1956 Liberty Wells

"God will bless those who dig wells, build bridges, and construct roads." 
Chinese proverb

In 1954, the majority of the population of the Philippines was dependent on unsafe sources of water. President Magsaysay urged the people to get together and put in community wells. Filipino-Chinese business leader Albino Sycip established the "Liberty Wells Association" to raise funds to donate wells  to poor communities.

Don Albino Sycip was a founder and Chairman of the Board 

of China Bank, the first privately-owned commercial bank in 

the Philippines.

President Ramon Magsaysay praised the Association in his first State of the Nation address and issued an executive order which allowed the  Liberty Wells Association "to solicit contributions to the Government from the public of funds and materials to be used exclusively for the construction and development of artesian wells and other sources of potable water supplies for rural communities in the Philippines lacking in financial resources to provide an adequate and safe water supply."


On March 16, 1956, "Safe Drinking Water for Rural Areas" was the subject of a set of commemorative stamps issued by the Bureau of Posts. The stamps, engraved by Waterlow & Sons (England) feature a vignette of President Magsaysay and a scene of villagers pumping water from the community Liberty Well.


Stamps

 

 

First Day of Issue Cachet

 

First Day Covers

 

1955 Slogan Cancellations

NATIONAL THRIFT WEEK
JANUARY 3-9, 1955
PHILIPPINES POSTAL SAVINGS BANK

Manila, January 3, 1955

1ST REGIONAL MEETING
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
MANILA, JAN. 16-23, 1955

Manila, January 10, 1955

7TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
PAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S ASS'N
JAN. 24-FEB. 6, 1955
MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Manila, January 21, 1955

CAVALCADE OF INDUSTRIES
FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 8, 1955
THIRD CONVENTION
MANUFACTURERS & PRODUCERS
FEBRUARY 24-26

Manila, February 7, 1955

PHILIPPINES NATIONAL RED CROSS
SERVES AT ALL TIMES
1955 FUND CAMPAIGN
FEBRUARY 14-MARCH 31

Manila, February 14, 1955

COME AND SEE
BPSIAA MEET
ILOILO CITY
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 8, 1955

Ioilo City, February 21, 1955

NUTRITION WEEK MARCH 1-7, 1955
FOOD CIVIL DEFENSE
THE BULLWARK OF
THE NATION'S STRENGTH

Manila. March 1, 1955

PRAYER FOR PEACE
APRIL 9
DEFENDERS OF BATAAN & CORREGIDOR

Manila, April 6, 1955

NATIONAL HOSPITAL'S WEEK
MAY 6-12
VISIT AND SUPPORT OUR HOSPITALS

Manila, April 18, 1955

LABOR-MANAGEMENT 
CONGRESS
MAY 26-28, 1955

Manila, May 15, 1955

NATIONAL ARBOR WEEK
PLANT TREES
LOVE AND PROTECT THEM
JULY 24-30, 1955

Manila, July 24, 1955

1ST REGIONAL MUSIC CONFERENCE
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
AUGUST 29-31
U.P.,DILIMAN, Q.C.

Manila,  August 11, 1955

FOR A HEALTHIER
PHILIPPINES
HELP THE ANTI-TB DRIVE
AUG. 19-SEPT. 30, 1955

 

Manila, August 19, 1955

BUREAU OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INAUGURATION
SOCIAL TELEGRAM SERVICE
AUGUST 31 1955

Manila, September 1, 1955

GIVE TO THE
ANTI-TB DRIVE
AUG 19-SEPT. 30, 1955

Manila, September 1, 1955

LET BOOKS HELP YOU
NATIONAL BOOK WEEK
NOVEMBER 24-30

PHILIPPINE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Manila, November 17, 1955

HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED
TO THE 1955 MALACANG
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
FOR INDIGENT CHILDREN

Manila, December 8, 1955

1956 50th Anniversary Philipine National Red Cross

On August 30, 1905,  Miss Mabel T. Boardman , Secretary of the Central Committee of the American National Red Cross, helped to organize the Philippine Branch of the American Red Cross, whose purpose was "To take charge of disaster relief withing the Philippines and administer American Red Cross relief funds sent from the United States."

 Mabel T. Boardman was elected to the American Red Cross governing board in 1901, beginning a lifelong career of organizational leadership, particularly among volunteers.


The 50th anniversary of Red Cross service in the Philippines was marked on August 30, 1955, but it was only on August 30, 1956, that the Bureau of Posts issued a set of stamps to commemorate the event. The stamps were engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co. of New York.

Stamps

First Day of Issue Cachet

First Day Covers