Postal Cancellations
1854 - 1898
TYPE 1
BAEZA
CIRULAR DATE STAMPS
In 1842 the Spanish General Director of Posts,
Juan Baeza Medina, reformed the postal system in Spain and its possessions.
The Kingdom was divided into 31 postal demarcations and the first Spanish
uniform circular date stamps were created to be applied at the place of
origin, transit and destination of every letter. Each of the provinces of
Spain was assigned a number, from 1 to 26, which appeared in the postmark of
every town in that province. The Spanish possessions in Africa was
numbered '27', the Balearic Islands received '28', the Canary Islands
were assigned '29', Cuba and Puerto Rico received '30' and the main
post office in the Philippines (Manila) was numbered '31'. |
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TYPE 1A
SMALL BAEZA CIRULAR DATE STAMP
28mm
outer diameter circular date stamp with 'MANILA - 31 - ISs. FILIPs.'
Date in centre in three lines
Months appear abbreviated as
follows:
ENo |
FEB. |
MAR |
ABR |
MAY. |
JUN. |
JUL. |
AGo |
SET. |
OCT. |
NOV. |
DIC. |
Cancel was in use on Pre-Stamped Covers prior
to 1854
Applied in Blue from 1854 to 1859
Applied in Black from 1854 to 1863
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TYPE 1B
LARGE BAEZA CIRCULAR DATE STAMP
30mm
outer diameter circular date stamp with 'MANILA - 31 - ISLs. FILIPIs.'
Date in centre in three lines
Months appear abbreviated as
follows:
ENo |
FEB. |
MAR |
ABR |
MAY. |
JUN. |
JUL. |
AGo |
SET. |
OCT. |
NOV. |
DIC. |
Cancel was in use on Pre-Stamped Covers prior
to 1854
Applied in Blue from 1854 to 1859
Applied in Black from 1854 to 1861
TYPE 2
CIRCULAR DOTTED CANCEL
24mm diameter circular dotted
cancellation without outer frame line
Cancellation comprises square dots of about 1mm, though size varies
Applied in Black and Blue
Used throughout the Spanish Era
(1854 to 1898)
TYPE 3
PARILLA CANCEL
31 x 19 mm oval network
cancellation
Varies slightly in shape, some being quite pointed at the end, others appearing
well rounded
Applied in Black (common) or Blue (scarce)
Used from 1856 to 1898
TYPE 4
TOWN AND FILIPINAS CIRCULAR
CANCELS
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TYPE 4A
MANILA - FILIPINAS CIRCULAR DATE
STAMP
21mm outer diameter circular date
stamp with 'MANILA' above, 'FILIPINAS' below and '31' on each side
Date in the centre in three lines
Applied in Black
Day and Year appear with or
without full stop after each entry. Months appear abbreviated as follows:
ENo |
FEB. |
MAR. |
ABR. |
MAY. |
JUN. |
JUL. |
AGo |
SET. |
OCT. |
NOV. |
DIC. |
Used from 1859 to 1863
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TYPE 4B
BALABAC (PALAWAN) - FILIPINAS
CIRCULAR DATE STAMP
20mm outer diameter and 11mm
inner diameter circular date stamp
'BALABAC' above and 'FILIPINAS' below
Date in the centre in three lines
Applied in Black
Used in 1874
Known on Scott #s 50 and 56
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TYPE 4C
FILIPINAS - CORREOS - MINDORO
DATELESS CIRCULAR CANCEL
Double Outer Lined Cancel, 27mm
outer diameter
'FILIPINAS' above, 'CORREOS' in the centre, and 'MINDORO' below
Known in Red
Used in mid-1890s
Known on Scott # 147 (one single stamp
and one cover)
TYPE 5
TOWN AND CITY CIRCULAR CANCELS
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TYPE 5A
DATED TOWN AND CITY CIRCULAR
DATE STAMP
21mm outer diameter circular date
stamp with Town name above and City name below
Date in the centre (Day, Month and Year) in three lines
Applied in Black
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Known on the following Scott Numbers |
Bacolod - Negros |
46, 50 |
Cavite - Luzon |
Earliest
Known Usage on Scott #5 |
Cottabato -
Mindanao |
43, 46, 60 |
Misamis -
Mindanao |
144, 146, 153, 192 |
Princesa - Paragua * |
50, 147 |
Surigao -
Mindanao |
Known on 1877 Cover from Surigao to Manila |
Zamboanga - Mindanao |
48, 78 |
* Paragua
was the Former name for Palawan
Used from 1858 to late 1890s
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TYPE 5B
DATED TOWN AND CITY CIRCULAR
DATE STAMP
21mm outer diameter circular date
stamp with Town name above and City name below
Date in the centre (Day and Month only, no Year) in two lines
Applied in Black
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Period of Usage |
Comments |
Visayas - Cebu |
- 1898 |
|
Yloylo - Visayas |
|
Known on Official (RS) Covers |
Used from ??? to
late 1898
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TYPE 5C
DATELESS TOWN AND CITY CIRCULAR
CANCEL
21mm outer diameter circular date
stamp with Town name above and City name below
No Date in the centre
Applied in Black
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Comments |
Cottabato -
Mindanao |
Sans-Serif
Lettering. Scott #149, 167 |
Misamis -
Mindanao |
Sans-Serif
Lettering. Scott #143, 144, 147, 153 |
Tacloban -
Leyte |
Sans-Serif Lettering. Only
known on Scott #80 |
Visayas - Cebu |
Serif Lettering. Scott #144,
147, 153, 162, 166 |
Used from mid-1870s to 1890s
TYPE 6
TOWN AND STAR CIRCULAR CANCELS
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TYPE 6A
DATED TOWN AND STAR CIRCULAR
DATE STAMP
19.5mm outer diameter circular
date stamp
Town name above and Star below
Date in the centre in three lines
Applied in Black
Months appear abbreviated as
follows:
ENE |
FEB |
MAR |
ABR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AGO |
SET |
OCT |
NOV |
DIC |
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Comments |
Manila |
Period after second 'A' of
'MANILA' |
Zamboanga |
Known on Scott #s 79, 86, 149,
167, 177 |
Used from 1860 to MID 1890s
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TYPE 6B
DATELESS TOWN AND STAR CIRCULAR
CANCEL
19.5mm outer diameter circular
date stamp
Town name above and Star below
No Date in centre
Applied in Black
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Comments |
Jolo |
|
Zamboanga |
149, 167, 177 |
Used from 1860s to early 1890s
TYPE 7
CORREOS CIRCULAR CANCELS
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TYPE 7A
DATED CORREOS - TOWN CIRCULAR
DATE STAMP
25mm outer diameter circular date stamp with 'CORREOS' above and Town name
below
Date in one line across the centre (with or without period after day in date)
Applied in Black (common), Blue, Blue-Green or Violet
52 Recorded Towns or Cities:
Albay
(Bicol) |
Cervantes (Ilocos
Sur) |
Morong
(Bataan) |
Alcala (Cagayan or Pangasinan) |
Concepcion (Iloilo) |
Nueva Caceres (Camarines Sur) |
Antique (Western Visayas) |
Corregidor (Cavite) |
Olongapo (Zambales) |
Aparri (Cagayan) |
Cottabato (Cotabato) |
Ragay (Camarines Sur) |
Atimonan
(Quezon) |
Daet (Camarines Norte) |
San Fernando (Pampanga) |
Bacolod (Negros Occidental) |
Dagupan (Pangasinan) |
San Isidro (Leyte) |
Baguio (Benguet) |
Iba (Zambales) |
Santa Cruz (Laguna) |
Balanga
(Bataan) |
Ilagan (Isabela) |
Sibulan
(Negros Oriental) |
Batangas (Batangas) |
Iloilo (Iloilo) |
Surigao
(Mindanao) |
Bayombong (Nueva
Vizcaya) |
La Trinidad (Benguet) |
Sual (Pangasinan) |
Binangonan
(Rizal) |
La Union (Ilocos)
* |
Taal (Batangas) |
Bolinao (Pangasinan) |
Laoag (Ilocos Norte) |
Tarlac (Tarlac) |
Bulacan (Bulacan) |
Libmanan (Camarines Sur) |
Tayabas
(Quezon) |
Candon (Ilocos Sur) |
Lingayen (Pangasinan) |
Tuguegarao
(Cagayan) |
Capiz (Visayas) |
Manila (Luzon) |
Vigan (Ilocos
Sur) |
Caramoan
(Camarines Sur) |
Mariquina (Rizal) |
Zamboanga (Mindanao) |
Cavite (Luzon) |
Mariveles
(Bataan) |
-- |
Cebu (Visayas) |
Misamis
(Mindanao) |
-- |
* La
Union only shows 'Union' in Cancel
Cabanatuan (Nueva Ecija)
referenced but not verified
Used from late 1860s to 1898
Earliest known issue: Scott #36 (Zamboanga)
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TYPE 7B
DATED CORREOS - MANILA CIRCULAR DATE
STAMP
25mm
outer diameter circular date stamp with 'CORREOS' above and 'MANILA' below
Date in one line across the centre
Often found heavily smudged on top and bottom making words almost illegible
Believed to be a worn Type 7A canceller
Applied in Black
Used from late 1890s
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TYPE 7C
DATELESS CORREOS - BOHOL
CIRCULAR CANCEL
21mm outer diameter and 12mm
inner diameter
Correos on top and Bohol on bottom, with small solid circle centrally on either
end
No Date in the centre
Applied in Black
Used During the mid-1890s
Known on Scott #s 144 and 165 [MR
Auction]
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TYPE 7D
DATELESS CORREOS - LAGUNA STA
CRUZ CIRCULAR CANCEL
25mm
outer diameter circular date stamp with 'CORREOS' above and 'LAGUNA Sta Cruz' below
No date in centre
Applied in Black or Purple
Used from 1890 to 1897
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TYPE 7E
DATELESS CORREOS - SAMAR
CIRCULAR CANCEL
25mm diameter outer circle and
13mm diameter inner circle
'CORREOS' above and 'SAMAR' below, with stars centrally on either end
Small scroll in centre without date
Applied in Black
Used from mid-1890s to 1898
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TYPE 7F
DATELESS CORREOS - BACALOR
CIRCULAR CANCEL
Double Lined Outer and Inner
Circles
27mm diameter outer circle and 15mm diameter inner circle
'CORREOS' on top and 'BACOLOR' on bottom
Usually Applied in Black, Less Often in Blue or Red
Used During mid-1890s1890s
Known on Scott # 144
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TYPE 7G
DATELESS CORREOS DE FILIPINAS
CIRCULAR CANCEL
25mm diameter outer circle and
13mm diameter inner circle
'CORREOS' on top, 'DE' in centre and 'FILIPINAS' on bottom
Usually Applied in Black, Less Often in Blue or Red
Used During from early 1880s to
late 1890s
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TYPE 7H
DATED CORREOS - RAILWAY POST
OFFICE CIRCULAR DATE STAMP
25mm outer diameter circular date
stamp with 'CORREOS' above and 'AMB xxx' below
Date in one line across the centre
Applied in Black or Violet
Manila - Dagupan
Railway Post Office Cancels
amb. l. asc. (Ambulante Linea Ascendente -
North Bound Railway Travel) in lower case letters
AMB. L. DESC. (Ambulante Linea Descendente
- South Bound Railway Travel) in upper case letters
Cancel |
Known on the following Scott Numbers |
amb. l. asc. |
144 (2 copies), 145 (2 copies) |
AMB. L. DESC. |
144, 145 (Orwin
Austria), 147 |
Used From 1892 to 1899
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TYPE 7I
DATELESS CORREO - GANDARA
(SAMAR) CIRCULAR CANCEL
27mm diameter outer circle and
14mm diameter inner circle
'CORREO' on top and 'GANDARA.' on bottom
'SAMAR' in one line across the centre with scroll on either side
Applied in Black
Used During the 1890s
Only known on Scott #145 (1892)
TYPE 8
COMUNICACIONES CIRCULAR DATE
STAMPS
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TYPE 8A
COMUNICACIONES CIRCULAR DATE
STAMP
24mm
outer diameter circular date stamp
'COMUNICACIONES' on top and Town name on bottom
Date in one line across the centre broken by Inner Circle
Applied in Black and Blue
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Known on the following Scott Numbers |
Iloilo |
Numerous
Issues |
Sorsogon |
151 |
Used from early 1890s to 1898
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TYPE 8B
COMUNICACIONES CIRCULAR DATE
STAMP
24mm
outer diameter circular date stamp with 'COMUNICACIONES' above and Town name on
bottom
Date in one line across the centre with no Inner Circle
Applied in Black and Blue
Known Town Cancellations:
Cancel |
Known on the following Scott Numbers |
Iloilo |
Numerous
Issues |
Sorsogon |
144, 146, 157 |
Tabaco (Albay) |
147, 149 |
Used from 1880s to 1898
TYPE 9
TOWN, CITY AND PROVINCIAL
CANCELS
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TYPE 9A
BACOLOR (PAMPANGA) FANCY TOWN
CANCEL
Diagonal Lines on Top and bottom,
with 'BACOLOR' in Centre
Applied in Black
Used in mid-1890s
Note: Known to exist on Scott #s 144
and 164
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TYPE 9B
BAIS (NEGROS ORIENTAL) BOXED
TOWN CANCEL
21mm x 13mm Boxed Cancel, Correos
on Top, 'BAIS' on Bottom with emblem on either side
'A' of 'BAIS' is slightly smaller than other letters
Applied in Black and Purple
Used in the 1890s
Known to exist on Scott #s 144, 145
and 147
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TYPE 9C
BANGUED (ABRA) STRAIGHT LINED
CANCEL
'CORREOS' 17mm wide and 'BANGUED'
18mm wide
Date in variable length with month spelt in full
Applied in Blue
Used in early 1880s
Known to exist on Scott #s 79 and 86
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TYPE 9D
BURIAS (MASBATE) TWO STRAIGHT
LINE CANCEL
Two Straight Line cancel with
'Correos' on top and 'Burias. ' on bottom
Top 12mm wide and Bottom 11mm wide
Applied in Black
Used in the early 1890s
Known to exist on Scott #s 145 and 164
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TYPE 9E
CAPIZ NEGATIVE TOWN CANCEL
Rectangular Cancel (with rounded
edges) and scroll line above and below 'CAPIZ'
Round circle above 'I' in 'CAPIZ'
28mm wide by 14mm tall
Applied in Black
Used from late 1850s to 1880s
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TYPE 9F
CEBU OVAL TOWN CANCEL
Double Ring Oval Cancel (Thicker
Outer Ring), 25mm Wide, 20mm Tall
Sans-Serif Letters with Fancy Scroll below Cebu
Applied in Black and Blue
Used During early 1870s and 1880s
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TYPE 9G
DUMAGUETE BOXED TOWN CANCEL
Single-Lined Rectangular Cancel,
30mm long (approximately) x 20mm tall
Correos on Top (semi-circular), Fancy Scroll in Centre, Dumaguete
on Bottom (straight line)
Applied in Black or Purple
Used During the 1890s
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TYPE 9H
ILOILO OBLONG TOWN CANCEL
TYPE 9G-1
Double Outer Lined Oblong Cancel with Iloilo and scroll in centre
Applied in Black or Purple
TYPE 9G-2
Single-Lined Oblong Cancel with Iloilo and scroll in centre
Applied in Black or Purple
Used from late 1850s to 1898
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TYPE 9I
LEYTE CIRCULAR CROWN TOWN CANCEL
Double-Lined Outer Circle, 30mm
diameter
Single-Lined Inner Circle, 20mm diameter
'CORREOS' on top (with mirror-imaged 'S'), 'LEYTE' below, Crown in Centre
Applied in Black
Used During the 1890s
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TYPE 9J
MASBATE RECTANGULAR BOXED TOWN
CANCEL
Double-Lined Rectangular Cancel,
outer rectangle 30mm x 28mm, inner rectangle 10mm x 8mm
'CORREOS' on top, 'MASBATE' below
Applied in Black
Used from early 1880s to early
1890s
Known on Scott #s 79, 144
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TYPE 9K
NEGROS OBLONG TOWN CANCEL
Single-Lined Oblong Cancel with
Negros in the centre
Applied in Black
Used from ??? to ???
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TYPE 9L
ROMBLON OBLONG TOWN CANCEL
Single-Lined Oblong Cancel with
Romblon in centre
'M' with Serifs, 'L' with serif on bottom stroke, all other letters sans-serif;
'N' mirror imaged
Applied in Black
Used from late 1880s to mid-1890s
Known on Scott #s 98, 145, 149, 166,
170, 173
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TYPE 9M
DATELESS PANGASINAN CIRCULAR
CANCEL
Single-Lined Outer and Inner
Circular Cancel with Pangasinan in the centre
Applied in Black
Used from mid-1870s to mid-1880s
Known on Scott #s 52, 79
TYPE 10
RHOMBOID CANCEL
15mm - 17mm by 17mm - 19mm
Rhomboid Line Cancellation, consisting of 16 parallel lines
Believed to have been applied at regional post offices
Exists on issues from 1864 to late 1890s, but most common on stamps issued
between 1875 and 1879
Applied in Black (common), Blue, Green or Violet
Used from 1864 to late 1890s
TYPE 11
DOTTED STAR CANCEL
29mm diameter Five Pointed Star with dots in the centre
Believed to have been used at regional offices and primarily for interior mail
Exists on issues from the 1880s through 1898
In the 1880s, commonly applied in black, but known infrequently in purple,
blue-green and blue
In the 1890s, commonly applied in purple, blue-green and blue, but known
infrequently in black
Used from 1880s to 1898
TYPE 12
OCTAGONAL DOTTED CANCEL
24mm wide Octagonal cancel formed
of small square dots
Applied in Black
Used from mid-1870s to late 1880s
TYPE 13
SQUARE DOTTED CANCEL
17mm Square Dotted Cancel, 9
horizontally by 8 vertically
Regularly applied sideways, appearing as a diamond shape on the stamp
Applied in Black and Blue
Used During the 1880s
Known on Scott #s 43, 45, 46, 58, 77,
78, 88, 91
TYPE 14
STRAIGHT LINE CANCELS
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TYPE 14A
BOXED CORREOS CANCEL
Double Outer Lined Rectangular
Cancel, 30mm x 10mm
'CORREOS' in Centre
Used from mid-1870s to 1898
Also known on Aguinaldo issues
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TYPE 14B
PAGADO CANCEL
TYPE 14B-1
Single-Lined Rectangular Cancel with large Rounded Corners
'PAGADO' (Paid) in centre
TYPE 14B-2
Straight Line 'PAGADO' (Paid) Cancel
Only Known on Fiscal Stamps and Documents
TYPE 14B-3
Single-Lined Rectangular Cancel
'PAGADO' (Paid) in centre
Only Known on Fiscal Stamps and Documents
Used During the 1880s
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TYPE 14C
RECLAMADO CANCEL
Single-Lined Rectangular Cancel
'RECLAMADO' (Reclaimed) in centre
Possibly applied on stamps returned to the main Post Office for refund or
replacement,
Perhaps when new stamps were introduced due to a new Reign coming into effect
Used During the 1880s
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TYPE 14D
COMUNICACIONES CANCEL
Straight Line Cancel with no
Borders
'Comunicacion' Approximately 30mm long
First C (Capital Letter) 5mm tall, other letters (Lower Case) 4mm tall
Used During mid-1890s
Known to exist on Scott #s 144 and 165
TYPE 15
OTHER RELATED CANCELS
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TYPE 15A
BUZON PARA MANILA
Double Outer Lined Oblong Cancel
'BUZON' on Top, 'PARA' in Centre, 'MANILA' on Bottom
Translated as 'Mailbox for Manila'
Probably Applied by the purser on letters or postal cards mailed on board a
ship
Used During the 1890s
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TYPE 15B
CARTERA CENTRAL CANCEL
Single-Lined
Rectangular Cancel
Three Lines of Text: 'COMUNICACIONES / ADMIN PRAL MANILA / CARTERA CENTRAL'
Applied by the Letter Sorting Section of the Manila Central Post Office
Usually found on the reverse side of covers
Used During the 1890s
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TYPE 15C
INTENDENCIA CANCEL
Single-Lined Rectangular Cancel
with Rounded Edges
'INTENDENCIA' (Administrative or Military Body) in centre
Possible Fiscal cancel, appears on various postal issues
Used from 1860s to 1880s
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TYPE 15D
INUTILIZADO CANCEL
Single-Lined Rectangular Cancel
with Rounded Edges, 40mm (approximately) x 7mm
'INUTILIZADO' (Franked or Cancelled) in centre
Possible Fiscal cancel, also appearing on various postal issues
Used During the 1890s
Known to exist on Scott #s 144, 147,
166 and Fiscal Stamps
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Other
Possible Additions:
'Batangas' CDS (day and month only - similar to Type 5B
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Last
Update: 19.12.2022