THE 2009 CHRISTMAS SEALS OF THE PHILIPPINES

“Pinoy Art on Wheels”

 

By Nemy L. Rivera

The Philippine Christmas seal design of 2009 was a resumption of the painting series initiated and organized pro-bono since year 2000 by international artist Manuel D. Baldemor, after a recent 3-year interruption. 

PREVIOUS ISSUES

In 2006, in a fervor of nationalism, Andres Bonifacio was extolled in varied angle photo shots of the Caloocan monument, dovetailed to compose the seal sheet for that year.   

In 2007, design centered on the centennial celebration of the scouting movement, and featured various boy scout activities on a se-tenant sheet format. Both issues were likewise coordinated by Manny Baldemor.  

In 2008, primarily to scrimp on seal production costs,  prescribed quantities of unsold seal inventories were simply overprinted with “2008 / Collect Seals”. The economics worked fine, and incidentally, a recent rarity was produced – the silver- foil overprinted versions which were given away free, and ran out, during the launching of the seals. 

2009 ISSUE - PINOY ART ON WHEELS

Figure 1.  Souvenir Sheet

The theme of the 2009 seals is capsulized in the title “ Pinoy Art on Wheels “  Forty artwork and photo seals on the sheet showcased wheeled transportation of all sorts, from old to new, from oxen, mule,  horse and carabao drawn carts, calesas, bicycles, scooters, jeepneys, cars, even to an ice cream cart,  all focusing on man’s ageless invention – the wheel.  Almost excusably, however, three seals in the sheet did not show any wheel.

 

Figure 2.  2009 Christmas Seals Sheet of 40

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:

Participating Artists to the 2009 Christmas Seals of the Philippines: “Pinoy Art on Wheels”
Dante Hipolito	Ed Santiago	Edgar Doctor	Ephraim Samson	Amador Barguilla
Julius Limpe	Jun Martinez	Al Perez	Romeo Gutierrez	Rudolf Gonzales
Steve Santos	Ton Raymundo	Dominic Rubio	Norma Belleza	Rollie D. Yusi
Rafael Gonzales	Marcel Antonio	Malang	Manuel D. Baldemor	Aldrino Abes
Antonio Mahilum	Malang	Malang	Malang	Isabel Limpe
Nemiranda	Antonio Bandalan	Jose Datuin	Monnar Baldemor	Ben Gonzales
Herzon de la Rosa	Antonio Austria	Joseph Bañez	Mario Parial	Marivic Formoso
Manuel Rodriguez Sr.	Aris Abalos	Henry Ordona	Jomar Delluba	Danilo Franco
Arranged according to seal appearance,  Left to Right

MINTAGE:

Perforated sheets -  80,000 

Imperforate sheets – 1,000 

Souvenir Sheets (Imperforate) -  300 

9-stage progressive color proofs - 30 sets:

(1) yellow, (2) red,  (3) yellow + red,   (4) blue,  (5) yellow + blue'  (6)  red + blue,  (7) yellow + red + blue,  (8) black,  (9)  complete design

 

CONTROVERSIAL DESIGN

 

 

Fig. 3.  Early color separation proof showing controversial seal at the bottom left corner of 2009 sheet.

 

A minor controversy was created by a photo of a seal at the bottom left corner of the sheet, position # 36, (by Jasper Penullar) showing two young boys peeing on a jeepney wheel.  Due to an objection from a PTSI official, the offending seal was deleted and replaced with an artwork seal by Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. (Personally, the author feels that the deletion of this innocently naughty  true- to- life seal, was a loss to the realism of the design.)

LAUNCHING CEREMONY

The new Christmas Seals were launched August 26, 2009 at the Shangri-la Cuisine, in Quezon City.  There was full attendance by local postmasters / postmistresses and staff, headed by Postmaster General Hector R. R. Villanueva, with participating artists, collectors, seal committee members and PTSI managers and personnel.  As in previous launches, the ceremony culminated in the signing and presentation of the 2009 Souvenir Frames, led by PTSI president Zeneida Quezon Avanceña.

Photos from the launching of the 2009 Christmas Seals

 

Presentation of Souvenir Frame to PTSI Board Members: 

(L-R)  Mrs. Thelma M. Arceo, Mrs. Nelia T. Gonzales, Postmaster General Hector R. R. Villanueva,

Mrs. Maria Zeneida Quezon Avanceña, Dr. Felipe A. Estrella, Jr., Dr. Ma. Alicia M. Lim, Mr. Rex D. Lores

 

 

TB Seals Committee Members and Guests:  (L-R) 

Mr. Rex D. Lores, Mr. Manuel D. Baldemor, Mrs. Maria Zeneida Quezon Avanceña, PMG Hector R.R. Villanueva, Roberto V. Araos, Mr. Nemy L. Rivera, Mrs. Emilia Rivera, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

 

Presidential Table:  (L-R)  Mrs. Nelia T. Gonzales, President, Asiaworld Properties, and, General Campaign Chairman of 2009 Anti-TB Educational and Fund Campaign;  Mrs. Maria Zeneida Quezon Avanceña, PTSI President;  Mrs. Thelma Arceo, and Dr. Felipe Estrella, PTSI Board Members

 

       

Presidential Table:  (L-R)  Dr. Elizabeth V. Cadena, PTSI Deputy Executive Director; 

Mrs. Emilia Rivera, Mr. Nemy L. Rivera, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

 

Presidential Table:  Mr. Robert V. Araos, Mr. Manuel D. Baldemor,

Mr. Rex D. Lores, PMG Hector R. R. Villanueva

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