It has been three weeks since the gavel fell at the Heritage auction, sending shockwaves through the Philippine numismatic community. The lot in question—an 1899 Two (2) Centavos Malolos Revolutionary Copper, graded XF40 by PCGS and from the esteemed Mahal Collection—realized a staggering $192,000. This result has not only rewritten the record books but also prompted a serious re-evaluation of value drivers in our market. For the first time, a Philippine revolutionary copper coin has dwarfed...

Our recent discovery of Carlos P. Romulo’s 1984 letter advocating for Jose J. Tupaz, Jr., as discussed in a blog we posted a few days ago ( https://www.nineteenkopongkopong.com/post/a-review-from-a-peer-the-endorsement-of-jose-tupaz-jr-for-national-artist ), strengthens the case for recognizing engraving as a fine art in the Philippines. Romulo’s idea—that engraving is "a major branch of sculpture" deserving of the National Artist Award—is well-supported. But if we accept this idea, we...

Throughout Philippine art history, the list of National Artists reflects the country’s key cultural icons. However, a primary source document from May 26, 1984, shared with me by a friend and posted on Facebook by a relative over eight years ago, and transcribed below, reveals a significant gap within this group. The letter, written by the esteemed diplomat and statesman Carlos P. Romulo, is addressed to First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. In it, Romulo passionately and intellectually...