SPANISH PHILIPPINES - FIRST ISSUE of 1854, 10-Cuartos. MINT. Carmine. Position 29

10-Cuartos: FINE ENGRAVING

(Scott #2; Edifil #2) 10-Cuartos. MINT. Carmine. Position 29

With original gum

Purchased from Apfelbaum, Inc. on January 16, 1996.

SCARCE THIS NICE!

"DALAGANG FILIPINA", REAL-PHOTO POSTCARDS FROM EARLY 1900s

Tonight, I'd like to share two real-photo postcards, actually studio portriats, that I purchased from an antique shop in the Intramuros during my visit to Manila in 1995.

These two photos were taken at Sun Studios in Manila, probably around the early 1900s, judging from the undivided address-side of the postcard.  Apparently, they had once been in picture frames. 

The photos are of the same lovely young lady, although I have no idea who she is.  But I love vintage photographs, especially of the Philippines and the traditional dress of the early days.   In the United States, these are hard to find.  So, I could not pass up the opportunity to add these lovely real-photo postcards to my collection.

Unfortunately, these photos appear to be disintegrating, leaving powdery residue in their plastic sleeves.  These photos were in rough shape when I purchased them in 1995, but today they seem to be more faded.  Therefore, I want to share these photos now, before she fades away forever.

POSTCARD FROM JOLO ISLAND, AUGUST 1910, "WHERE THE MOROS RUN AMUCK"



Postcard Front, "Jolo, Asturias Road, Jolo, P.I."

Postcard Rear, postmarked at Camp Stotsenberg, Pampanga, P.I., August 7, 1910



This weekend I finished reading "The Moro War" by James R. Arnold (2011).  I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this little known conflict that lasted from 1902 to 1913 in the southern regions of the Philippines, in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, or as it was commonly referred to by Americans at the time, "Moroland". 

This conflict should not be confused with the Filipino-American War of 1899-1902.  The Moro War, sometimes called the Moro Insurgency, was the first time that America battled a hostile Muslim population in its efforts to annex, pacify, and assimilate the people of the Philippines.

After reading this book, I re-examined my Philippine postcard/postal history collection, and found a few items that now had greater meaning to me.

The first item I would like to share is a postcard from George Piver, postmarked at Camp Stotsenberg, Pampanga, P.I., on August 7, 1910.    (Camp Stotsenberg later became Clark Air Base.)  It is addressed to a Miss E.F. Piver in West Oakland, California (which is actually only a short distance from where I live).

This postcard shows American soldiers standing across the Asturias Road in Jolo Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines.  Jolo is a volcanic island, which lies at the center of the Sulu Archipelago. The Sulu Archipelago is an island chain in the Southwest Philippines between Mindanao and Borneo. There are numerous volcanoes and craters around Jolo, two craters which became sites for key battles, at Bud Dajo in March 1906 and Bud Bagsak in June 1913.

The message reads, "Lonesome.  Write soon. Letter with these + Picture of a southern island where the Moros run amuck."  As James Arnold wrote in his book, "The Moro War", the term "to run amuck", in the language of that period, referred to a Muslim suicide attack, or "juramentado attack". 

Similar to todays's suicide bomber in Afghanistan or Iraq, the juramentado's goal was to simply kill as many Christians as possible before dying.  And like a bomb, the juramentado, wielding his razor-sharp and fearsome kris or barong, attacked with sudden and unbelievable speed.  And like today's suicide bomber, often innocent Muslim bystanders were caught in the carnage that erupted. 

The pictured Asturias Road was the site of several juramentado attacks on American soldiers, as described in this book.  These attacks occured throughout this period in Jolo, lessening after the Moro defeat at Bud Bagsak in 1913.

PHILIPPINES JAPANESE OCCUPATION, SHEET OF 5-CENTAVOS OFFICIAL ISSUE OF 1944 (SCOTT NO5)



(PHILIPPINES, Scott #NO5, complete sheet of 64 stamps with Plate No. 139333 at bottom)
Nice example of the complete sheet.



Hello everyone!  For those regular visitors, I apologize for my very long absence from this blog.  Sometimes it only takes a simple item to regain my focus. 

Today I received this very nice sheet of Philippine Japanese Occupation Scott NO5, issued August 28, 1944.  This is the 5-centavos Official Issue (Second Official Issue), surcharged in black on the 6-cent regular issue of 1939, with the small "commonwealth" overprint.

Although individually these stamps are very common (approximately 500,000 having been printed), complete sheets are not often seen nowadays.  The wonderful thing about complete sheets is that a specialist collector can find examples of known constant varieties of a stamp by checking the position, or location, of that stamp on the complete sheet.  

Eugene A. Garrett's book, "A Postal History of the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, 1942-1945", lists the minor overprint varieties of this stamp, some of which are very minor and would probably not be noticed otherwise.

However, one overprint variety occurs in position 32, or the last stamp on the fourth row, which is quite distinct from the others.  On this stamp, the top bar of the overprint is noticeably misaligned.  Also, the "K" in "(K.P.)" displays a short downstroke.  These features are unique to this one position on the sheet.



(PHILIPPINES, Scott #NO5, enlargement of position 32 on the sheet, last stamp on the fourth row)
Distinct variety showing a strongly misaligned top bar and short downstroke of "K" in "(K.P.)"



SPANISH PHILIPPINES - MUNICIPAL CROWN CANCEL "PROV. DE YSABELA, CABAGAN" ON 1872 ISSUE 62-CENTIMOS DE PESETA (KING AMADEO OF SPAIN)



(PHILIPPINES, Scott #46; Edifil #28) USED
This stamp displays a portion of the scarce municipal crown cancel "PROV. DE YSABELA, CABAGAN"

Oval "Municipal Crown" cancels were used in small towns throughout the Philippines between the mid 1860s and mid 1880s. A list of these Philippine towns and provinces that are currently known to have used this type of cancel is available at http://www.nigelgooding.co.uk/Spanish/Crown/Crown.htm .  I would be very interested to hear from anyone that might have a municipal crown cancel not included on this list.

Cabagan is a municipality in the province of Isabela, a mostly rural area in the Cagayan Valley in the northeast of Luzon.  Before the province was created in 1856, the northern part from Tumauini was part of Cagayan, while the south was part of Nueva Vizcaya.

Cabagan, Isabela, has its share of Spanish colonial churches. San Pablo Church, built in 1624, it is said to be the oldest in the province.  It is the only one of the extant Isabela churches that is not made of bricks. It has a very massive belfry reminiscent of those in Ilocos Norte (Paoay and Laoag).  Its lofty bell tower of six layers including the circular apex made of adobe is the tallest in the Cagayan Valley. San Pablo, the oldest town of Isabela, was founded by Padre de Sto. Tomas, 210 years before Isabela was made a province.

 

In the northern part of Isabela, the Tumauini Church or San Matias Church, a National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, is most known for its round wedding cake belfry. It's arguably the most exquisite example of brick architecture in the Philippines.

1873 - UNISSUED ESSAY OF KING AMADEO I OF SPAIN

SPAIN - 1873 Unissued Essay of King Amadeo I of Spain (Galvez 835)
12-centimos de peseta, black, scarce imperf block of 6, remaindered

Amadeo I (30 May 1845 – 18 January 1890) was the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy. He was the second son of King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy and was known for most of his life as the Duke of Aosta, but reigned briefly as King of Spain from 1870 to 1873.

(Excerpt from Wikipedia)

SPANISH CIVIL WAR - 1939 UNISSUED REPUBLIC AIR MAIL STAMP, "CORREO AEREO"

SPAIN, 1939, unissued air mail stamp (Edifil NE 38)

SPAIN - "ANO DE LA VICTORIA" SOUVENIR SHEET, OCTOBER 12, 1939



SPAIN, Beneficencia, Huerfanos de Correos (Edifil 34)
Issued: October 12, 1939
Printing: 17,000 (each individually numbered)



The "Huerfanos de Correos" (Orphans of Postal Employees) issues began in 1926 and were a type of surtax stamp, in this case to raise funds for orphans of postal workers.  These were used in addition to regular postage stamps and were not obligatory.  These "Beneficencia" issues are not listed in the Scott catalog, but can be found in specialized Spanish catalogs such as Edifil.  The beautiful souvenir sheet above features the "Cuadros de Valazquez".  The individual stamps are enlarged below to show their fine detail.



SPAIN, Beneficencia, Huerfanos de Correos (Edifil SH 34, detail from sheet above)





SPAIN, Beneficencia, Huerfanos de Correos (Edifil SH 34A, detail from sheet above)


 

SPAIN, Beneficencia, Huerfanos de Correos (Edifil SH 34B, detail from sheet above)

 

SPAIN, Beneficencia, Huerfanos de Correos (Edifil SH 34C, detail from sheet above)

 

SPAIN, Beneficencia, Huerfanos de Correos (Edifil SH 34D, detail from sheet above)



GERMANY'S HYPERINFLATION OF 1923

After the First World War, the value of the German Mark steadily deteriorated, largely as a result of reparations payments and the savage penalties imposed on German trade.  On April 27, 1921 the Allied Reparations Commission fixed the total war reparations to be paid by Germany at 132,000,000,000 gold Marks. 

Faced with budgetary deficits, the German government followed a practice of issuing more money to meet expenses. The result was a runaway inflation more severe than that experienced in any other part of Europe.  During 1922, the value of the Mark in US Dollars fell from 162 marks to more than 7,000 Marks (the pre-1914 rate had been 4.2 Marks to the US Dollar).

By July 1, 1923 the Mark had fallen to 160,000 to the Dollar; by November 20, 1923 it was down to 4,200,000,000,000 (4.2 trillion) Marks to the Dollar. Barter replaced other commercial dealings and food riots broke out.
 

Postal Period 21
October 20 to October 31, 1923
FOREIGN LETTER (AUSLAND BRIEF)
1st weight - 20g
Rate: 30 Million Marks

Commercial cover to the U.S.A. on October 31, 1923 (last day of this rate) with a total of 30 Million marks paying international letter rate set as of October 20.
Six copies of 5 Million Marks issue (Michel 316).

Postal Period 25
November 20 to November 25, 1923
FOREIGN LETTER (AUSLAND BRIEF)
1st weight - 20g
Rate: 80 Billion (Milliarden) Marks

Commercial cover to Teplitz, Böhmen (now Czech Republic) on November 20, 1923 (first day of this rate) with a total of 80 Billion marks correctly paying foreign letter rate.
Eight copies of 10 Milliarden Marks issue (Michel 328).

The mark was finally revalued on Dec 1, 1923 at the rate of 1,000,000,000,000 old marks to 1 new mark, or one trillion to one.

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - ISABELLA ISSUE OF 1859, 10-CUARTOS, TOP MARGIN BLOCK OF 4




10-cuartos. Approximately 3,000 stamps were issued in shades of rose and lilac-rose.  (Scott #11; SG #14; Edifil #8 and #8a).  Stamps pictured above (and all others on this blogsite, unless cited otherwise) are from my personal collection. Please click on the photo above to enlarge.

 
(Information referenced from Nigel Gooding's website "Spanish-Philippines Philatelic Site" at http://nigelgooding.co.uk/ . Please visit this essential website for more detailed information on Spanish-Philippines stamps and postal history.)

On January 1, 1859, two similarly designed stamps, a 5-cuartos value (Scott 10) and a 10-cuartos value (Scott 11), were issued in the Spanish Philippines.  The 10-cuartos stamp, pictured above, was issued for domestic mail between half-an-ounce and one ounce, (double weight interior postal rate).  A total of approximately 3,000 10-cuartos stamps were issued in shades of rose and lilac-rose. The stamps remained in use until January 1863.  Later, remaining stocks of both stamps were overprinted "HABILITADO POR LA NACION" in 1874 (see Scott 27A and 28).


10-cuartos overprinted "HABILITADO POR LA NACION" in 1874 (Scott 28). 
By 1874, the handstamps had been used for six years, and the overprint was often blurred, showing much wear.
Please click on the photo above to enlarge.


The stamps were lithographed in the Philippines by the firm of M. Perez y Hijo, in Manila, on paper varying in color and quality.  The stamps show a profile of Queen Isabella II to the right, crowned with laurels, on a solid ground of color within a pearled circle.  In general, but with exceptions noted below, the stamps were printed in blocks of four varieties (types), each block being surrounded by an outer frame line; with each stamp measuring 18½ x 23½ mm.   Each of the four varieties are quite distinct, and comparison of a single stamp with an enlarged photo of the block of four will help in identifying the variety.

The 10-cuartos value was printed from the one plate, prepared in 1859 along with the First Plate for the 5-cuartos value. The arrangement of the plate was exactly like that of the First Plate for the 5-cuartos value, except as to the order in which the types appear in the vertical pairs at the right side of the sheet. The 10-cuartos plate was prepared by the transfer of the normal (5 Cs) design to the plate, then removing the "5 Cs" and replacing it by "10 Cs" and retouching the plate by hand. 

The First Plate produced sheets of 56 stamps (8 horizontal rows of 7 stamps each). Each sheet contained 12 blocks of the four types (3 horizontally and four vertically), and four vertical pairs at the right of the sheet. Each block is surrounded by a single-line frame.

Used examples of the 10-cuartos value are much more difficult to find than used examples of the 5-cuartos value.  I suspect that most of the 5-cuartos stamps printed (approximately 15,000) were postally used prior to 1863, whereas much of the 10-cuartos value remained unused.  This would explain the remaining stocks of 10-cuartos stamps overprinted "HABILITADO POR LA NACION" in 1874 (Scott 28), and the great rarity of the overprinted 5-cuartos stamp (Scott 27A), which was discovered only recently.

SPANISH PHILIPPINES - 1 REAL ISSUES OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1863

1 REAL ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 1863
(Philippines Scott #18var, SG #24, Edifil #15) MINT. Grey Green.
SCARCE

There were two printings of this issue.  This is from the first printing in February 1863.  A total of 7,000 stamps were printed in grey-green. Printed on smooth, thick, white to yellowish paper. The impressions are generally sharper and clearer than the later March 1863 printing (see below).

1 REAL ISSUE OF MARCH 1863
(Philippines Scott #18var, SG #23, Edifil #15a) MINT. Grey Green.
SCARCE

This is from the second printing of this issue in March 1863.  These impressions are generally poor, owing to the ink being too liquid.  Notice the blurred appearance of the bottom legend "1 RL PLATA F.". A total of 5,000 stamps of this second printing were issued.

PHILIPPINES JAPANESE OCCUPATION HANDSTAMPED "K.P." OFFICIAL BUSINESS ON SCOTT N4

This is a scarce example of Philippine Japanese Occupation 5-centavos Provisional Regular Issue, First Overprinting (thick top bar), Scott N4, issued September 1, 1942, with a handstamped violet "K.P." and Japanese "Koyo" for Official Business mail.

Although Eugene A. Garrett's book, "A Postal History of the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, 1942-1945", shows many examples of handstamped "K.P." and "O.B." markings applied during the occupation, it is unclear to me which office may have applied this handstamp.  I welcome suggestions.  Still, an interesting and scarce stamp.

RARE PHILIPPINES JAPANESE OCCUPATION PERFORATED 5s LAUREL ISSUE

This is a very rare perforated example of the Philippines Japanese Occupation "President Jose P. Laurel" regular issue, Scott N37, from January 12, 1945.  This series of three stamps (5s, 7s, and 20s) were printed in the Philippines and issued imperforate, ungummed, on unwatermarked paper.

According to Eugene A. Garrett's masterwork, "A Postal History of the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, 1942-1945", the Philippine Bureau of Communications originally intended to issue these stamps perforated and gummed, and apparently attempted to perforate a few sheets.  However, the poor quality of the paper and dullness of the perforating machine pins prevented these stamps from being issued perforated and gummed. 

Only a few sheets of the 5s value (some references state at least 2 sheets of 50 stamps), perforated 12x12-1/2 and without gum, were kept as proofs in the vault of the Manila Central Post Office.

During the battle to liberate Manila in February 1945, these few perforated sheets of the 5s Laurel issue were looted from the Manila Central Post Office when it suffered extensive damage.

The 7s and 20s values are also known perforated 12x12-1/2 and these are very rare.  It is known that at least 2 sheets each of the 7s and 20s value were specially perforated to order for Col. William Peck of the U.S. Army Air Corps, after the liberation of Manila.

"GOBIERNO POLITICO MILITAR DE BOHOL" CANCEL ON SPANISH PHILIPPINES #86

The two pairs of stamps, above and below, Philippines Scott #86, representing King Alfonso XII, 12-4/8 Centimos Bright Rose (issued July 19, 1882), together provide a scarce example of the "GOBIERNO POLITICO MILITAR DE BOHOL" cancel used by the government of Bohol during the later years of Spanish-era Philippines.



Enhancement of cancel showing GOBIERNO POLITICO ... BOHOL



Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands.  Its capital is Tagbilaran City. Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines.  To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

During most of the Spanish era, Bohol was a part of the residencia of Cebu.  By the middle of the nineteenth century, an important administrative shake-up occurred in the Philippines, with the creation of the politico-military provinces.  On July 22, 1854, Bohol was made, together with the island of Siquijor, into a separate politico-military province. In 1879, when a census was held, Bohol had 34 municipalities and a total population of 253,103 people.



Enhancement of cancel showing GOBIERNO ... MILITAR DE ...



Spanish rule came to an end in April 1899. In that year, after winning the American-Spanish war, the U.S. 'bought' the entire Philippines for twenty million dollars. The Spanish left the island, and Bohol became a "Gobierno de Canton," run by important Boholanos as part of the independent republic proclaimed by Emilio Aquinaldo.

Reconstructed GOBIERNO POLITICO MILITAR DE BOHOL cancel

FIRST FLIGHT TRANS-PACIFIC INAUGURAL PASSENGER SERVICE, HAWAII TO GUAM - October 22, 1936

This is a scarce first flight cover for the inauguration of Trans-Pacific passenger service for Pan American Airways between Hawaii and Guam.  This cover was  flown from Honolulu, Hawaii on October 22, 1936 and backstamped at Guam on October 26, 1936.

This cover is autographed by Captain Edwin Musick, Chief Pilot for Pan American World Airways and pioneer of many of Pan Am's transoceanic routes including the famous route across the Pacific Ocean on the China Clipper.  Because of his exploits with Pan American, Musick was one of the best known pilots of the 1930s, even making the cover of Time Magazine on December 2, 1935.  At one point during the 1930s, Musick held more flying records than any other pilot. At the time of his death, Captain Musick had reportedly flown about two million transocean miles in airline service.

SURVEY FLIGHT, PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS, SAN FRANCISCO TO HAWAII - April 17, 1935

This is a fine example of a trans-oceanic record flight cover for Pan American Airways' survey flight between San Francisco and Hawaii.  On April 17, 1935, Pan American Airways sent its big Sikorsky "Pan American Clipper" on a pathfinder flight to Hawaii to establish a regular air mail and passenger service across the Pacific to Manila. 

This is one of only a few covers that were carried on the round trip flight and bear both cachets and cancellations as follows.   Covers flown from California to Hawaii are cancelled April 16, 1935 and are backstamped at Honolulu, April 17, 1935.  Covers carried on the return flight, Hawaii to San Francisco, are cancelled Honolulu, April 22, 1935 and backstamped April 23, 1935.  

This cover is addressed to George Randolph Hearst Sr., President of the the Los Angeles Examiner newspaper, and eldest son of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst.

PHILIPPINE FIRST FLIGHTS - CHINA CLIPPER, December 2-6, 1935

The study of postal history is fascinating in that it places an item at a specific time and place, and if we are truly fortunate, in the context of an individual within that period.

This is a fine example of a first-flight cover for the Philippine inauguration of trans-pacific air mail service between Manila, Philippines and San Francisco, California.   It displays the special $1.50 air-mail rate for this flight.  It is franked with three Scott #C52 and a block of Scott #C53, issued to commemorate this special flight which took place between December 2-6, 1935.



But what sets this cover apart from many others like it is that this cover actually carried a personal letter, and what a fine letter it is!  This letter is reproduced below, and can be enlarged by simply clicking on it. 

I hope you agree that this letter conveys all the excitement and optimism that the China Clipper flights represented for many throughout the "Golden Era" of aviation in the 1920s and 1930s, in the Philippines and the United States.

USA - 1903 SCHERNIKOW REPRINTS OF THE PHILADELPHIA BANK NOTE COMPANY'S 1877 ESSAYS

USA, ESSAY 184-E4k (dull carmine)

(SCHERNIKOW REPRINT, 1903)

3-CENTS, ENGRAVED, COMPLETE DIE ESSAY ON PROOF PAPER

USA, ESSAYS 184-E5e (dull violet) and 184-E5e (deep ultramarine)

(SCHERNIKOW REPRINTS, 1903)

3-CENTS, LITHOGRAPHED, PLATE ESSAY ON PROOF PAPER

USA, ESSAYS 188-E2b (scarlet) and 188-E2b (blue green)

(SCHERNIKOW REPRINTS, 1903)

12-CENTS, LITHOGRAPHED, PLATE ESSAY ON STAMP PAPER

WITH MARGIN INSCRIPTION "PRINTED BY PHILADELPHIA BANK NOTE COMPANY, PATENTED JUNE 16, 1876"

In the pop music world, "unreleased" tracks and demo recordings provide rare glimpses into the musician's creative process, revealing how ideas developed and transformed into the final release. 

Similarly, stamp design essays provide tantalizing glimpses of "what could have been" in the philatelic world.  They are often the evolutionary "missing-links" of philatelic design.

In the early 1900s, the archives of the Philadelphia Bank Note Company were sold in a bankruptcy sale.  Among the items sold were the dies for the Philadelphia Bank Note Company's 1877 Essays.

The buyer of the dies was Ernest Schernikow, an officer of the Hamilton Bank Note Company. In 1903 the Hamilton Bank Note Companyy made reprints from the dies in as many as fifteen colors. It is believed that this was done to help recoup the $10,000.00 Schernikow paid for the effects of the Philadelphia Bank Note Company.

To me, these beautiful designs bridge the design aesthetic of the "Bank Note" issues of the 1870s with the classical baroque designs of the early 1900s, and foreshadow the Washington-Franklin regular issues that were to come in 1908.

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY

Commemorative Cover signed by Emilio Aguinaldo

At the Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan

On the 58th Anniversary of the Malolos Revolutionary Congress

September 15, 1956

Today is June 12, Philippine Independence Day.  On this day in 1898, prior to the formal conclusion of the Spanish-American War, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain and the birth of the Philippine Republic “under the protection of the mighty and humane North American Union.”.

This momentous event took place in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite Province. Admiral Dewey had been invited but did not attend. The Filipino national flag was officially unfurled for the first time at 4:20 PM. The same flag was actually unfurled, albeit unofficially, on May 28, 1898 at the Teatro Caviteño in Cavite Nuevo---now Cavite City---right after the battle of Alapan, Imus, Cavite, and again three days later over the Spanish barracks at Binakayan, Cavite, after the Filipinos' victory.

A tattered flag of the First Philippine Republic, one of many used during the struggle for independence. The flag believed by heirs of Emilio Aguinaldo to be that unfurled by the general in Kawit, Cavite, in 1898 is encased in glass at the Aguinaldo Museum in Baguio City.  However, the National Historical Institute has yet to authenticate this flag despite years of probing. In his letter to Capt. Emmanuel Baja dated June 11, 1925, Aguinaldo mentioned that in their Northward retreat during the Filipino-American War, the original flag was lost somewhere in Tayug, Pangasinan Province; the Americans captured the town on Nov. 11, 1899.

At the historic Proclamation of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, Ambrosio Bautista (Aguinaldo's War Counsellor and Special Delegate), solemnly read the "Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino". The declaration was signed by 97 Filipinos and one retired American artillery officer, Colonel L.M. Johnson.  Although Aguinaldo unfurled the flag, contrary to common belief, it was Bautista, and not Aguinaldo, who waved the Philippine flag before the jubilant crowd.

The June 12 proclamation was later modified by another proclamation done at Malolos, Bulacan, upon the insistence of Apolinario Mabini, chief adviser for General Aguinaldo, who objected to the original proclamation, which essentially placed the Philippines under the protection of the United States.

The Philippine flag was sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Mariño Agoncillo; she was assisted by her 7-year-old daughter, Lorenza, and Delfina Rizal Herbosa Natividad. The generals of the eight provinces which revolted against Spain had replicas and copies made of the original flag.

The Philippine National Anthem, then known as "Marcha Nacional Filipina", was played by the band of San Francisco de Malabon during the declaration of independence. It was composed by Professor Julian Felipe but it had no lyrics yet. The composition had similarities with the Spanish "Himno Nacional Español." Felipe admitted that he purposely put into his composition some melodic reminiscences of the Spanish National Anthem "in order to preserve the memory of Spain."  His composition was adopted as the Philippine national anthem on Sept. 5, 1938.

First Day Cover signed by President Manuel Roxas

On the Inauguration of the Philippine Republic

July 4, 1946

However, this independence was not recognized by the United States until July 4, 1946. From 1946 to 1961, the Philippines observed Independence Day on July 4 each year. In 1961, President Diosdado Macapagal reverted the holiday to the June 12 date, which up to that time had been observed as Flag Day in the Philippines. In place of the former Independence Day, Macapagal created Filipino-American Friendship Day on July 4.

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM - THE 28th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, CLARK FIELD, PAMPANGA, PHILIPPINES, 13 JULY 1941

28th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON

CLARK FIELD, PAMPANGA, PHILIPPINES

Cover sent by Private First Class Bernard E. Preston

Postmarked at Fort Stotsenburg, July 13, 1941

"The calm before the storm!"

The second incarnation of the 28th Bombardment Squadron was mobilized at Mather Field, California for duty in the Philippine Islands on September 20, 1921.  The squadron became active in the Philippine Islands at Clark Field on October 21, 1922.

The squadron was initially equipped with B-2 and B-3 bombers.  Later, the squadron received B-10 and B-18 medium bombers. By June 24, 1941, there were  approximately fifteen B-18 and six B-10 medium bombers in operation at Clark Field.

In his article about the 28th Bombardment Squadron (available on the "Philippine Defenders" website at http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/pdf/rosters/28th_bombardment_squadron), veteran Edward Jackfert describes a serviceman's life at Clark Field was at that time beyond one's fullest expectations. Duty hours were brief, leaving much time for the pursuit of personal pleasures.  On weekends the barracks would empty, some going to the local barrios, some trotting off to Manila, and the remainder pursuing their pleasure in “Angeles”.