Bohol enthusiasts mount 10th philatelic exhibition

JOINING millions of enthusiasts across the globe, the Bohol Philatelic Society held its exhibit of collection, a thing they did with the Philippine Postal Corporation. At the 10th Bohol Competitive Philatelic Exhibition (BOPEX 2006) last December 14-17, 2006 at the Bohol Quality Mall, Tagbilaran City , local and regional enthusiasts witness ribbon cutting ceremonies and ceremonial cancellation of Souvenir Covers. The exhibit also allowed stamp collectors to put in their collections as entries in the friendly competitions of two levels: the professional and the junior division with four each categories: National, Foreign, Topical and Thematic. The winners of the different level and categories were: Professional level National Category: Gold – Founders of Philippine Freedom, Nor Angeline Albuladora. Vermeil – Discover the Philippines , Natividad Patenio and Bronze - Philippine Educational Institution, Imelda Albuladora

In the foreign Category: Gold showed Biographical Data of American Presidents by Imelda Alboladora; Vermiel - Countries in Space Ventures, Eufroñio Brunidor; Bronze - Stamps in Stamps, Nor Angelina Albuladora. Topical Category: Gold – Atlethic Sports /Olympic Competition, Eufroñio Brunidor; Vermeil – Portraits of Madonna and Child, Imelda Albuladora: Bronze Cars of 20th Century, Nena Tubaon. In the Junior level, for the National Category: Gold – President of the Philippine Republic, Jackylou Albuladora; Vermiel - Hero, Marilly Payos; Bronze Great - Men and women of the Philippines, Jay Thadeus Patenio. Junior foreign category: Gold – Vietnam Stamps, Mary Ann Albuladora; Vermeil - Great Leader of the US , Jackylou Patenio; Bronze People to Remember, Marily Payos. Junior topical category: Gold – Christmas Jackylou Patenio; Vermeil – Animal of the Lunar New Year, Esterlina Gerasta; Bronze- Expo / Display Ships, Mary Ann Albuladora. This year's Judge was City Councilor Archie C. Sarmiento.

The entries were judged according to the following criteria: A.) Condition and Rarity – 25%: 2. Presence of interesting item – the presence of stamps, covers, which are of extraordinary or special interest – 25% and ; 1. Mounting, appearance and write-up – 50%. For condition and rarity, rated were the general condition of the items: complete perforation, no part folded, crease or torn; if postage is used, the canceling ink must not obliterate the design; stamp must be clean. Meanwhile, over the mounting and stamp collection presentation, entries are rated on the philatelic knowledge and presentation: presentable, cohesive, neat and that the write-up must not be too long nor should the stamps crowd each other so as not to distract viewers. The winners got cash prizes and trophies, certificates and tokens. The BOPEX 2006 sponsors are Frederick Ong Benjamin Ong of Bohol Quality Corporation and their families for the venue and facilities; Lina Tan and Provincial Administrator Atty. Tomas Abapo, Jr. and Melmel Racho for the cash prizes. Governor Erico B. Aumentado, Congressman Edgar Chatto, Provencial Board Member Felix Uy and Eufracio Mascariñas for the trophies.

HISTORY

BOHOL Philatelic Society started upon the urging of Postal Regional Director Fabiolita Ferrareis, and the initiative of Vic Oclarit, Tagbilaran City Main Post Office post master. On September 20,1996 , the BPS was born. Composed of top business leaders and professionals in government and private sector, the BPS soon stuck to the edge in the philatelic scene in the region. Upon its organization, Richard Allan Uy, Philpost 7 Philatelic Adviser and President of Cebu Stamp Club, Inc. together with Rachel Betos, Postal Region 7 Market Specialist conducted a brief seminar – lecture on philately to the newly elected officers and members of the organized stamps club. The seminar taught enthusiasts how to mount an award winning philatelic entry and invited them all to participate in the PhilPostPex '96 Grand Philatelic Exhibition of Philippines Postal Corporation, Region 7 at Cebu City. The founding officer (1996-1997) then were Atty Rosalina C. Abapo (President); Engr. Jose Mariano Tubo (VP); Luz Tambis (Secretary); Engr. Aida Crusit (Treasurer); Tracy Bitoy, CPA (Auditor); John Howell Duke Miñosa, Adam Saligumba, and Orcisimo Ciano (PRO's); Stash Labaria (Business Manager); Lina Tan and Vic Oclarit as Adviser.

The BPS has proven that their success was the product of dedication, sacrifice and determination. They mounted BOPEX '96, the first competitive “Bohol Philatelic Exhibit” held at the Bohol Quality Arcade in Tagbilaran City with Governor Rene Relampagos as the guest of honor. From 1996 up to the present, the society has made the BOPEX an annual rite while also joining exhibitions in Cebu City .

The Stamps

WHILE organized postal system existed in the ancient Egypt and China thousands of years before the birth of Christ, we can perhaps talk of the history of postage stamps when we link it to the development of postal system in England , where the first postage stamp was born in 1840. As early as 1653, M. de Villayer established a local post office in Paris and the letter had to be enclose in wrappers, known as billet de port paye. There were stamps collectors at the time and in 1774 John Bourke, the Receiver General of Stamps Duties in Ireland, formed a collection of duty stamps in the book “Collection of the Impression” on every sheet of paper. This book was no doubt the world's first stamps album.

Colonel Henry Bishop became Postmaster General to the Crown of England by 1660 and introduced many measures to streamline the service and to ensure that there is no leakage of revenue. To him goes the credit for the use of date stamps on the postal item known at the time as bishop marks. William Dockwra organized the first system with uniform postage rates within London and Westminster . He also introduced the system of indicating the time of posting.

Other Development followed such as same day delivery in London at a cost of one penny. At that time postage was to be paid by the recipient based on the number of pages contained in the letter and the distance it had to be delivered, Rowland Hill a schoolmaster interested in many things as printing, astronomy, navigation, electricity and postal reform soon started innovations. Convinced that pre payment system was the solution, Hill proposed that the cost should be standardized to one penny regardless to the distance for delivery or the number of page in the letter. He also lobbied to the Parliament to pass the Act of 1839, despite the great opposition from the post office who feared financial ruin. The Penny Black and the Two- Penny Blue were finally launched to curious public on 06 May 1840 . At first they were called labels and the glue on their backs was called cement.

Although Rowland Hill's reform led to the development of postage stamps, he himself favored prepaid envelopes, which incorporate the stamps. As a result Mulready envelops were launched along with the Penny Black and the two Penny Blue. Other countries followed the progress of Great Britain 's new postal service with increasing interest, and it was not long before some of them began to issue their own stamps. The Swiss started in March 1845 with the stamp issued by the canton on Zurich , and the following October a strange divisible stamp was produced by the canton of Geneva .

Brazil 's first stamps, the famous bullseye, were brought out in August 1843. In 1847 Mauritius became the first British colony to issue its own stamps, and that same year, the first Government Postage appeared in the United States. By 1850 Bermuda , Bavaria , Belgium , Spain and France had joined the growing stamps-producing countries, and in Australia both new South Wales and Victoria were issuing stamps. India was the first Country in Asia to issue the postage stamps in 1852.

Thailand issued its first stamp on 04 August 1883 and Japan issued its first in 1871. Theme on the stamps of deferent countries varied vastly. Although there are many alternative to stamps nowadays like franking machines, postage with prepayment and the like it is certain that stamps have to stay. Think of millions of people who spend a lot of their time, energies and money to the passion of their life—stamp collecting! Today all countries around the word are issuing not less than 7,000 to 8,000 stamps annually and the hobby of philately is the most popular hobby around the world.

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