The World Thru Postcards

27 January, 2011

M144-85: Cebu Beach Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x6"
Postcard Type: View card with blue border
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

The postcard shows one of the many white sand beaches that Cebu offers to beach lovers. The postcard, however, did not mention the name of the island or the beach.
Cebu is one of the many island provinces in the Philippines, and is surrounded by 167 smaller islands. Thus, Cebu offers the best beaches in the country like those found in Moalboal, Nalusuan, Badian, Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands (Pacijan island, Poro island, Ponson island and Tulang island).

The back of the postcard reads:
Cebu and its neighboring island of Mactan contain many beautiful beaches with facilities ranging from deluxe to idyllic.

M144-85: Cebu Beach Postcard

21 January, 2011

M143-85: Cebu Guitars Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x6"
Postcard Type: View card with red border
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

The postcard shows Cebu's handcrafted guitars, one of the popular products of the province, aside from lechon (suckling pig), and dried mangoes and fish.

The seat of the guitar making industry in Cebu is in Mactan Island, particularly Maribago in Lapu-Lapu City. One can also visit the guitar stores at the Quezon National Highway in Lapu-Lapu City, and in Lincoln Street near the Carbon Market district. Famous guitar makers are the families of the Alegre, Lumanog, Malingin, and the three sisters Lilang, Susing, Celia.

Guitars are made of various kinds of soft and hard woods, from nangka (jackfruit) to the more prized naga (narra) and kamagong (ebony). These may come attractively decorated or inlaid with shell.

The back of the postcard reads:
Cebu is noted for excellent craftsmen especially in the making of inexpensive native and Spanish guitars.

M143-85: Cebu Guitars Postcard

HISTORY
Gitara or kitara (from the Spanish guitarra) is actually a Spanish introduction. The guitar industry began in Cebu when the Spanish friars needed to repair the guitars they were using. At that time, guitars usually came from Mexico. Instead of waiting, the friars hired people from Opon village in Mactan Island to make new guitars and repair the ones they had.

The making of Cebu guitars

Making a guitar involves seven steps:
(1) The craftsmen selects the wood which may be of two kinds: hard (almasiga, narra, agot-agot) or soft (palo china, nangka).
(2) One of the seven are chosen: ukulele boy 22.5 in; SPanish guitar 39 in; or any of the types with stylizes shoulder-twist 36 in; cut-away 39 in; striated 38 inches; classic 37 in.
(3) Craftsman cuts the wood and fashions the frame, mostly with a chisel.(4) Next comes the parts, nine in all: arched top (pala, machine heads (liso), nut (sihas), fingerboard (apurro or brazo), frets (tratse), strings (koldas), shoulder (abaga), sound hole (baba), and bridge (puente or bangil).
(5) The front and back parts are joined together and tied with rope.
(6) The handle is attached and dried in the sun for two or three days, before the (7) final varnishing.

SOURCES:
World's finest guitars- Cebu guitars
The Land of Guitars
Cebu’s Famous Guitars
Guitar Making, pp. 94-95, Cebu: A Places For All Seasons by Joyce Garcia Dizon; Bookmark, Inc.

18 January, 2011

M141-85: Banaue Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x6"
Postcard Type: View card with green border
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

Here is another postcard of the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, which I was lucky to visit last May.

M141-85: Banaue Postcard

17 January, 2011

M138-85: Lion's Head Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x6"
Postcard Type: View card with green border
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

The postcard shows the Lion's head in Camp 6 along Kennon Road.

The head was originally a limestone boulder which, some people noticed, had a shape of a male lion's head with a mane. Luis L. Lardizabal, then Baguio City mayor and Lion's Club governor, conceptualized the idea of carving the boulder and making it an actual lion's head, proclaiming the presence of the Lion's Club in the City.

The work started in 1968, but was stopped the next year. When Robert Webber took over the project in the early 70's, he hired Reynaldo Lopez Nanyac, woodcarver of the Ifugao tribe, to finish the job. He finished the 40-foot high Lion's head in 1972.

The back of the postcard reads:

Visitors to the Philippine Summer Capital, Baguio City, are greeted by an enormous Lion's Head carved from solid rock.

Then - M138-85: Lion's Head Postcard

As you might notice, the head was repainted several times from gold-black to white and brown to yellow. It now has its original gold-black colors, as seen below.

Now - Lion's Head

SOURCES:
Lion's Head
Lion’s Head in Baguio City
Image - Baguio Lion & Kennon Road zig-zag

13 January, 2011

M137-85: Wright Park Postcard

Postcard Size: 4"x6"
Postcard Type: View card with green border
Printed by: JMC Press, Inc., Quezon City
Purchased at Goodwill Bookstore

The postcard shows the Wright Park (pony area) which was named after Governor Luke E. Wright who gave Daniel Burnham orders to build Baguio as a recreational facility for American soldiers and civilians.

What makes Wright Park famous are the "Pool of Pines" that fronts the main gate of The Mansion and the Riding Circle (which is actually a triangle). One can hire horses and enjoy horseback ride around the area, and can take you along South Drive, the Mines View Park area or to Outlook Drive.

The back of the postcard reads:
Wright Park. Cool weather and recreational facilities to horseback riding to golf makes
Baguio City the country's ideal summer capital

M137-85: Wright Park Postcard

SOURCE:
Wright Park