DON AMADO V. ALDABA
By Carolina B. Clemente
(Philippine Journal of Philately, Nov-Dec 1950)
It was inspiring to see Mr. Amado V. Aldaba at his home in Malate
with all the serenity of his age quietly spending his leisure time
on his stamps, evidently enjoying them fully.
One who has seen much of life during his younger days and father of
ten brilliant sons and daughters, seven have already graduated from
colleges and universities, among whom four have already been to the
United States on educational tours: Lualhati, Diwata, Dalisay and
Homobono - Dalisay giving concerts to American audiences and
Homobono, doctor of medicine, taking Graduate courses, Mr. Aldaba
is still Assistant Provincial Treasurer of Bulacan, a position which
he has been occupying for many years.
On June 6, 1935, a day which he would not forget,
Mr. Inoceneio Delgado, owner of a store at the Escolta, introduced
to him the hobby of stamp collecting. Completely fascinated by the
new hobby, Mr. Aldaba began to collect stamps that very day.
With serious and earnest collecting,
Mr.
Aldaba was able to obtain many rare stamps which carry high values
at present.
Although he started rather late, his
collection can equal if not surpass those of other well known
philatelists. Two of his sons have become interested too in stamps
and they help him collect stamps aside from building their own
collections. Accumulations of years of avid collecting, Mr. Aldaba's is a vast treasure now.
Like other serious philatelists, he is
investing a good sum of money in his collection. He is specializing
in Philippine stamps and Philippine First Day Covers. His album is
very beautifully and neatly mounted.
It reveals the care the owner is giving
to it. One may wonder how an old man could make it possible. But if
we consider how Mr. Aldaba loves this hobby we will know why.
For pleasure and investment, Mr. Aldaba considers
stamp collecting above other hobbies. He says that it affords a high
type of pleasure, and, at the same time, it serves as good
investment, for stamps increase their value as the years go by.
Mr. Aldaba says that if we have the right stamp
printing machinery in the Philippines, like what they have in the
United States, the Philippines will increase her income. He added
that instead of paying millions of pesos for the printing of our
stamps we can spend our money for the rehabilitation of our country.
One thing he wishes his grandchildren to realize
is that he, their grandpa, is deriving unspeakable joy from his
collection of stamps.
