M147-85: Philippine International Convention Center 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 the 3,175 sq.m. Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The Hall has hosted the annual Awards Night of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), the Philippine equivalent of the Oscars.

The back of the postcard reads:
The Plenary Hall is the most impressive of four modules at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). It can easily sit 4,000 delegates during international conferences.

M147-85: Philippine International Convention Center Postcard

RELATED ENTRY:
M146-85: Philippine International Convention Center Postcard

SOURCE:
Philippine International Convention Center Wikipedia Entry

M146-85: Philippine International Convention Center Postcard

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

The postcard shows the stunning main lobby of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Seen as well in the postcard are the chandeliers and the grand staircase. The chandeliers are made of metal tubes in varying lengths with light bulbs at the end. Numerous paintings can also be seen across the hallways, paintings of Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok and Manuel Baldemor.

M146-85: Philippine International Convention Center Postcard

If you look closer at the bottom of the chandeliers near the staircase, there are two portrait paintings - those of then-President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos (the portrait below). I was able to find online "the" Imelda's painting (or a reproduction perhaps) but not that of the late president. The portrait (288.53 cm x 171.45 cm) was done in 1977 by Basuki Abdullah, an Indonesian painter.

Imelda Marcos Portrait

The convention center, with more than 70,000 square meters of floor area, was designed by Leandro Locsin and was built on a reclaimed land. The construction started in November 1974 and was finished in 1976 in time for the opening of the 1976 World Bank-International Monetary Fund meeting on September 5th.

The Philippine International Convention Center is Asia’s first international convention center.

Philippine International Convention Center

SOURCES:
Living la Vida Imelda
Museum of the Filipino People
Philippine International Convention Center Wikipedia Entry
Philippine International Convention Center Website

M145-85: Cebu-Mactan Bridge Postcard

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

This is another postcard of the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge or The First Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, which connects the Cebu and Mactan. The Marcelo Fernan Bridge was built to decongest the traffic from the first bridge.

The back of the postcard reads:
Cebu-Mactan Bridge is a vital link in the commerce and industry of these two vibrant islands.

M145-85: Cebu-Mactan Bridge Postcard

RELATED ENTRY:
Mactan-Mandaue Bridge Postcards

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

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.