Pia immortalized on two commemorative stamps
When Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach returns (after a recent brief visit to shoot a commercial) on Friday, April 15, to crown herBb. Pilipinas-Universe successor( to be chosen with three other Binibinis on Sunday, April 17, at the Big Dome), she will be welcomed by two commemorative stamps issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC).
According to avid stamp-collector Celso de Guzman Caparas (Funfare’s “other beauty expert”), “Issued were some 101,000 pieces of regular stamps costing P15 and 5,000 pieces of souvenir sheets at P40 each featuring Pia’s official Miss Universe photo. First Day Covers (FDCs) with special designs will also be released at P26 each for stamps and P54 each for souvenir sheets.”
The PPC formally announced on April 7 that the stamps and souvenir sheets will be released when Pia arrives. The PPC hopes that Pia will have time for the launch.
The Pia stamps join Celso’s prized collection that includes other beauties/ celebrities featured on stamps: 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran (both issued on May 5, 1994), 2013 Miss World Megan Young (issued on Feb. 24, 2014) and Manny Pacquiao (issued on May 30, 2008 and April 20, 2015)…plus other Miss World winners, popes, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth and other royalty members, 1958 Miss Universe Luz Marina Zuluaga of Colombia (three stamps issued on June 26, 1959), 1977 Miss Universe Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago (three stamps and a souvenir sheet issued on Aug. 2, 1978), 1998 Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago (four stamps and a souvenir sheet issued on May 3, 1999) and 1999 Miss Universe Mpule Keneilwe Kwelagobe of Botswana (five stamps and a souvenir sheet issued on Dec. 1, 1999).
Other Misses Universe honored on stamps by their countries were Georgina Rizk of Lebanon (1971) and Paulina Vega Dieppa of Colombia (2014). A special postmark was issued when the Philippines first hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 1974. Host countries that issued commemorative stamps included Mexico (1978), South Korea (1980) and Cyprus (1999).
Starry, starry campaign
Did you know that a street in Batangas was named for Fernando Poe Jr.? Inaugurated on Aug. 20, 2014, on FPJ’s 75th birthday, the “Fernando Poe, Jr. Road” is inside the Metro Turf where the Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. (MMTC), located in Tanauan, as a nod to FPJ’s love for horseracing and his contribution to the horseracing industry. Sen./Presidentiable Grace Poe recalled that when she was a kid, her dad brought her to Baguio and Ilocos Norte (during the shoot of FPJ’s action movies) to teach her how to ride a horse.
“Kasi ‘yung mga kabayo sa San Lazaro ay hindi puedeng sakyan ng bata,” said Grace.
After Gabby Concepcion, Ogie Alcasid and other actors, it was Vic “Bossing” Sotto and his wife Pauleen Luna’s turn to grace the rally of Grace and her running mate Sen. Chiz Escudero, held recently in Cebu for the “Gobyernong May Puso” tandem together with the senatorial bets of the
Partido Galing at Puso (PGP) that happens to include Vic’s brother Sen. Tito, a re-electionist who’s consistently topping the surveys. Tito is using the catchy “Mula Aparri
Hanggang Jolo” theme song of Eat, Bulaga! as “soundtrack” for his campaign.
The estimated 8,000 people who attended the rally in Lapu-Lapu City had a field day having “selfie” with Vic and Pauleen, also including their Bulaga!
Dabarkad Ruby Rodriguez. Vic drew cheers and laughter from the crowd when he shouted, “Kung si Chiz may Heart, ako may P!”
Busy with the taping for her new GMA soap Juan Happy Love Story (with Dennis Trillo), Chiz’s wife Heart Evangelista was not around, although she was able to take time out and campaigned for the GraceChiz team in Dumaguete City. (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@ yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more
updates, photos and videos visit www.
philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)