Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Triumph in Canberra

Featured in Philippine Daily Inquirer

STAMP COLLECTING : ALL IN THE FAMILY

Delfin T. Mallari Jr.

Page A14 of the July 20, 2006 issue

July – September 2006 Issue

In Campus Paper

June – October 2006 Issue

Mel & Joey

Jorge H. Cuyugan

Alyssah Alcala (PSCS member no. 4301-0625-0488) and her parents were shown on the popular T.V. show “Mel and Joey” last January 28.  The segment was of course,  about the famous stamp collecting family from Lucena City.  Stamp collecting runs in the family.  Alyssah’s parents, Antonette and Alberto (Abet) were also stamp collectors and the couple never thought that their daughter would not only become a stamp collector like them, but a premier class  collector.  Alyssah started collecting stamps only 7 years ago and has already won international awards from Canada, New Zealand and Australia.  Alyssah’s interests aside from her specialized topical collection are scented stamps, 3-Dimnesional and hologram stamps,  and stamps featuring Hollywood stars from foreign countries.  The Alcala Family are one of the pioneers of the Quezon Philatelic Club,  our sister club who are giving all PSCS members another philatelic gift with this issue “to start this year philatelically right.”

You  may  view  this  segment  of  Mel  &  Joey  at  :

3,513 views as of December 30, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyTIs-fzX7Y

courtesy of Reynan Lorenz L. Mascariña

The making of "Pamilya Alcala",  segment of the January 28, 2007 edition of Mel & Joey of GMA 7.

April – May 2007 Issue

Supported by Rotarians

THE QUEZON TIMES

July 7 – 13,  2007 Issue

Reprinted : July 25,  2007

FILIPINO GLOBE

July 2007 Issue

Follow-up Article in Inquirer

YOUNG STAMP COLLECTOR WINS MORE AWARDS

Delfin T. Mallari Jr.

Page A13 of the June 21,  2007 issue 

LUCENA CITY – A high school student from Lucena City continues to reap honors abroad because of her stamp collections.

On June 17, Alyssah Xeniah C. Alcala’s stamp collections, titled “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” was proclaimed the “2007 AAPE Youth Champion of Champions” in the National Topical Stamp Show at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Irving, Texas, USA.

The exhibit was sponsored by the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE).

It is also known among stamp collectors as the “World Series of Philately Exhibition,” Alyssah’s father, Alberto, said.

Winners of the AAPE Youth Grand Awards from nationally accredited shows in the US and Canada vied for the much-coveted “Youth Champion of Champions” and for many other donated awards.

The 14-year-old Alyssah represented Royal 2006 Royale, an annual national stamp exhibition in Canada where she won the “Youth Grand Award” and a “Vermeil Medal” last year.

“This is a great victory for our daughter because she’s an outsider. Alyssah is the first Asian or perhaps the first non-American or Canadian AAPE champion,” said Alberto, who’s also a serious stamp collector and the president of the Quezon Philatelic Club.

Alyssah, who is a sophomore at the Sacred Heart College in Lucena, bested several bemedaled stamp exhibitors for 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Alberto said Alyssah was equally surprised with the latest honor. “She was in school when we received the news through e-mail,” he said.

Last month, the same collection of different stamps that portray Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor) of the United Kingdom won a Vermeil Medal in Rochester National Philatelic Exhibition (Ropex 2007) held at the ESL Sports Centre in Monroe Community College, Rochester, New York.

Vermeil is the medal level between gold and silver.

“Being part of Ropex 2007 is also very prestigious because this is being held under the auspices of one of the oldest philatelic organizations in the USA. Their first exhibition started as early as 1913. Apparently, no youth exhibitor from the Philippines has ever competed except my daughter,” Alberto said.

Alyssah’s Queen Elizabeth II stamp collection won the gold and special prizes at the state level (youth category) at the Canberra Stamp Show 2006 in Australia last year.

Alyssah was the first Filipino to join the 20-year-old Canberra Stamp Show and the youngest exhibitor ever to join the prominent event, according to her father.

She has been collecting stamps since she was in Grade 2.

In August 2006, the same stamp collection on Queen Elizabeth II garnered a “large silver medal” award in the Adelaide Stampex in Australia. The exhibition assembled 166 stamp collectors from different parts of the globe.

The following month, Alyssah’s multi-awarded collection also received recognition in Royal 2006 Royale National Stamp Exhibition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which gave her the merit to qualify in the AAPE contest.

In October, Alyssah’s collection was awarded a “silver bronze medal” and a diploma at Kiwipex 2006 held at the Christchurch Convention Centre in New Zealand.

Alyssah wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth II, informing her of her collection of different stamps that portray the royal personality. The queen responded with a “thank you” letter and photos of herself inside the Windsor Palace.

“Although I’m very happy with the recognition that I’ve been receiving for my stamp collection, I’m still sad that I was not able to join the other more prestigious competitions abroad due to lack of sponsors to fund my overseas exhibition,” Alyssah had lamented in an earlier interview.

More stamp collectors from abroad have been supporting her exhibits in foreign shores.

“ We really need sponsors to support her exhibits abroad,” Alberto said.  Whenever there are prestigious stamp exhibits abroad, Alberto said he coordinated with the organizers through e-mail. All the payments for mailing and entry fees are shouldered by the sponsors.

“Most of the time, youth exhibitors are free from entry fees,” Alberto said.

The “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” stamp collection returned to the country once in November 2006, he said. Alyssah took the opportunity to expand the collections from two to three frames.

Alberto said the preparation of stamp collections for an overseas exhibit entailed expenses, including those for acquiring more philatelic items, display materials and fees for mailing, entry and registration, and documentation.

January 2008 Edition

Through the courtesy of  Ms. Gretheline Ramos – Bolandrina,  publishing director,  Alyssah was featured in two (2) issues of PLANET PHILIPPINES in Boston,  Massachusetts,  USA.

PLANET PHILIPPINES

November 2007 Issue

STAMP COLLECTING

Young Stamp Collectors of America

March - May 2008 Issue

http://www.freewebs.com/alvier/specialfeatures.htm