of the famed Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, in 1864. It was first performed later that year for the 50th anniversary of their constitution, and caught on quickly. It became a part of the reading books in schools all over the country, and was sung by the children in the children's parades organized by Bjørnson on every 17th of May. Rikard Nordr aak was a Norwegian composer, born in Christiana (Oslo) . He is best known for having composed the Norwegian national anthem. Nordraak's musical gifts became evident at an early age, but as for many other artists at that time, a different career was already p...

In the last few days of 2000, Russia's new president Vladimir Putin, decided to give the Russian people a new anthem, since a common complaint was not having words to their current anthem. So Putin, upon the advice of the Communists in the parliament who could vote down the bill, adopted the old anthem from the Soviet Union, identifying with the country's past. However, only the music passed the legislative process in early to mid December, 1999. The new words that were written by Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov (the same person who wrote the lyrics to the old Soviet anthem!) to replace the Communist-style words were passed by Presidential order on December 30 of that year (many deputies objected to the mention of G...

Whether he wins or lose in his next fight, Pacquiao has already established himself as one of the greatest boxers of all time. It is not the number or quality of the fighters he defeated that made him great but the way he demolished these fighters. Any memorabilia from this great warrior would surely become a cherished possession in the not so distant future. Our children would be very thankful on inheriting something from "The Man" from Gensan.    Thus, it was a pleasant surprise that Jinky, my pretty college history classmate and friend based in the United States who also had friends close to Manny, volunteered (thru Facebook) to have an Everlast glove autographed during Pacman's pre-Hatton fight propaganda in Las Vegas. Here in this picture, is Jinky with Freddie Roach signing the glove and with Manny in a group picture. Thanks Jinks, I will never forget to tell my grandchildren you were the one who had the gloved signed.   A win against Shane Mosley in his p...

Club Ultima 5Km 44:20

El Himno de Bayamo is the national anthem of Cuba. It was first performed during the Battle of Bayamo in 1868. Perucho Figueredo who took part in the battle, wrote and composed the song. The melody, also called La Bayamesa , was composed by Figueredo in 1867. In October 20, 1868 the Cuban forces obtained the capitulation of the Spaniard authorities in Bayamo, the jubilant people surrounded Figueredo and asked him to write an anthem with the melody they were humming. Right on the saddle of his horse, Figueredo wrote the lyrics of the anthem, which was longer than the current official version. Figueredo was captured and executed by the Spaniards two years later. Just before the firing squad received the Fire command, Figueredo shouted the line from his anthem: Morir por la Patria es vivir . Officially adopted in 1902, the anthem was retained after the revolution of 1959. The arrangement commonly used, without credit in Cuba, is believed to be that of José Norman, author of Cuban P...

The Olympics Games (an international sporting event played every four years) has its own flag and "hymn", used when the Olympic flag is raised, usually during the opening ceremonies. The Olympic Hymn first appeared at the first Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The lyrics were written in Greek by Greece's national poet, Costis Palamas and set to music by Spirou Samara for the 1896 Games. The hymn was unofficial until 1958, when the International Olympic Committee formally adopted it. (From 1896 to the 1960 Games, each country would commission local composers to compose an Olympic hymn for that particular Games. The 1960 Games was the first that the Olympic Hymn was played for since the first games.) Usually every nation that hosts the Games performs the Olympic Hymn in their own language, the original Greek lyrics, and a translation into English, is presented for reference. National anthems play a big part in the Olympic Games. Starting with the 1924 Games, the w...

The anthem was written in 1847, the lyrics by Goffredo Mameli , a young poet. As such, the song is often known as L'Inno di Mameli (Mameli's Hymn). Beginning in 1861, when Italy became a united nation, the song was known as the "March of the House of Savoy" and it became the official Anthem in 1947 when Italy finally was proclaimed a Republic. There are different versions of how Mameli actually came to write the anthem. One reports that Mameli took the anthem to the musician Michele Novaro a friend, who lived in Turin. Novaro composed the music, and Mameli returned to Genoa where he presented words and music to his friends. Shortly thereafter, "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy, another common name for the anthem) was played for the first time, at a popular assembly. The tune gained popularity throughout the peninsula, in defiance of the Austrian, Bourbon and Pa...

This is my short response to Dennis Guillermo's article, Apples and Oranges: Comparing Pacquiao and Mayweather which appeared in Philboxing.com PACQUIAO convinced us that he is the P4P king- in the ring with his fists.  MAYWEATHER is convincing us that he is the P4P king- with his mouth. PACQUIAO is a doctor of Humanities (conferred) MAYWEATHER is a quack doctor- he loves ducking around. PACQUIAO may retire after fighting MAYWEATHER. MAYWEATHER unretired to fight PACQUIAO. PACQUIAO prays before he fights, MAYWEATHER prays for fights PACQUIAO fights men bigger than him (Hatton) MAYWEATHER fights men smaller than him (Marquez) PACQUIAO kneels to the Almighty before he fights. MAYWEATHER thinks he is the Almighty. PACQUIAO serves so others may live. MAYWEATHER lives so others may serve.

I never thought I could do it, but I did. I had been using the treadmill for > 15 years as an adjunct to my resistance training in the gym; I never really enjoyed plodding on this motorized machine. But since a month ago when my wife lovingly asked me to buy one for her, I find myself using the contraption more than she does. With its imposing presence in our bedroom, we have the freedom to walk/run whenever we want.    I run in the morning or late at night- it doesn't really matter as long as I'm running. My wife walks on it while watching her favorite movies and keeping an eye on our one year and 8 month old Vincent busy at play. This day, a month after we got the treadmill, I ran continuously for 49 minutes covering a distance of 5 Km- a personal best so far. I'll continue running for its health benefits and for the natural high it gives.. what an endorphin rush !

This former Soviet state was the first republic to break away from the Soviet Union, in early 1990. Upon its independence, it readopted the anthem, "Tautiska Giesme" , it first used in 1918 which first appeared in print in 1896. Vincas Kudirka , a Lithuanian poet and physician, and the author of both the music and lyrics of the Lithuanian National Anthem, Tautiška giesmė, was born on 31 December 1858. He is regarded in Lithuania as a National Hero. Kudirka used pen names - V. Kapsas, Paežerių Vincas, Vincas Kapsas, P.Vincas,Varpas, Q.D, K., V.K, Perkūnas. He began studying history and philosophy in Warsaw in 1881, but changed his major and began studying medicine the following year. During his studies, he was arrested as a subversive for having a copy of Das Kapital in his possession, and was expelled from the University of Warsaw, but later re-admitted. He graduated in 1889, and worked as a country doctor in Šakiai and Naumiestis. Kudirka began writing poetry in 1888. Simul...

"Dievs, Sveti Latviju!" was originally written while Latvia was still a part of Russia. (This was the first song ever written to include the word "Latvia" in the lyrics). The composition of the song was a direct act of defiance against the Russians, who did not encourage national sentiments. Because of the Russians forbidding the use of the word "Latvia" in the song, it was replaced with the word "Baltics". The song was first performed publicly in 1873 at a singing festival, and first performed as a national anthem upon Latvian independence in 1918. It was officially confirmed as the anthem in 1920. During the time that Latvia was part of the Soviet Union, the song was again forbidden, but upon leaving the U. S. S. R. in 1990, the anthem was again restored as the national anthem of Latvia. Kārlis Baumanis , the composer and writer of the Latvian national anthem, was born on the 11th of May, 1835 in Viļķene (Wilkenhof). He created the Latvian na...