M1384: Bougainvillea Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x5.5"
Postcard Type: View card
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

Bogambilya or Bongabilya, Tagalog for Bougainvillea, was named after the French admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, the first Frenchman to cross the Pacific. Bougainvillea is actually native to South America, but was probably brought to the country by the Spaniards.
Bougainvilleas are popular ornamental plants in the country. The first species recorded here was Bougainvillea spectabilis. The other species, B. glabra and B. peruviana were introduced much later.

The back of the postcard reads:
Bougainvillea, a favorite garden adornment.
Found in the Philippines in several colors. (Courtesy of Mrs. Purificacion A. Lopa)

M1384: Bougainvillea Postcard

TRIVIA:
Bougainvillea is the official flower of Tagbilaran, Bohol.

SOURCES:
Bougainvillea Wikipedia Entry
Philippine Medicinal Plants: Bogambilya
Symbols of the City of Tagbilaran

M1382: Ambuklao Dam Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x5.5"
Postcard Type: View card
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore
The Ambuklao Hyroelectric Plant is located in the mountains of Bokod, Benguet. The dam was the country's first hydroelectric plant and was the highest and biggest in the Far East during the 50's.
On January 29, 1948, President Manuel Roxas submits a Bill to Congress which would authorize the expenditure of the proceeds of a loan for the construction of certain hydro-electric projects. The National Power Corporation, in cooperation with Westinghouse Electric International Company, took a survey of the country's hydroelectric potential and prepared the Philippine Power Program in 1948. It's major undertaking was the Ambuklao Power Project.

The back of the postcard reads:
Ambuklao Dam, source of hydroelectric power. Located in Mt. Province

M1382: Ambuklao Dam Postcard

Construction of the project began in July 1950. The contractor for the dam's civil works was the Guy F. Atkinson Company of San Francisco, while the Harza Engineering Company of Chicago was the engineering consultant. The work involved the construction of a dam, the second highest of its kind, rock-filled, 452 meters along the crest and 129 meters high; the width of the spillway is 124 meters. The reservoir, or man-made lake, runs 11 kilometers upstream from the dam.

The 75,000 kw Ambuklao Hydro-electric Development was completed on December 21, 1956 and was inaugurated by President Ramon Magsaysay at the sub-station at Balintawak, on January 19, 1957. The cost reached a reported P132,000,000.

The facility had to stop operation in 2000 because of uncontrolled and heavy siltation. After winning the bid in 2007, SN Aboitiz Power Hydro Incorporated (SNAP) is considering the possibility of expanding the generation capacity to 105 MW after rehabilitation.

SOURCES:
Ambuklao Dam
Journal of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, March 1948: The Business View, p. 77Journal of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, January 1957: The Ambuklao Development Inauguration, pp. 56, 58
SN Power: Ambuklao

M1376: Rural Scene Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x5.5"
Postcard Type: View card
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

The postcard shows a typical rural scene in the country, with farmers and carabao. In the background is the view of the mystical mountain Mount Arayat in Pampanga.

Mount Arayat, which rises to a height of 1,026 metres (3,366 ft), is 19 kilometers away from Mabalacat, a town that derived its name from the ancient "balacat" trees which were found abundantly in the area.

The back of the postcard reads:
Rural scene, in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Seen in the background is the famous Mt. Arayat.

M1376: Rural Scene Postcard

Mount Arayat is considered a mystical mountain, the legendary home of the diwata Mariang Sinukuan, counterpart of the Tagalogs' Mariang Makiling. It was said to be dwelling-place of the Kapampangan sun god, Sinukuan.

TRIVIA: There is no recorded eruption of the volcano.

SOURCES:
Mount Arayat Wikipedia Entry
Mabalacat, Pampanga Wikipedia Entry
Pinoy Mountaineer: Mount Arayat

M1370: Baguio Airport Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x5.5"
Postcard Type: View card
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore
The postcard shows a Philippine Airlines flight (type of plane was not mentioned on the card) arriving at the Loakan Airport in Baguio City.

Loakan Airport, the country’s highest airport with an elevation of 1296 meters, has only one runway running almost directly east-west with a length of 1.8 kilometers and a width of 35 meters. Only propeller-driven planes can make use of it.

The back of the postcard reads:
Baguio City, in the City of Baguio, Philippines

M1370: Baguio Airport Postcard

Loakan Airport was formerly served by Philippine Airlines (PAL) beginning on March 15, 1941 with a single Beechcraft Model 18 NPC-54 on daily services between Manila (from Nielson Field) and Baguio. PAL suspended flights into Baguio in 1998 as part of a company downsizing.

The first plane that touched down on Loakan was a Klemm trainer monoplane (piloted by Capt. Theodore Cammaan) on March 11, 1932.

SOURCES:
Loakan Airport Wikipedia Entry
Loakan Airport
Loakan Airport at 75: A Historical Note

M1369: Kennon Road Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x5.5"
Postcard Type: View card
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore
The postcard shows the zigzag part of the Kennon Road, one of the main highways that leads to Baguio City. Benguet Road was ordered built by American Governor General William Cameron Forbes in 1901. The road was renamed Kennon Road after U.S. Army Colonel Lyman N. Kennon who was its final builder.

Kennon Road was opened for regular service on March 27, 1905 with the cost as of November 1, 1905, amounting to $1,966,847.05.

The back of the postcard reads:
Zigzag View, along Kennon Road leading to the City of Baguio

M1369: Kennon Road Postcard

According to records, between 2,300 to 4,000 workers were employed in the building of the road, all of different nationalities— American, Hawaiian, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, German, Irish, English, Swedish, French, Japanese and, of course, Filipino. Records also showed that less than half the number of workers survived the building of the road. Aside from accidents, many too, died of malaria.

In addition to the roadbed itself, Colonel Kennon constructed 40 bridges—two of which were made of steel, the others of wood. Except for the use dynamite to blast out solid rock, work was done usually with ordinary picks and shovels.

There are beautiful and scenic sites along Kennon Road such as the Bridal Veil Falls, Bued River gorge, Twin Peaks, Colorado Falls, some pedestrian suspension bridges, the sculptured limestone lion, and the spectacular view from the deck at the upper end of Kennon Road.

SOURCES:
The Drive Up Kennon Road
Kennon Road and Baguio