PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINES / PILIPINAS.

50th Anniversary of Rotary International, 1905-1955.
Mayon volcano.
First stamp in a set of 3, issued on 23.02.1955.
Face value: 5 cents of Philippine peso.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 589.
- Scott No. 618.
- StampWorld No. 595.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 430.

Rotary International, made up of Rotary clubs organized in more than 200 countries and geographic regions, is an organization and service club whose purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services in their communities, promote high ethical standards in all occupations and contribute to promoting goodwill and peace in the world. It was founded by Paul Harris in Chicago (United States) on February 23, 1905.

Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is a sacred and active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, on the large island of Luzon in the Philippines. The volcano with its surrounding landscape was declared a national park on July 20, 1938, the first in the nation. It was reclassified in 2000 and renamed as the Mayon Volcano Natural Park. It is the centerpiece of the Albay Biosphere Reserve, declared by UNESCO in 2016. Its height is 2,463 m (8,081 ft). Its cone is considered the most perfectly formed in the world due to its symmetry. Its first documented eruption is in 1616, and the most destructive so far was in 1814. More recently, the Mayon has experienced continuous emissions since 1999.