TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE COVERS

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE COVERS

 

          I tagged it “Traditional Christmas” because most of us know that December 25 is not really the day of birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It’s the wrong day, month and year of beginning. Christmas around the world, however, have been observed for centuries on this day.

          Daily, weekly and monthly publications follow the same tradition, and their covers speak of the annual event.

          Here are some Philippine magazines with Christmas as the theme or part of the layout of the covers.

          This one, as of this posting, is 71 years old. The Christmas issue of Daigdig (Ang Dating Hiwaga) featuring Tita Duran (Teresita Rigo Durango, 1929-1991), and Jose Perez Vera.

Daigdig (Ang Dating Hiwaga), December 16, 1947.

          The post-war magazine The Philippine Screen Glamour feauring on its front cover, Pancho Magalona (Enrique Gayoso Magalona Jr, 1923-1998) and Tita Duran, and on the back cover, the film Ang Pagsilang ng Mesiyas (The Birth of the Messiah, 1952).

The Philippine Screen Glamour, December 1952

 

          The “Christmas Three” issue of Kislap Graphic featuring the top three young stars of the era, Amalia Fuentes, Barbara Perez and Susan Roces.

Kislap Graphic, December 19, 1956

          Topstar Pip Movie Entertainment Magazine, featuring Tirso “Pip” Cruz III and the love team of Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos.

Topstar Pip Movie Entertainment Magazine Vol. 1 No. 3, December 28, 1970

 

 

          This Sixteen issue (Vol. 4 No. 112, December 29, 1972), with the young Vilma Santos on the front cover, says it also in different language on its cover

Sixteen Vol. 4 No. 112, December 29, 1972

          After a decade or so, Sixteen became Sixteen MOD, and then MOD Filipina. Here are two succeeding issues for Christmas of 1988 featuring Shelley Huchel and Heidi Rodriguez.

MOD Filipina Vol. 21 Nos. 902 and 903, December 16 and 23, 1988

          Two Christmas issues of Celebrity World featuring Sunshine Cruz (1994) and Congressman Joaquin Nereo and his wife Uliran (1995).

Celebrity World Vol. 3 No. 177, December 26, 1994 and Vol. 4 No. 228, December 25, 1995

          Mr. & Ms. 1994 Christmas issue featuring Dawn Zulueta.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 18 No. 35, December 20, 1994

          Mr. & Ms. most often featured a family photo on it’s Christmas issue covers such as these: Paco Arespacochaga and Geneva Cruz and their daughter Heaven (1996) and Jomari Yllana and Aiko Melendez and their son Andre (1998). Ironically and unfortunately, however, both relationships ended up in separations.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 20 No. 34, December 24, 1996 and Vol. 22 No.34, December 22, 1998

 

          Here is Mr. & Ms. unique Christmas-New Year issue featuring Gary Valenciano, his wife, Angeli Pangilinan, and their children, Gabriel, Paolo and Keana.

Mr. & Ms. Vol. 25 No. 36, December 25, 2001 – January 1, 2002

 

          Atlas TV Guide (initially titled TV Star), started circulation on December 1999, with its first cover featuring Titanic’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. As such it may not distinctively had the Christmas theme on its cover except for a few Yuletide symbols.

Atlas TV Guide first issue, December 1999

Atlas TV Guide December issues (2000, 2002 and 2005)

Atlas TV Guide December issues (2006, 2007 and 2008)



Atlas TV Guide December issues (2010, 2011 and 2012)



 

          MOD 1999 Christmas issue with The World is Not Enough lead actress Sophie Marceau on the cover as “Christmas Girl.”

MOD December 1999

          More MOD 2004, 2005 and 2006 Christmas issues featuring Rica Peralejo, Iya Villania and Judy Ann Santos.

MOD Vol. 36 No. 1732 (December 24, 2004), Vol. 37 No. 1783 (December 23, 2005)

and Vol. 38 No. 1829 (December 25, 2006)



 

          Apart from its Christmas issues, MOD also releases “Christmas Specials” such as the two below, featuring Charo Ronquillo (2005) and Ann Rhea Macapagal (2006).

MOD Christmas Special issues for 2005 and 2006

           Finally for MOD, it’s last two Christmas issues, featuring Kimberly Baculi (2011) and Judy Ann Santos (2012).

MOD December 2011 and December 2012

 

 

          Two succeeding Christmas issues of the popular Ilocano magazine, Bannawag, featuring Zaijan Jaranilla (2011) and Angel Locsin (2012).

Bannawag, December 26, 2011 and December 24, 2012

FIRST ISSUES

FIRST ISSUES

 

          It’s the first of July, my birth month. I’m itching to post something! I thought, it should be something connected to me. Ah yes! The first of my birth month, so I’m posting the covers of the First Issues of my magazine collections.

          I have already previously posted some of them in this same blog together with my collections of Philippine komiks first issues on the particular day they were released.

          Among those published in the Philippines are the following:

MOVIE FAN

          Actress Barbara Perez on the first cover, this magazine contains news, stories and articles about movie stars in particular and the film industry in general (SEE more information about it on April 14, 2012 post).

Movie Fan (April 1957).

POGI (Filipino colloquial word for “handsome”)

          I don’t know the name of the lady in the jungle-motif bikini, nor the lion. If anyone knows, I would appreciate it if you post it here. It contains sexy pictures, essays, stories and komiks about sex and sexuality, but not vulgar (SEE more information about it on April 3, 2012 post).

Pogi Magazine for Men (April 3, 1969).

BARAKO (Slang for “stud” like its subtitle, which translates to “genuine men’s magazine”)

          Who’s the woman in the cover? I don’t know. I’ve sold this one already. Contains erotica, articles about and komiks depicting sex.

Barako (Magasing Lalaking-Lalaki, September 1969).

TOPSTAR PIP (That’s Tirso Cruz III movie nickname during the 1970s)

          Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos on the cover of this movie and entertainment magazine (This was actually my former yaya’s magazine). Contains stories and gossips about, inside and around celebrities, films and the film industry.

Topstar Pip Movie & Entertainment Magazine (December 28, 1970).

Focus Philippines

          This magazine went into circulation just a few months after the declaration of martial law, with its cover (raised hand with a broken chain) and featured article (“Emancipation 1972” by Blas F. Ople) reminiscent and symbolic of freedom (from foreign dictates). On the background is the Declaration of Martial Law in President Ferdinand Marcos’ own handwriting (SEE more information about it on November 18, 2012 post).

Focus Philippines (November 18, 1972).

ATOMEDIA PHILIPINES

          On the cover of this first magazine in the Philippines about atomic energy is a very simplified representation of an atomic burst. This came into being to streamline the nuclear energy program of the Marcos government, educated the public, and serve as forum for articles and discussion regarding nuclear energy. It became the publication of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Atomedia Philippines (1975).

SCENE

          Actress Elizabeth Oropeza on the first front cover of the magazine, stuffing a stuff toy on his front stuffs. Contains sexy pictures, public interest articles, more or less, directly or indirectly connected to sex (SEE more information about it on November 30, 2012 post).

Scene Magazine (November 30, 1982).

Aglow (as in radiance of color, spirit and emotion)

          Ten-year-old Bernadette E. Salas on the cover of this magazine, in my book, one of the best first issue covers I’ve seen. Contains trivia, essays and articles about Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular vulgar (SEE more information about it on September 23, 2012 post).

Aglow Weekly Magazine (September 23, 1988).

PHILIPPINE GRAPHIC (Indeed!)

          On the premier cover is one unique “graphic” illustration titled Independence: An Endangered Species: A woman seemingly crucified (more like afloat with her hands tied); looking upward with her visually decapitated head attached to her neck; her left breast exposed apparent to breastfeeding a child also floating infront of her. A dovelike silhouette can also be seen emanating from the child’s head. Notice that at the back of the woman is the Philippine flag with its red portion on the left side signifying that the country is in the state of war. On the background are intertwining depiction of hardship and struggle (SEE more information about it on June 18, 2012 post).

Philippine Graphic Weekly Magazine (June 18, 1990).

       

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