United Nations' International Year of Natural Fibers

Each year, farmers harvest around 35 million tons of natural fibers from a wide range of plants and animals – from sheep, rabbits, goats, camels and alpacas, from cotton bolls, abaca and sisal leaves and coconut husks, and from the stalks of jute, hemp, flax and ramie plants. Those fibers form fabrics, ropes and twines that have been fundamental to society since the dawn of civilization.

But over the past half century, natural fibers have been displaced in our clothing, household furnishings, industries and agriculture by man-made fibers with names like acrylic, nylon, polyester and polypropylene. The success of synthetics is due mainly to cost. Unlike natural fibers harvested by farmers, commonly used synthetic fibers are mass produced from petrochemicals to uniform strengths, lengths and colours, easily customized to specific applications.

Atis.  Philippine name for Sweet Sop, Sugar Apple, and Custard Apple.  Atis was introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish times. It is a small tree that grows between 10 to 20 feet high when fully matured with oblong leaves and green heart-shaped fruits with polygonal tubercles. The atis fruit has a white, sweet flesh and black seeds.  http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/atis.htm

Pomelo (Suha). Found throughout the Philippines, usually planted. A small tree, 6 to 13 meters in height. Spines, solitary, sharp and long. Flowers are white, fragrant.  Fruit is large, up to 20 cm in diameter.  Pulp is pale yellow, pink or red, with large distinct vesicles.  http://www.stuartxchange.org/Suha.html

The design of said stamps were made in animated Christmas symbols showing colorful Christmas Bells, the famous Christmas flowers called “Ponsiettas”, colorful Christmas gifts, such as card, candy cane, teddy bear and other boxes wrapped in Christmas wrapper, and a colorful Christmas lantern.

Postal patrons can avail themselves of the flowers and chocolates that the mailman will deliver for them or to their loved ones.

Also, with the special limited edition of Valentine’s Day stamps to be issued by PhilPost, Filipinos can definitely relate with their love ones through love letters.

NCR Regional Manager Bernardito Gonzales said that PhilPost will deliver chocolate and flowers to make this Valentine’s Day celebration a memorable one.

“Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” is a traditional Filipino Christmas song. It was originally composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil in 1933 as Kasadya ning Táknaa (English: How Blissful is this Season!). A version of the song in Tagalog was used by Josefino Cenizal as a marching song for “Ang Pugad ng Aguila” (Hawk’s Nest) in 1938. National Artist Levi Celerio also wrote Tagalog lyrics to the song during the 1950′s. The song is still sung today in various communities, especially in Churches both in the Philippines and abroad.

First Airmail Exhibition Issue

Two surcharged stamps, 8c on the 26c Francisco Carriedo and 1p on the 10p Arms of Manila commemorated the first airmail exhibition in this country which was held in Manila on February Ii-19, 1939. Intended for airmail fees locally and for U.S respectively, the overprints on the stamps read.

Palau

Palau lies in the Caroline Islands, 495 miles (800 km) to the east of the Philippines. It is made up of over 200 islands' but only eight are permanently inhabited. The forested islands of the north have been formed by volcanoes. Tapioca, coconuts, fruit and vegetables are grown in their fertile soil.

Southern Palau is made up of low lying coral islands. Palau’s main exports are copra and tuna, but tourism is becoming increasingly important.

From 1886, Palau was ruled by Spain. It was sold to Germany in 1899 and passed into Japanese hands during World War I. after 1947; it was governed by the United States of America on behalf of the United Nation. It became an independent republic in 1994

.As stamp collectors we are usually in search of something unique. Unique in the sense that it is different from others.  Enjoyment!, fun, and education are usually the primary purpose of a hobby  One such enjoyment is collecting stamps.

Correct Stamp Inspection

Uninformed beginners will usually get hold of the loose corner of a stamp and pull vigorously to remove it from the envelope to which it is attached. This procedure makes the stamp 'uncollectible' or worthless.

Before removing a stamp from an envelope, a collector should take a look at the back of the envelope to see if an interesting seal or label or a stamp has been affixed and would be destroyed in the cutting process.

Next, the collector should make a detailed examination of the front. First: Check the stamp affixed to the envelope to see if it is collectible. Check if all the perforations are there and if it is not greased, heavily canceled or torn. Second: Consider the stamp with the cancellation and postmark to see if they fit into a topic or specialty. Third: Consider the entire envelope on the specialty or topical tie-in or if the date in the postmark makes the cover a first day cover.

Once you have acquired a few stamps, you will want a home for them. The purchase of this, your first album, will not require so much thought and consideration as will later albums.

You should regard this one as nothing more than a temporary home for your stamps until your experience increases and your future philatelic course can be charted.

There are several good begrimes albums available at about $10 and in various sizes, but do not get one with a capacity of more than 20,000 stamps.