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Anti-TB Semi-Postal Stamps of the Philippines
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Christmas Stamps of the Philippines
(Although not related to Christmas Seals, this article is related to the various means exerted by various institutions to help the fight for what Christmas Seals are issued for: Anti-TB Campaign. To this, Nemy is sharing with us his collection of Anti-TB Sweepstakes Tickets )
PHILIPPINE ANTI-TB SWEEPSTAKES TICKETS
Anti-TB work, undertaken under its charter by the Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society since its founding in 1910, was largely funded from private donations and subsidies granted by the Philippine Legislature. Government aid, which started with P50,000 in 1910, was gradually reduced, and in early 1932 has tapered down to only P10,000.
Through the influence of then Senate President MANUEL L. QUEZON, an honorary vice president of the Society, the legislature in 1932 authorized PTS to hold horse race benefit draws. Further, in 1934, Quezon steered the passage of the Sweepstakes Law which allocated 25 % of net proceeds for TB prevention and cure. This was amended a few times to increase the number of beneficiary institutions and organizations. In 1935, President RAMON MAGSAYSAY doubled sweepstakes allotment for the Philippine Tuberculosis Society (its new name then) from P500,000 to P1 million annually.
Meanwhile, the frequency of sweepstakes and lottery draws steadily grew from once or twice a year to 25, then to 50 per year. Of this total number, one to three draws per year were regularly held for the primary benefit of anti-TB work.
However, a major setback soon loomed. In 1995, the more attractive, quicker-paying and higher-prized Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) daily lotto was launched. The frequency of sweepstakes draws plummeted in inverse proportion to the rapid popularization of lotto, and the widespread installation of lotto outlets nationwide. So much so that at present (2009), only one sweepstakes draw has been scheduled so far for the entire year.
THE FIRST OFFICIAL SWEEPSTAKES DRAW TICKET "For the Benefit of Charitable and Welfare Organizations of the Philippine Islands December 15, 1934
It was a requirement that the Seller should acknowledge and sign each ticket at its backside. For this particular ticket, the Seller was businessman GIL J. PUYAT (1907 - 1981). Puyat was chairman of the anti-TB educational and fund campaign in 1948, was elected Senator of the Philippines in 1951 and became Senate President 1957 to 1973.
Translation:
DISTRIBUTION
The amount of money actually received from the sale of tickets will be apportioned in accordance with Act 3989 as amended by Acts 4048 and 4087, of the Philippine Legislature, as follows: 60% will be distributed as prizes; and the remaining 40% will be paid to charitable and welfare organizations mentioned in the law, after deducting audited expenses.
The 60% for prizes will be divided into as many prize units of P500,000 as the sum will contain. Each Prize Unit will be distributed as follows:
To holder of ticket drawing the winning of FIRST PLACE HORSE . P200,000
To holder of ticket drawing the SECOND PLACE HORSE . 100,000
To holder of ticket drawing the THIRD PLACE HORSE .. 50,000
To drawers of all other horses participating, not declared forfeit,
divide equally ................................................................................... 100,000
100 cash prizes of P500 each ........................................................... 50,000
PRIZE UNIT ..................................................................................... P500,000
If the sum available for prizes does not reach P500,000, the prizes will be paid in proportion to the sum available, as follows: 40% for the first prize; 20% for the second prize; 10% for the third; 20% for drawers of all other horses participating , and 10% to be divided among other counterfoils.
Tickets given free to agents will participate in the draw.
Prizes will be paid only to the names and addresses shown n the counterfoils drawn. Prizes unclaimed within six (6) months from the draw will become forfeit in favor of the beneficiary institutions.
The attached counterfoil, together with the remittance, must be returned to reach our Headquarters not later than November 15, 1934, otherwise this Ticket will not be included in the Draw. Acknowledgement of all subscriptions will be sent to Sellers for delivery to Buyers.
NATIONAL CHARITY SWEEPSTAKE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, HEADQUARTERS, 1893 Rizal Avenue, Manila, P.I.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY SELLER
I CERTIFY to have received from the purchaser of this ticket the sum of TWO PESOS (P2.00) Philippine currency, or its equivalent, in payment of this ticket.
By: (Seller)
(Address)
PURCHASER'S COUNTERFOIL RECEIPT
The counterfoil receipt attached to each 1934 ticket, together with payment, is immediately remitted to the sweepstakes head office for recording and validation. This is then mailed to the agent (seller) for delivery to the purchaser of the ticket.
"Manila, P.I., Sep 13, 1934, 12 PM, Buy National Charity Sweepstake Tickets"
A 1934 used cover with slogan postal cancellation promoting the sale of 1934 sweepstake tickets.
The following are samples of Anti-TB sweepstakes tickets drawn 1955 to 1979. Each has a small illustration (visual) relating to anti-TB work with the double-barred TB Cross in most. There were a number of similar tickets that author obviously failed to collect:
August 28, 1955 - Share 2 of 4 August 26. 1956 - Share 1 of 4
December 2, 1958 - Share 3 of 4
The above three draws were "Conducted and managed under the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in accordance with Republic Act No. 1169".
June 10, 1960 - Share 3 of 4
The above ticket stipulates the draw to have been "Authorized Under Rep. Act No. 1502"; however, tickets of succeeding draws do not bear such claim.
December 29, 1960 - Share 1 of 4
June 9, 1961 - Share 2 of 4
June 12, 1962 - Share 4 of 4
December 28, 1962 - Share 1 of 4
June 13, 1963 - Share 4 of 4
June 11, 1964 - Share 1 of 4
December 29, 1964 - Share 1 of 4
After many years of having P100,000 as First Prize, this particular ticket indicates the doubling of the First Prize to P200,000
June 9, 1965 - Share 3 of 4
December 29, 1965 - Share 1 of 4
March 28, 1966 - Share 1 of 4
June 15, 1966 - Share 4 of 4
June 13, 1967 - Share 3 of 4
December 29, 1967 - Share 3 of 4
Beginning with the 1968 draws, tickets were divided into units of five instead of four.
January 29, 1968 - Share 5 of 5
June 11, 1968 - Share 4 of 5
December 27, 1968 - Share 4 of 5
The First Prize for this draw is now up to P500,000 even though the ticket price remained at P1.00 each unit/share
January 27, 1969 - Share 1 of 5
June 10, 1969 - Share 4 of 5
December 29, 1969 - Share 1 of 5
February 11, 1970 - Share 4 of 5
June 18, 1970 - Share 1 of 5
December 29, 1970 - Share 3 of 5
October 21, 1979 - Share 1 of 5
The ticket price is now up to P2.50 per unit with the First Prize also up to P500,000
To generate supplementary funds, the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, separately on its own, conducted the so-called "Afternoon Social" lotteries in its main offices, and similar other fund-raisers in its provincial branches. Sample tickets below:
"Afternoon Social" Ticket - December 16, 1981 - Manila
December 23, 1979 - Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Evidently, the days of Philippine Sweepstakes are sadly, but inexorably over.
"Sweepstakes" is a joint scheme of lottery and horse racing, whereby some numbers drawn in a lottery are paired with race horses to determine the major winners. Lotteries were ntroduced in the Philippines in 1833 by the Empresa de Reales Loteria Espanola de Filipinas. On the other hand, the first sweepstakes draw was conducted in Manila in December 1933 under the auspices of the cash-strapped Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation. It generated what a newspaper described as a "mammoth show" that stirred overwhelming following and interest.
Small wonder that the following year, the newly organized National Charity Sweepstake began conducting its own sweepstakes draws. These were intensified under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, its present name. There is a physical unrelated feature hardly noticed by many. The illustrations on the tickets, particularly in the 1950s to 1970s, were finely crafted visuals not only of anti-TB work, but also of varied subjects such as Philippine scenic spots, major native industries, national heroes, scouting, athletic activities, and others, all of which are attractive and meaningful.
Despite the eminent success of the LOTTO draws, plus the support of PCSO's new mutants "Instant Sweepstakes" and "Small Town Lottery", somehow the glamour, the expectations, the excitement of the heyday Sweepstakes are no longer the same.
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