The Anthem Philatelist

Guillermo Estrella Tolentino (1890-1976) is the "Father of Philippine Arts", a product of the Revival period in Philippine art. He also is the fourth director of the UP School of Fine Arts. Tolentino was named National Artist in Sculpture in 1973. He first attained National recognition for his masterpiece, the multi-figural Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City- the symbol of the Filipinos' cry for freedom. His other famous work include the Oblation in the University of the Philippines-symbol of freedom at the campus, and the statue of Ramon Magsaysay in the lobby of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building. His design for the Ramon Magsaysay Award the gold and bronze medals and the seal of the Republic of the Philippines made him the "National Artist for Sculpture" in 1973. Date of Issue: June 1, 1990

Isabelo de los Reyes , popularly known as " Don Belong", was a law graduate of the University of Santo Tomas majoring also in philosophy, history and anthropology. He was a Notary Public at age twenty-two. He was the founder and the first president of the first Labor Union in Manila. A founding member of the Philippines Independent Church, he also served as councilor of Manila for two years and finally as senator for six years.   Born to Elias de los Reyes and the poetess Leona Florentino in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, he attended schools in Vigan and Manila. He followed his mother's footsteps by initially turning to writing as a career and became a journalist, editor, and publisher in Manila.   At 6 years old, due to troubled marriage of his parents, Isabelo was entrusted to a rich relative, Meno Crisologo, who later enrolled him into a grammar school attached to their local seminary run by Augustinians.    In 1880, at age 16 he escaped to Manila where he finished Bac...

Calderon is known as the Father of the Malolos Constitution declaring the first Philippine Republic in 1898. His other career highlights include the founding of the Asociacion Historica de Filipinas. He was appointed by General Emilio Aguinaldo as representative of the district of Paragua in the Revolutionary Congress. Felipe Gonzales Calderón y Roca (April 4, 1868 – July 6, 1908) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, and intellectual, known as the "Father of the Malolos Constitution". Calderón y Roca was born in Santa Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza), Cavite, to Don José Gonzales Calderón and Doña Manuela Roca. He studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila for his primary and secondary courses and was granted a scholarship. He received with high honors in Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked in newspaper industry and wrote for several newspapers. He later enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas and completed his studies in 1893. After graduation, he participated in the law office ...

One of the three priest ( GOMBURZA ) executed by Garrote at the Bagumbayan Field, Burgos was a stern opponent of the foreign Jesuit's takeover of the parishes. The last to be executed, he was compelled to watch his compatriots die by garrote- a cruel fate for one, In Rizal's words, "still young with ideas in ones head". José Apolonio Burgos y García was a Filipino mestizo secular priest, accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. He was placed in a mock trial and summarily executed in Manila along with two other clergymen. Burgos was born in Vigan , Ilocos Sur on February 9, 1837 to a Spanish officer, Don José Tiburcio Burgos, and a mestiza mother named Florencia García. He obtained three undergraduate degrees with honors, two masters degrees and two doctorate degrees from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and from the University of Santo Tomas . He conducted his first mass in the Intramuros. Burgos' libera...

The Basa Airbase in Floridablanca, Pampanga was named after this brave pilot, the first to sacrifice himself against the Japanese. Lt. Basa had downed many Zero pilots in the fierce defense of the Batangas airfield before he was himself gunned down by the enemy. Cesar Fernando Basa was a Filipino pilot and hero of World War II. Born in 1915, he was one of the pioneer fighter pilots in the Philippine Air Force and the first Filipino casualty during World War II. Basa's fight took place at Batangas Field on the morning of December 12, 1941 when fifty-four Japanese bombers and fighter escorts raided the base. Five Filipino fighter pilots, led by Captain Jesus Villamor, engaged the numerically superior enemy in aerial combat at 12,000 feet. Lieutenant Basa arrived on the scene from an air patrol mission with only 15 minutes of fuel left in his tanks but attempted to join his comrades in the fight. While still half the distance away, he was intercepted by seven Japanese fighters and ...

Cayetano Arellano was appointed as the first Filipino Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1899. In 1904, he was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to represent the Philippines at the International Congress of Jurists in St. Louis, Missouri. Cayetano L. Arellano (March 2, 1847 – December 23, 1920) was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the American Civil Government. He was Chief Justice from 1901 until his retirement on April 12, 1920, making him the longest serving Chief Justice. Born in Orion, Bataan, He started as a working student in San Juan de Letran. After finishing his High School he transferred to University of Santo Tomas, where he finished his Bachelor of Philosophy in 1862 and Bachelor of Theology in 1867, he then continued studying and finished law in 1876. During the Spanish regime, he was appointed Magistrado Suplente of the Audiencia Tribunal de Manila. He later become the Chief Justice of the Provisional Supreme Court creat...

As a leading opposition figure during the Marcos administration, "Ninoy" spent many years in jail. He was allowed to go to the United States of America for health reasons. His assassination upon his return at the Manila International Airport roused the Filipinos from their apathy anad led the way to the People Power Revolution of 1986 which ousted Marcos. His murder remains unsolved to this day. Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. (November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983) was a Philippine Senator, Governor of Tarlac , and an opposition leader against President Ferdinand Marcos . He was assassinated at the Manila International Airport (later renamed in his honor) upon returning home from exile in the United States. His death catapulted his widow, Corazon Aquino , to the limelight and subsequently to the presidency, replacing the 20-year Marcos regime.  In 2004, the anniversary of his death was proclaimed as a national holiday now known as Ninoy Aquino Day . Although Aq...