History That You Can Touch: 1945 S Fifty Centavos Philippine Commonwealth Coin

(The reverse or the opposite side of the coin)

Just like the 1734 Murillo Velarde map, artifacts and objects from the past always bring back stories during the time when they were created. Starting with this piece of coin, I am connecting the history of Victorias to the time it was minted.

This is my 1945 S Fifty Centavos Philippine Commonwealth coin that I am writing about today.

All these years about writing the History of Victorias City Philippines, I am lucky to have those black-and-white photographs at home whose stories were as fascinating as the personalities in the picture. I have always said that black-and-white photographs tell the most colorful of stories.

         (The obverse or the main side of the coin)

When this 1945 coin was minted, the Philippines was still suffering from the ravages of World War II. All Philippine coins during the war were confiscated by the Japanese Imperial Army and must have been brought back to Japan to be melted into ammunitions or machinery needed for the war. The Philippine had its own Manila Mint that was used by the Spaniards during their time, and later by the Americans. But during the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese must have used the facility for their own purposes. The mint was destroyed during the liberation of Manila. This is the reason why Commonwealth coins were minted in 1944 and 1945 in the US - to replace the ones that were confiscated by the Japanese. 

When the US saw the war was ending, it started minting coins for the Philippines. Coins with silver were minted at the San Francisco Mint, while coins using base metals were minted at other mints in the US. The 1945 Fifty Centavo coins had 'S' mark; 'S' stands for San Francisco. This coin was struck in 1945, the year the American forces liberated the Negros island from the control of the Japanese Imperial Army. In Chapter 17, I wrote about the way of life of the people of the town of Victorias (read blog here), and in Chapter 26, I wrote about the day when the first American soldiers arrived in Victorias (read blog here).

This coin has grooves around it and is about 0.75 silver. The obverse (main face of the coin) features a woman, with her hair flowing with the wind, standing with a hammer on her right hand, while her left hand seems to hold a flower. Before her is an anvil - a block of iron on which you put a metal that you need to flatten or shape into another form. The steaming Mayon Volcano is on her left, and at the bottom is the word "FILIPINAS", which is a carryover of the Spanish influence.

The reverse has "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" written on the top of with the official coat of arms of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in the middle that included a scroll with the words "Commonwealth of the Philippines". "1945" is at the bottom.

Almost 80 years old, it has become a real reminder of World War II, the time when our Victoriahanon ancestors endured, and eventually survived, the cruelest and saddest part of our history.

The photos were taken at the Victorias Public Plaza.

In the next posts, I will share some older coins from the 1900s, and even a few from the early 1800s.

#WorldWarII #oldcoins #1945coins #philippinehistory #history #historians #WWII #commonwealthcoins #numismatics #coins

Always Remembered, Monsignor Guillermo 'GG' Gaston

It was drizzling as I entered the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery in Mandalagan, Bacolod City. The cloudy skies came to mourn as well. As I learned beforehand that his body was to be brought that morning from the San Sebastian Cathedral to the Carmelite Church, this was a quieter place to pay my respects, I thought. When I came to the church's door, there was nobody else. From the back, I could see his white coffin surrounded by white and yellow flowers on the right side of the altar.

After making the sign of the cross, I walked towards his coffin; the sound of my light steps was accompanied by the occasional rustling of the winds that caressed the plants on both side of the church. This was my first time to visit the Carmelite Church and it felt, well, weird. Me, along in a church and approaching a casket. The eeriness I felt was just momentary. I was here to pay my respects, my tribute, my thanksgiving, and pray for this extraordinary man of cloth, a good friend and an institution in our Negrense communities: Monsignor Guillermo 'GG' Gaston.

                        (The Carmelite Church)

As I stood in front of his white coffin with his smiling portrait next to it, I whispered a greeting and introduced myself in Hiligaynon, telling him who and whose child I was. I remember thanking him for all that he had done for the faithful, his visits to our home and his endearing friendship with our family. But when I heard footsteps coming in into the church, I gave way to his next visitors and chose to sit at a pew a few rows down and prayed the holy rosary for him.

         (The rosary Monsignor GG gave my mother)

And then a very unusual thing happened. I was in the middle of the rosary and again alone inside the church when, out of a corner of my left eye, I think I saw a priest in a black sotana come in from the left side of the church. It was just a split second; the priest was young and handsome, and looked caucasian, like a foreigner. He was striding from one of the open archways at the left as if walking towards the altar. But then, when I turned my head towards him, nobody was there! The leaves of the plants at that area suddenly were rustled by a strong breeze! Again, nobody was there!

I just continued my rosary. And when I finished, I stood up and went back to Monsignor GG's coffin for a final farewell. I whispered to him to go in peace and asked him to pray for us when he is finally with The Father.

The last time we saw Monsignor Gg was when we, a group of his fans and friends in Victorias, visited him at his home in Hacienda Santa Rosalia in June 2022. We brought him merienda, asked for his fascinating stories, and made him feel he was always remembered and loved. All this while using a small whiteboard and a black marker to communicate with him as he had difficulty hearing. It was a fun afternoon for all of us.

And even years earlier, on one of my vacations in Negros, we drove up to visit him and were fascinated by his stories, including the one about his family's mansion was saved during World War II, which became this following piece. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=143310208111630&set=a.102358232206828

(When we visited Monsignor GG during a Christmas vacation from Korea)

He had touched many lives and is still remembered by many, including my mother who still cherishes the rosary he gave her. 

Monsignor GG's contributions and service to the Negrense communities and to the faithful of the Diocese of Bacolod and its parishes are immeasurable. We all remember him today on his death anniversary.

Monsignor Guillermo Maria Azcona Gaston was born on March 7, 1932, and died on July 20, 2023. 🙏

#monsignorgaston #monsignorGG #dioceseofbacolod #bacolod #priest