Category: Trivia

Trivia about Roque B. Ablan

Outstanding public servant and World War II hero, Roque Ablan was born on 09 August 1906 in Laoag, llocos Norte to Victor Ablan and Raymunda Blanco. He obtained his Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1929 and Bachelor of Laws degree in 1930 from the University of the Philippines. That same year, he took the bar examinations, placing 9th among the successful examinees.

Trivia about Philippine Wild Ducks

Ducks are web-footed swimming birds in the family Anatidae, which also includes the goose and swan. It is distinguished from the goose and swan by its comparatively small size, short neck and legs, its somewhat flattened body and the sexes usually have a different plumage. In common with them, and with the flamingo, it has transverse, tooth-like ridges called lamellae, just inside the edges of the bill, for straining edible matter from mud or water. The numerous species of ducks occur throughout the world on fresh or salt waters and on many oceanic small islands.

Ducks do not need and will not use dropping boards or nests, and an open shed littered with straw. They feed on plants, seeds, grains, animal foodstuffs, milk and almost any type of feeding material found on a farm. Since ducks are rugged and are able to care for themselves, they do well on free range. Also, ducks can be successfully raised without water facilities for swimming. However, they breed most naturally when they have swimming facilities.

1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) – The mallard breeds in subarctic and temperate regions in different countries of the world. It is the ancestor of most domestic ducks and is one of the best known birds in the world. It is usually confused with domestic ducks in ricefields called "quack".

2. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) – There are about fifteen species of teal distributed throuqhout the world. The best known is the green-winged teal which breeds in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a small, fast-flying, surface feeding duck. The male is a beautiful small, gray bird with a green patch on the chestnut-colored head, and a conspicuous, metallic-green patch on the wing. The female is brown speckled with a green wing patch. Uncommon in freshwater wetlands, usually in small groups.

 

Trivia about the Centro Escolar University (CEU)

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY 1907-2007: The First 100 Years

Centre Escolar University was established on June 3, 1907 by Doha Librada Avelino and Dona Carmen de Luna for the instruction and training of the youth in all branches of the arts and sciences. With some benches, a single blackboard and a few books, the two educators steadfastly nurtured a dream of establishing a nationalistic center of learning for Filipino women. The first college, that of Pharmacy, opened in 1921.

 

Trivia about Philippine Colonial Churches

Manila Cathedral – The cathedral, also known as the minor basilica of the Immaculate Conception, was the seat of the Archbishop of Manila during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, and still remains the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Manila. Completed in 1951, the Manilc Cathedral rises majestically over the remains of five predecessors, the first of which was erected in 1581. Four of the previous constructions were destroyed by earthquakes and fires, the fifth was reduced to a bombed-out shell during the Battle for Manila in 1945. The new Romanesque edificf incorporates stone carvings and rosette windows salvaged from the ruins.

St. Augustine Church (Paoay Church) – Popularly known as Paoay Church, St. Augustine Church was built in 1694 through the efforts of Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo. Considered as the most outstanding variant of the "earthquake Baroque", the church was built of baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap) and lumber, and has 24 curved buttresses. Earthquake damaged portions of the church in 1865 and 1885. In an excavation conducted inside the church in 2000, a prehistoric human skeleton and fragmented ceramics were discovered and are now on display at the National Museum. The Paoay Church was declared a national treasure by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Now included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, it revealed several structural decays after centuries of exposure to the elements and will soon undergo restoration under the auspices of UNESCO.

 

Who’s Who? on Stamps

The 33rd President of the U.S. Succeeded F.D Roosevelt. He accepted the German Surrender. On April 25 his telephoned speech opened the San Francisco Conference establishing the United Nations. Made a controversial decision to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan thus ending WWIl.

Trivia about the International year of the Forests

The Philippine Postal Corporation is coming up with the 2011 United Nations Issue International Year of the Forests stamps, which will be issued on October 24, 2011. It is classified as a “Special” kind of issue with a denomination of P 7.00 and quantity of 70,000 pieces.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

The said stamp features the winning photos in the contest conducted/sponsored by the United Nations Information Center (Manila) highlighting this year’s celebration of the International Year of the Forests.

 

 

Trivia about the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

The Philippine Postal Corporation is coming up with the 75 Years Anniversary of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) stamps, which will be issued on November 7, 2011. It is classified as a “Commemorative” kind of issue with a denomination of P 7.00 and quantity of 150,000 pieces.

According to its official website (http://www.nbi.gov.ph), “The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) saw its inception on November 13, 1936 upon approval of Commonwealth Act No. 181 by the legislature. It was the the brainchild of the late President Manuel L. Quezon and Jose Yulo, then Secretary of Justice.

Trivia about the Philippine Marine Biodiversity I

 

Postal patrons and stamp collectors will truly love the unique designs of these definitive stamps which showcase the interesting parts of the Philippine marine organisms:

Dendronephtya Soft Coral (Dendronephthya sp.)
Viewed close up these magnificent animals present a graphic example of soft coral anatomy. They lack symbiotic algae or zooxanthellae that mask the internal structure of many other species. The embedded calcareous slivers or sclerites that make up the internal skeleton are clearly visible through the semitransparent trunk and branches. Fleshy polyps are grouped in clusters on the branch.

Trivia about the EDSA People Power Revolution

 

Corazon C. Aquino

In the snap election of 1986, Corazon C. Aquino was winning in the election tally by National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) when the Commission of Election proclaimed Ferdinand Marcos, as winner. Aquino called for a nationwide protest movement against Marcos, and a boycott on products made by companies identified with Marcos. She was in Cebu when Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice Chief Staff Fidel V. Ramos announced their withdrawal of support to President Marcos on February 22, 1986. Enrile revealed that Marcos cheated in the snap election and that Aquino flew to Manila on February 23, 1986 to talk to with the rebels and supporters. She went to EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue to give a message of h