1963 President Macapagal's Socio-Economic Program for the Philippines

In his first State of the Nation Address, January 22, 1962, President Macapagal outlined a five-year socio-economic program for the Philippines , which promised to help the "common man".

A set of three stamps was issued on September 28, 1963,  to promote the Macapagal socio-economic program for the Philippines.

First Day of Issue Cancellation

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1963 New Famous Filipinos VIII Marcelo del Pilar

Marcelo del Pilar was an outspoken critic of the Spanish authorities in the Philippines. In 1889, he moved to Spain where he became part of the Reform Movement formed by expatriate filipinos such as Jose Rizal and Mariano Ponce. Del Pilar became the editor of  La Solidaridad, the movement's newspaper  On July 4, 1896, Del Pilar died of tuberculosis in Barcelona. 

Leaders of the reform movement in Spain:

 Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar, and Mariano Ponce

The Marcelo del Pilar defintive stamp was issued on September 23, 1963.

First Day of Issue Cancellation

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1963 New Famous Filipinos VII Manuel Quezon

On September 23, 1963, the Bureau of Posts replaced the 1960 1 cent definitive stamp showing Manuel Quezon with a new stamp also picturing Quezon.

Manuel Quezon has been the shown on several Philippine stamps:

 1947 Manuel L. Quezon
 1947 Quezon-Roosevelt Airmails
 1947 NAPEX
 Famous Filipinos Series : 1952 - 1960
 1958 Anti-TB Semi Postal Issue
 1959 Anti-TB Semi-Postals
 1960 Anti-TB Semi-postal Stamp
 1960 Quezon 1c Definitive

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Quezon 1953 stamp with November 30, first day cancel

New Quezon stamp cancelled on day of issue

1963 Philippine Folk Dances

On September 15, 1963, the Bureau of Posts issued the first Philippine Republic stamps celebrating  Filipino culture:  a se-tenant set of four stamps featuring  popular Philippine folk dances printed by Thomas de la Rue and Co. Ltd., England.

5s Tinkling Dance

The tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bmboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between pole between the poles in a dance. The dance originated in islands in the central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles.


6s  Pandanggo sa ilaw (Dance of the Oil Lamps)

This  dance originates from Lubang Island, Mindoro in Visayas. 'Pandanggo sa ilaw' means 'Fandango with light'.The term pandanggo comes from the Spanish word fandango, which is a dance characterized by marking time with a clack of castanets, snapping of fingers, and stomping of feet in triple-time rhythm. A dancer balances three oil lamps (tinghoy), or candles in glasses instead, balanced on her head and on the back of each hand while she dances.


10s  Itik-Itik

Itk-Itik , a dance which originated in Mindanao, imotates the movements of ducks among rice paddies and swamplands, such as wading, flying, and short, choppy steps.


20c  Singkil

The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanoa in Mindanao. It is derived from a story in the Darangen, the Maranao epic song.  The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive entertainment.


First Day of Issue Cancellation

The cancellation includes  a pandanggo  dancer balancing  candles.

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1963 International Red Cross Centennial

In 1963, the International Red Cross celebrated the centennial of its founding . The Bureau of Posts issued a set of three stamps honouring the Red Cross. The stamps, which feature the Red Cross centennial emblem, were printed by Courvoisier, S.A. Switzerland, and released on September 1, 1963.

First Day of Issue Cancellation

The Red Cross centennial symbol was included in the cancellation.

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