The Anthem Philatelist

When Libya became independent in December 1951, it was a kingdom until the overthrow of the monarchy by Moammar Qadaffi in 1969. During the time of the monarchy, the anthem "Libya, Libya, Libya" was used. The composer of the music, Mohamad Abdel Wahab , also wrote the music for the anthems of Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. The words were written by Al Baschir Al Arebi . In 1969, a new anthem "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) was adopted. It is not only the title of the anthem of this Islamic north African state, but also the Muslim call to prayer. Originally, the text and the melody were written by Mahmoud El-Sherif as a battle song of the Egyptian Army during the Suez War in 1956. When Muammar Qadafi transformed Libya into a republic in 1969, he adopted this Egyptian marching song composed by Abdalla Shams El-Din as the Libyan national anthem, as part of his ultimate goal of unity of all Arab nations. When Qadafi broke off the relations with Egypt after...

During my first visit to South Korea five years ago, I was not able to see much of the place because the trip was a convention and 90% of the time we were inside halls listening to lectures. This time, I was able to see and appreciate the beauty of the country and understand its people and culture. It really helped that our tour guide, Mickey, was a loquacious and accommodating host. Through her, I was able to learn more about Korea in 4 days than reading book for a month. We visited several interesting sights and scenes. We had the opportunity to go and see the Blue House- where the Presidents reside, The Korean Folk Museum- where I was able to buy the sought after Korean Music Series Stamps , and the Kyungbok Palace. The Daejangguem Theme Park was an eye opener. It is the Hollywood version in Korea, where the sets for the Koreanovelas- one of Koreas greatest exports- can bee seen and interacted on. A few decades ago, entertainers and actors were frowned upon in Kore...

The native of Bohol, Francisco Dagohoy , has the distinction of leading the longest revolt against the Spaniards (1744-1829).    Dagohoy's rebellion started when a priest denied his brother a Christian burial. Supported by about 20,000 people, he held his base in the mountain regions between Inagangan and Talibon. Twenty Spanish governor- generals were unable to quell Dagohoy's liberation struggle.   There is no document available to shed light on Francisco Dagohoy's birth, his parentage and death. It is believed that this was due to the disinterest of the Spanish authorities to record the hero's life and achievements and immortalize the exploits of one whom so humiliated them. Placido Sinsano, a centenarian grandson of Francisco Dagohoy's brother and successor Maximino, explained that Francisco Dagohoy was born in 1724 in Cambitoon, a barrio of Inabangan town some 20 kilometers from the poblacion.   Descendants claimed that Francisco Dagohoy's father'...

Fernandez earned his masters degree in History and Doctorate in Education from the University of Chicago in 1912. In 1935, he became the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of the Philippines and Chairman of the Graduate Studies Program. He wrote A Brief History of the Philippines which was issued as a textbook for history students. A foremost educator and noted historian, Leandro C. Fernandez rose to national prominence from his humble beginnings through hard work, perseverance, and consistency motivated by a strong sense of public service and nationalism. Fernandez was born on March 13, 1889 in Pagsanjan , Laguna to Esteban Fernandez and Bonifacia Caballero. He was the third of five children, the others being Susana, Domingo, Zosimo, and Estanislao. He lost his father during his early childhood. Fernandez took his primary studies at the school of barrio Pagsawitan, thereafter proceeding to the Provincial High School in Sta. Cruz, Laguna , for his secondary ed...

Salamanca earned her degree from theWomen's Medical College in Pennsylvania in 1910, making her the second Filipina to earn a medical degree from the U.S. She became the secretary of the Philippine Anti-Tuberculosis Society where she wrote its constitution and by-laws. She died shortly after that at the age of 24, of tuberculosis. Olivia Salamanca (1889-1913) was a pioneer of her profession. Olivia Simeona Demetria Salamanca y Diaz was the second child of a well-to-do couple, Jose Salamanca, a colonel in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces, a pharmacist, and a signer of the Malolos Constitution, and Cresencia Diaz. Olivia was born on July 1,1889 in San Roque, Cavite where she spent her childhood. She obtained her early education is a private school in Cebu where her father worked as a pharmacist. When the family returned to Cavite, Olivia studied in the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia in Cavite City and later at the Cavite High School where she completed the first two years of the ...

Osias was an educator and a statesman. He was the first President of the National University and was appointed Philippine Resident Commissioner to Washington D.C. in 1929. He authored the Philippine Readers Series ised in public schools for Grades 1 to 7, popularly called the Osias Readers. He translated both Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo and wrote many books and essays on Rizal. Camilo Osias (March 23, 1889 Balaoan, La Union - May 20, 1976 Manila) was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines. He attended school in Balaoan, Vigan and San Fernando, and was appointed government student to the United States in 1905. He studied at the University of Chicago in 1906 and 1907. He graduated from the Western Illinois State Teachers College at Macomb, Illinois in 1908, and from the Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City in 1910. He returned to the Philippine Islands and taught school. Here he entered education politic...

Mapua was the first registered architect in the Philippines. He established the Mapua Institute of Technology. He is famous for designing the buildings of De La Salle College, Centro Escolar University, the Nurse's Home at the Philippine General Hospital and the J. Mapua Memorial Hall in Intramuros. Tomás Bautista Mapúa (December 21, 1888 – December 22, 1965) was the first registered Filipino architect. Born in Manila to Juan Mapúa and Justina Bautista, he was one of the first Filipino scholars sent by the government to the United States during the American regime. He finished high school at Boone's Preparatory School in Berkeley, California, and graduated from Cornell University in 1911 with a degree in Architecture. Among his works include the Manila City Hall, Post Office Building, the St. La Salle Hall, and his own home on Taft Avenue. He was supervising architect for the Bureau of Public Works from 1918-1927, during which period he was in charge of important insular w...

Andres Bonifacio was born into a poor family and was orphaned at age fourteen. He had to discontinue his education to work at odd jobs to support his younger brothers and sisters. He continued his education by reading books. Victor Hugo's Les Miserables was one of his favorites and Rizal's novels inspired his ideals for a free Philippines. Bonifacio founded the secret society, the Katipunan on July 7, 1892. Philippine historiography at the turn of the 20th century tended to neglect Bonifacio's seminal leadership of the Philippine Revolution. Under the auspices of the American colonial educators, a systematic attempt was made to cast aside Bonifacio and insist on Rizal as the prototypical national hero. For example in 1912, an important decision was made by the Americans in connection with the inauguration of the Rizal Monument in what was then Luneta Park, and the subsequent national commemoration of his death anniversary. Esteban A. de Ocampo of the National Historic...

Bautista is best remembered as the author of the Declaration of the Philippine Independence . He was a supporter of La Solidaridad , the official organ of the Propaganda Movement in Spain. He served as political adviser to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. He read the Declaration of Philippine independence during its proclamation in Kawit , Cavite in 1898 Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (b. December 17, 1830-d. December 4, 1903) was a lawyer and author of the “Declaration of Philippine Independence.” A distant relative of the Rizal Family, Jose Rizal , always sought his advice during his school days in Manila. Ambrosio was born in Biñan , Laguna to Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamira. He attended preparatory school in Biñan and studied law at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), obtaining a degree in 1865. He then practiced law in Manila by offering free legal services to poor clients. One day, Ambrosio was captured by a group of bandits, on his way to Malolos , Bulacan . The ban...

Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar is known as the Prince of Tagalog Poets. A rival suitor for the favor of one Asuncion Rivera caused his imprisonment. It was during this confinement that he wrote his epic for which he is famous for, Florante at Laura. Francisco Balagtas, later Francisco Baltazar or nickname Kikong Balagtas or Kiko, was born on April 2, 1788 in the barrio Panginay in the town of Bigaa, now known as Balagtas in his honor, in the province of Bulacan. He was the youngest of four children: Felipe, Concha, and Nicholasa. His parents where a blacksmith, Juan Baltazar, and Juana de la Cruz. As a young boy, Balagtas loved to watch the land and hear the sound of the leaves. He saw beauty in the sparks caused by the pounding hammer of his blacksmith father. He even heard music in the sound of the horses' shoes. Balagtas studied in a parochial school in Bigaa, where he studied prayers and catechism during his elementary years. Once Baltazar was eleven he moved to To...

Jesus Balmori was a renowned Filipino Poet and journalist in the Spanish language. His column Vida Manileña was written in verse and appeared in the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia under the pen-name Batikuling. He won the Commonwealth Literary Awards in 1940 for his poetry collection entitled Mi Casa de Nipa. Jesús "Batikuling" Balmori (January 10, 1887 – May 23, 1948) was a Filipino Spanish language journalist, playwright, and poet. Jesús Balmori was born in Ermita, Manila on January 10, 1887. He studied at the Collegio de San Juan de Letran and the University of Santo Tomas, where he excelled in Literature. He was married to Dolores Rodríguez. Joaquín Balmori, a pioneer labor leader of the foremost organizer of Labor unions in their Philippines, was his brother. In his early years, Balmori was already gathering literary honors and prizes for poetry. In a Rizal Day contest, his three poems, each bearing a different pen name, won the first, second, third prizes. Later, he...

Melchora Aquino is popularly known as Tandang Sora, Mother of the Philippine Revolution. In spite of being a widow with six children, she still provided Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros with rice and carabaos. She nursed the sick and the wounded under her own roof. Melchora Aquino was born on 6 January, 1812. She was a famous Filipino revolutionary. Her popular name was Tandang Sora meaning old. Her parents were poor but hard working people. Melchora Aquino never went to school institution. However, she was apparently literate at her early age. She got married to Fulgencio Ramos, a village chief and they gave birth to six children. Unfortunately, she was left to take care of the six children as single mother since her husband died at an earlier age of their marriage. She was a businesswoman during the Philippine revolution. During the Philippine revolutionary, her businesses become a refuge camp for the wounded and sick revolutionaries. She gave motherly love to the revolution...