When I had a chance to visit Manila Central Post Office, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I mean, I know it’s a place for mails and or postal services. But I didn’t know that there are really stamp collectors who are actively joining campaigns and exhibitions and keep updating their collections inside our post office. There were foreigners and locals checking and asking for their postage specialty. Some brought their notebooks or iPads. I must say, these people (photo above) are passionate philatelists.

Got a little confused about what I’m saying? Actually, I got this white leaflet and I’d like to share it with you guys.

What is Philately?

It is the art of stamp collecting. Considered as “world’s most fascinating hobby,” it is from the Greek words Philos(friends) and Atalei(exempt from charge). Through philately, one learns of a country’s history, art, culture and industry as depicted in special definitive and commemorative stamps.

Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club

In 1994, five collectors boldly formed the Manila Stamp Collectors’ Club to cater and develop beginners and seasoned collectors. The name was later changed to what it is today in 1999. Since then, activities stepped up with the Postal History Walking Tour, starting even earlier on. Members garnered international awards and conducts regular monthly auctions, meetings, stamp exhibitions and contests.

It is now a member of the Philippine Philatelic Federation which acts as an umbrella body for stamp clubs in the Philippines to promote and represent the country in competitions abroad.

Trivia

World’s Most Expensive Stamp: Sweden’s 1855, 3 skilling yellow fetched 1996 for Sfr2.5 million or (US$2.27 million). 1856 British Guiana 1 cent black on magenta issue fetched US$935,000.00 in 18=980.

World’s Most Expensive Cover: A used envelop from Mauritius bearing both the 1d and 2d. It is also the 2 earliest stamps of Mauritius which fetched for US$3.8 million.

World’s Smallest Stamp: 10c and 1Peso Colombian State of Bolivar, 0.31”x 0.37”.

World’s First Self-adhesive Stamp was issued by Sierra Leone on February, 1964

King George V of England and President Franklin D. Roosevelt were both prolific collectors who posses vast accumulations of rare stamps issues.

World’s Most Popular Error: USA’s Inverted Jenny with a nice inverted print of the Curtiss Jenny plane on the center of the stamp.

World’s 1st Fauna on Stamps: Canada’s 1861 beaver

Amazing, isn’t? So historic. Back to the visitation, I was stunned when I saw those stamps. I bought some of it.. stamps of different countries’ costume, which are so affordable. Thank God, I checked my money. If not, maybe, I would not be able to go home. Haha

If you guys want to join their club, you can contact Mrs. Josefina T. Cura, from Monday to Saturday, 1pm to 5pm at 735-5001 or send a mail to P.O. Box, 2986 Manila.

Visit their links:

http://philfaunaonstamps.webs.com

http://theipps.info

http:/spm.org.sg/coverstory/index.html

http://youthtrip.org

(c) Manila Central Post Office

• 1834, Manila was the first postal service in Asia
• President Emilio Aguinaldo ordered the formation of this postal service for Filipinos
• Designed by Juan M. Arellano
• Built in neoclassical style in 1926
• Destroyed in World War II
• Rebuilt in 1946

(c) Puzzle Mansion Museum

• 1, 029 pices of Jigsaw Puzzles
• Including 23 wooden puzzles, 3D and 4D collection

More images, here.

(c) Georgina Gil-Lacuna

A 61-year-old Filipina, Guinness World Record holder of World’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle Collection, Georgina Gil-Lacuna possess inspiring stories that can certainly move and encourage other people. But though she’s accomplishing a lot in her unexpected enjoyment, Gina never take pomposity in herself. During her significant day last November 29, 2012, a particular moment after she received the award, she felt very happy for her family and to our country. And she was worried at the same time about her family, the media and especially, her guests. She mused that if all of them were well-fed and doing well. She carried herself up and down to check them; never mind wearing a pair of heels. 

Lacuna has been puzzling since 27 years ago. The first jigsaw puzzle she ever made is Mickey Racing Team. A mother’s love. Yes, because the only reason why she wanted to finish the puzzle was to make her two year old child happy. And she did it. The adorable five thousand pieces jigsaw puzzle is the oldest one from her collection. While the difficult piece she made is Guernica. It is a Pablo Picasso painting with two thousand pieces that took her 40 hours to finish. She usually could finish a puzzle in 15-20 hours. But the hardest one in the world is the Las Hilanderas or “The Spinners” of Diego de Silva Velasquez. It is a ten thousand pieces jigsaw puzzle, done in 300 hours, around three o’clock in the morning as she remembered.

She said during the interview that some people’s technique is to start with the edge. But how about Gina Lacuna’s? “When I first started doing the puzzle, I tried to look for a technique. When you do puzzles all the time and you are used to it, you could start with the colors or the size. You could start anywhere, and it is okay. But for me, you really have to think. You really have to use your head. Because sometimes you thought that’s the piece already for that particular location but it’s not. And it’s very good because your brain really works. You have to have a very good concentration. And it’s makes you sharper. You never knew that later on you will be perceptive in everything, not only in puzzles.”

For 27 years, Gina collected all the puzzles she made. She did not give up on the large number of pieces even. What is more, she did not persist herself to finish all of it. She just enjoyed putting it together. Puzzle making is a relaxant for her. And it also gives her so much joy after she finished the puzzle and after it is being framed. She thought she was able to put all the masterpieces together of our great artists in the world just as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Raphael Sanzio, Jacques-Louis David, and Leonardo da Vinci. As if she was able to finish the painting, too.

Gina Lacuna never stopped doing a puzzle. Aside from her collection in her gallery, she still have a few reserved puzzles in the making. Time after time, she make it a point on her day to do a puzzle. It really makes herself relieve the tension. As told, she encourage, especially the elders who are impeded, to start doing puzzles. “When you do puzzle, it is good for the brain. I suggested it for those who are bored, too. Actually for everybody. It sharpen our minds… And it increases my patience. Because I set in my mind that I could do it. That’s my goal. At the same time, I didn’t make myself feel pressured. So I relax myself. And as time goes by, I didn’t notice, I already made the puzzle. A great work of art by great painter… Why not?”

She has 1,029 pieces in her gallery, as of now, and she’s ready to add more puzzles in her collection. Because now that she is the Guinness World Record holder of Largest Jigsaw Puzzle and witnessing a great technology, she can easily check out for a newest one to the biggest manufacturer of puzzles in the world. Having that title, it also a great news for our kababayan puzzle enthusiasts that her Puzzle Mansion could be the sole distributor in the Philippines. “Probably, I will still be doing puzzles and asking somebody to do the puzzles of the great scenery in the Philippines like the Taal Volcano, Mayon, Barasoain Church, and also, by our great painters like Juan Luna’s Spoliarium and Manansala’s.. it will come later. Right now, we are starting to do puzzles of portraits of people. We could do now portraits, you can email to us the portrait and we will do a puzzle of it. It is cheap – a thousand with a frame plus it is put together already by me.” 

A year or two from now, Gina Lacuna will be bagging again for another title such as The World’s Fastest Puzzle Maker, The Most Number of Pieces assembled by Single Person, or The World’s Largest and Biggest Puzzle. Currently, she is puzzling out the biggest and the largest  puzzle which she launched last year 1st of March. It is a thirty-two thousand pieces, a pop-art, “Double Retrospect” by Keith Haring. It is a big mural, the size is on a par with almost six plywood. The target finishing is on 31st of July this year.

She ended our interview with [witty] advocations: a puzzle could be 1) a great piece to start a conversation; 2) a good remembrance; 3) a boredom killer; 4) a patience booster; 5) an angry neglecter; 6) an extra learning. Georgina Gil-Lacuna believes that it is never too late for anything in life. Hence, I learned that If you will just let perseverance finish its work(James 1:4-6) and know you can do all things(Philippians 4:13), it is only a matter of time.

Location: Purok 4 Cuadra St., Brgy. Asisan, Tagaytay City

Contact: +639052250229 / (02)4255195

Email: puzzlemansion@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/puzzlemansion.com

(c) Puzzle Mansion Bed and Breakfast

Family Rooms: Php6,880

• Two twin double beds
• LCD TV
• Garden view
• Min. of 4, max. of 6 (including kids)
• Four plated breakfast
• Use of infinity pool
• Four free entrance to the puzzle museum

Room names: Marigold, Lilac, Gardenia, Daffodil

Deluxe Rooms: Php4,480

• One queen size bed
• LCD TV
• pool view
• Min. of 2, max. of 4 (including kids)
• Two plated breakfast
• Use of infinity pool
• Two free entrance to the puzzle museum

Room names: Passion flower, Sampaguita, Sunflower, Tulip, Waterlily

*extra bed fee: Php500

*extra plated breakfast: Php200

*Puzzle museum entrance: Php100/head

Others:

• Coconut cream pie
• Souvenir shop
• Wi-Fi spot at the reception area

Location: Purok 4 Cuadra St., Brgy. Asisan, Tagaytay City

Contact: +639052250229 / (02)4255195

Email: puzzlemansion@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/puzzlemansion.com

(c) The Robby Rabbitry / MoCa Farm

• Started in March 2012
• Located in Brgy Castillo, Padre Garcia, Batangas
• Both rabbitry and the farm are owned by Gigi Morris and her husband, Bob

Watch this video to know more about The Robby Rabbitry/MoCa Farm:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RobbyRabbitry

Website: http://www.mocafarm.com

More images, click here.

(c) Naga Public Market

(c) Hon. Jesse M. Robredo’s

His body was cremated on August 28, 2012. His cremated remains was covered by glossy porcelain tiles which has had his name carved. There are also seats for visitors at the side.

PS. I’m sorry for my hair blown by unstoppable wind. And why hello there, it’s me! Lol. Another PS., sorry for mobile phone photo quality. :(

(c) Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia

“A Spanish government official from Peñafrancia, Spain, a native of San Martin de Castanar, the Covarrubias family, settled with his family in Cavite in 1712, according to locals. One day, a son, Miguel Robles de Covarrubias, a seminarian studying in the Universidad de Santo Tomas, Manila got very ill. He and his family prayed to Our Iady of Penafrancia whose picture he was clutching to his breast for his recovery and to spare his life. He also made a vow that if cured, he would construct a chapel by the bank of Pasig River in Manila, in gratitude to Her. Miraculously cured, he eventually was ordained a priest not in Manila but in the Ciudad de Nueva Caceres (now known as Naga City) by Bishop Andres Gonzalez.

To fulfill his vow, Padre Miguel, the first diocesan priest to be ordained in Naga, did two things: one, he mobilized the natives along the slopes of Mt. Isarog to construct a chapel made of local materials, nipa and bamboo this time by the bank of the Bikol river in Naga, not by the Pasig river as earlier envisioned; two, he ordered a local artisan to carve an image patterned after the picture of Our lady he always had with him. Miracles happened then and there. Among them was the story of a dog killed, its neck slashed in order to take out the poor animal’s blood that was used to coat/paint the newly carved image. Dumped into the river, the dead dog began to swim once again alive with hundreds of people witnessing this prodigy. News of many other miracles spread like wildfire so was the devotion to Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia. The letter of Padre Miguel to the Dominican Fathers of Salamanca, Spain in 1712 reported many miracles through the intercession of Our Lady. In the meantime, the devotees grew in number as the devotion spread fast far and wide, even outside the Diocese of Nueva Caceres which before comprised not only the Bikol region but including Tayabas (now Quezon), Marinduque, Laguna up to Palanan, Isabela along the cordillera ranges. Like the biblical “mustard seed” the Penafrancia devotion today is like a “giant tree” whose branches extend to other parts of the world like America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The love story between our Lady of Penafrancla we lovingly call “Ina” and us, her children is never ending.” - Wiki

PS. Due to lack of time, I wasn’t able to ask its historical background and whatnot and (another PS) sorry for mobile phone photo quality. :(