The Anthem Philatelist

The oldest Beethoven stamp in my collection is a local stamp from Altona , Germany issued in 1889. Its initial value on issue was 20 pfennic (penny). Present value is around US$ 30. Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg , on the right bank of the Elbe river . From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937. In 2006 the population was 243,972. It was founded in 1535 as a village of fishermen. In 1664 it received city rights from Danish King Frederik III . Until 1864 Altona was one of the Danish monarchy's most important harbour towns. The railroad from Altona to Kiel, the Christian VIII Baltic Sea Rail Line, was opened in 1844. Because of the severe restrictions on the number of Jews allowed to live in Hamburg , a major Jewish community developed in Altona. Members did business both in Hamburg and in Altona itself. All that remains is the Jewish cemetery, but in the seven...

Taal Volcano is a complex volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is situated between the towns of Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas. It consists of an island in Lake Taal, which is situated within a caldera formed by an earlier, very powerful eruption. It is located about 50 km (31 Miles) from the capital, Manila. It is one of the active volcanos in the Philippines, all part of the Pacific ring of fire.   To get to the Taal Volcano Lake, one has a 20 minute banca ride from Talisay, Batangas to the shores of Taal Volcano. One may the opt to walk or run the trail or ride a horse for around 20 minutes to reach the crater. The view around the crater is breath taking. The serenity is soul-quenching. Truly one of God's greatest creations! Eccentrically located near the middle of the lake, is a lonely islet, small enough to host 5-10 people. Whats exotic living organisms lurk in this terrain? This is truly a unique geographical wonder- an islet in a lake in a vol...

Bliss (BooNana) , 15" x 20", Pencil Sketch, 2009 Jose "Kimsoy" Yap Jr . was born on March 7, 1944 in Bindoy , Negros Oriental , Philippines. Graduated from the Cebu Institute of Technology with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture , he then continued and studied painting at the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts in New York. He also taught at the University of San Carlos and Cebu Academy of Arts.    His art journey started with hardships together with renowned sculptor, painter, novelist and architect Arsenio "Arsing" Abella . In 2017, both had a reunion exhibit, Art Biography at Manila Art Frames - the first gallery they exhibited in 1969. Later, with ease together with eminent Samboan artist  Benji Goyha , whom he bonded owing to a shared vision for art promotion , tourism and mentoring of young Cebuano artists. Both organized art workshops and excursions in Cebu province especially in Goyha's hometown Samboan .   ...

These are the Beethoven stamps from the Americas that are in my collection. Included are stamps from Suriname (8), Dominica (10), Grenada (9), Paraguay (1), Mexico (3), Guyana (3) , Cuba (1), Grenadines (1), Grenada (1), Columbia (1) and Uruguay (1)- a total of 39 stamps. Lacking in my Americas collection are stamps from El Salvador (1), Grenadines 1996 (1), and Chile (1) - a total of 3 stamps. The North American countries like the United States and Canada never honored Beethoven with a stamp.   LVB stamps Asia

These are the Beethoven stamps from Asia that are in my collection. Included are stamps from Maldives (9), Japan (1), India (1), North Korea (1), Mongolia (1), Kyrgyzstan (1) and Iran (2)- a total of 16 stamps. Lacking in my Asian collection are stamps from North Korea (1), and Maldives 2000 stamps (1). LVB Arabia

As its commitment to further promote Cebu’s historical past and Cebuano philately, the Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated (CSCI) with the cooperation of the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) decided to pursue a historical philatelic presentation on the Battle of Tres de Abril . This project was hatched during the early week of May 1997. To give more weight for our request to the Stamp Advisory Committee, CSCI’s Richard Allan Uy informed Ms. Patricia “Noeng” Perez of CHAC that a City Council resolution is needed.   Immediately thereafter, a formal letter was sent to the City Government of Cebu by CSCI President Richard Allan Uy. The Cebu City Council wasted no time in acting for our request and unanimously passed Resolution No. 3258 during the regular session held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod of the City of Cebu on June 02, 1997.    The mayor at that time, Alvin Garcia , affixed his signature on June 13, 1997. The Cebu City Government sent a c...

CEBU is going to Malaysia through the colors of the rainbow. Twelve Cebuano artists, under the auspices of Artistscebuex , is bringing the festival city of Cebu to Malaysia through an exhibit dubbed “ Cebu: People, Places and Faces .”    Hosted by ArtMalaysia in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia, the exhibit aims to strengthen the cultural and artistic linkages between the two countries through visual arts. The project was launched early in July with an art exhibit at the second level of Banilad Town Centre. Here are the 12 participating artists.    Celso Duazo Pepito , one of Cebu’s leading artists and the proponent of Artistscebuex, believes that visual artists have the capacity to help promote tourism by depicting scenes that would entice people to visit. “The exhibit will not just promote art but also Cebu,” he said. “It is a merger between art and tourism.” A philosopher by heart, he is known to inject his ideals on human values and integrit...

Still Life, Oil Pastel on Paper, 18"x 14", 2009 Fe Madrid's art are in the formative years. Her favorite subjects usually revolve within the household, though she often joined in workshops and painting excursions with the CAI group.    A doting mother of three, her works reflected to ' mother & child ' themes, still-lifes and nude figures. The life of motherhood and family as an intimate source of inspiration probably draws her more to painting and drawing. Basically a self-taught artist, she chooses oil and pastel as her favorite medium.    A glimpse of her works may lead on to feel its surface's crudities, but pastime or passion, it testifies a personal warmth of her own.   Bagacay, Liloan Cebu, 2009  

Cesar Castillo was born and raised in Cebu City . Though he had shown interest in arts, he ended up taking Mechanical Engineering course in the University of the Visayas in 1986 just to fulfill the request of his parents. After graduation, he worked as a quality controller in the glass plant department of San Miguel Corporation , Cebu branch situated in Mandaue City   Though busy with his works, he always found time to develop his artistic skills, turning his free time into opportunities for learning.    As his artistic quest evolved, he started to find self-confidence in every painting he created thus giving him the privilege to slowly expose his art to Cebu's art patron and enthusiast. His first art teacher was Cebuano master cubist , Celso Duazo Pepito but he was personally mentored by Jose Kimsoy Yap Jr. , who taught him the notion of "less is more" and "not all has to be seen".   Giving in to the clamor for artistic expression, Cesar  Castillo ...