For the past twelve years, there was never an instance where we at Cebu Stamp Club had the opportunity of bringing our exhibits outside the island of Cebu.   Well, there was an occasion on November 5, 1998 where we brought a one frame presentation of the Negros Uprising Stamp to Bacolod City for its unveiling with no less than the Chair of the National Centennial Commission Salvador Laurel Jr. and Philippine Centennial Movement Chair Gloria Angara doing the honors. It was a joint project by Cebu Stamp Club, Inc and Negros Navigation attended by Richard Allan Uy, Ricardo Teves and top executives of NN. This event was never an exhibition but an unveiling ceremony.    The idea to bring an exhibit to Dumaguete City was a result of email communications between yours truly and CSCI Board member Aidalyn Arabe who hails from the said city. Once it was decided to pursue the project, letters were sent to Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, Cultural Officer of Silliman University and Mr. Dinno Depositario, the Vice President of Student Life and External Affairs of the Foundation University.   The dates were set and the exhibit was titled "Philippines, The Land Of Heroes.. A Retrospect Through Stamps." The materials to be used were decided too.   Having an exhibit outside Cebu is an expensive thing to do with lots of things to consider. The logistics, the security, the transportation and accomodation as well as other miscellaneous expenses. These were issues both Aidalyn and I have to solve in such a short period in time.   By July, I got a confirmation from the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) that the annual joint exhibit of CSCI and CHAC will push through at SM City Cebu on August 28 to 31. This new development excited us but it also added an additional load to our existing problem which is to raise cash.        A month before the event, we were still looking for sponsors and donors. Luckily, the City Government of Dumaguete and Mr. Powell Perales were convinced of our cause and came in as major sponsors along with Philpost Region 7, Cebu Star Wars Club, SM City Cebu, and the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission.   An angel came to our side in the person of CSCI member Emie Patalagsa who works as a staff in the House of Representatives in the office of Congressman Romualdo. She convinced Congressman Edcel Lagman of Albay, Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo of Camiguin and Mr. Juan Eugenio Roxas to sponsor our exhibits.   Jonathan Roble of Jollibee, Ishmael Tumanda of Rhine Personal Computers, Ely Dejaresco of The Negros Chronicle and Michael Alano of Sun Signs and Graphics came in as sponsors too. Aidalyn, Penn Villanueva and Janice Forster were able to bring in donors like Manuel Mendoza, Monserrat Magbanua, Gary Rosales, Roy Cang, Dumaguete Grandeur Travel and Tours and www.Bangag.com.   With the sponsors coming in, everything was in place. The exhibit title was changed to "Selyo At Kasaysayan.. A Retrospective of Filipino Heroes Through Stamps." The exhibit posters, tarpaulins, invitation letters and programs were printed by Silliman University. Cebu Stamp Club came out with its own posters, tarpaulins and invitation programs too.  The exhibit in Foundation University was cancelled because of the sudden resignation of Mr. Depositario.     This unique exhibit retells and miniaturizes Philippine history. It is like a picture story book but instead of using pictures, we use stamps to portray our history. One of the exhibit materials taken from my collections has been a winner in a National Competition as well as in Regional Competitions.      Sometime in May, Penn Villanueva invited his uncle, Postmaster General Hector RR. Villanueva of the Philippine Postal Corporation to grace the occasion. True enough, the postmaster came to the opening of the exhibit.   The well attended program opening in Dumaguete City started at 3:00 PM with the Invocation and National Anthem sung by Silliman's Ating Pamana led by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez. The Welcome Address was done by Prof. Isabel Dimaya-Vista who was the former chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee.   Mr. Ian Rosales Casocot, a member of the Cultural Affairs Committee introduced the Keynote Speaker Ms. Cerlinda J. Paculob of the Philippine Postal Corporation Region 7 while the Closing Remarks was delivered by the Cebu Stamp Club president.

The ceremonial cancellation and signature of the exhibit souvenir cover was done by the Postmaster General himself followed by the ceremonial cutting ot the ribbon. He was assisted by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, Cerlina J. Paculob and Richard Allan Uy.   The tour of the exhibit was initiated by this writer who also is the program director. Aidalyn Arabe was the official project chair and Glynda Descuatan of Skycable emceed the event flawlessly.   CSCI secretary Sharee Ann Trapa, CSCI Board members Jade Guillano and Aidalyn Arabe shared valuable time and effort in setting up the exhibit and making sure the event was a success.    CSCI member Richard Rauscher who lives in Dumaguete attended the opening together with Monserrat Magbanua, a 90 yr. old stamp collector who was the president of the then Dumaguete Philatelic Society.    CSCI members Rachel Betos and Benito Quiros of Philpost Region 7 together with the Dumaguete postmasters and staff were in full force too.     A day after the end of the Dumaguete exhibit, we see ourselves in SM City Cebu's lower ground floor setting up the exhibit. The time, 10:00 PM until 1:00 AM.   The SM City Cebu opening was full of fanfare too. CHAC did a good job in preparing the opening program which started at 5:30 PM of August 28, 2008.   Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama led the ribbon cutting ceremony assisted by Richard Allan Uy of CSCI, Cerlinda J. Paculob of Philpost Region 7 and Atty. Pedro Rosito of the Knights of Rizal.   The guests were given a tour of the exhibit by CSCI's Rich after which all of us proceeded to the SM City Cebu's Entertainment Center for the program proper.     The awarded Cebu Chamber Singers sang the Doxology and the Philippine National Anthem followed by an opening dance number by the University of San Carlos Jazz Club.    Cebu City Councilor Hon.Gerardo Carillo gave the welcome address while the Team Cebu City Dancesports made a dance presentation. Cebu City Vice Mayor and CHAC Chairman Michael Rama delivered his inspirational message. Director Cerlinda J. Paculob of Philpost Region 7 also gave her short message. Cherryl Pelayo was the lady of ceremony.   A repertoir of Visayan songs by the Cebu Chamber Singers got the audience's attention while the students of the Don Carlos Gothong Memorial National High School's dance drama of the "Battle of Tres de Abril" glued everyone to their seats.   Two mega events in a week's time! Whew, we never thought it would be this successful. These two exhibits have surpassed all our expectations. We will be in selected schools here in Cebu soon. At the moment, we are in negotiation with the Provincial Government of Camiguin for the exhibit to be featured on October 23 to 24, 2008 for the Lanzones Festival.   The "Selyo At Kasaysayan... A Retrospective of Filipino Heroes Through Stamps' will never be a success without the support of the following:   Richard Allan Uy • Ricardo Teves • Aidalyn Arabe •  Emie Patalagsa • Dr. Ben Malayang III • Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez • Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices • Postmaster General Hector RR. Villanueva • Philpost 7 Director Robert Mondoñedo • Florentino Boligor • Erwin dela Cerna • Nelia Buhawe • Rebecca Atillo • Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama •  Jonathan Roble • Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo • Jeff Legazpi • Janice Forster • Cerlinda J. Paculob • Rachel Betos • Ma. Luisa Potian • Julie Uy • Dumaguete City Tourism Office • Hon. Manuel Sagarbarria • Rodrigo Lagahit • Penn Villanueva • Jean Ester Palomar • Alain Ralph Arabe • Monserrat Magbanua • Janeth Gravador • Roy Cang • Engr. Manuel Mendoza • Gary Rosales • Asteria Lirazan • Ian Rosales Casocot • Ely Dejaresco • Michael Alano • Sharee Ann Trapa • Luke Ferrara • Benito Quiros • Glynnis Casiño • Eleanor Tamayo • Jade Guillano • Mark Mariot • Prof. Isabel Dimaya-Vista • Glynda Descuatan • Ating  Pamana • Sinulog Foundation • RJ Leduna • Ishmael Tumanda • Christy Magallanes • Winston Davis • Cherryl Pelayo • The Cebu Chamber Singers • University of San Carlos Jazz Club • Team Cebu City Danceports • Don Carlos Gothong Memorial National High School • Richard Rauscher • Edmund Gruenbaum • Joanezel Solayao • Richard Wilson • Eyan Yu • Richard Beethoven "Bobby" Uy • Lorna Jabuen • Jerald Kervin Uy • Edwin Al Cuizon