2021 a great year for PH philately
Stamps commemorated quincentennial celebrations and our nation’s first ever Olympic gold medal
The year 2021 was one of great hardships and many historic events, from the quincentennial celebrations to our nation’s first ever Olympic gold medal. It’s truly a year we won’t forget.
It was an exciting year, too, for the philatelic community. Let me take you through the year in stamps.
The first release for 2021 was the “Save Our Shores, Save Our Ocean” Series 2 on Jan. 6. It included two stamps—one featuring the Rostellariella martini, a species of sea snail and another featuring the Guildfordia yoka, a species of deep-water sea snail. Both were issued to “send the message on the importance of taking care of our natural resources.”
The designs were provided by the National Museum while the images of Philippine waters were from FUNtastic Philippines Inc.
On Jan. 13, the Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) issued the third “Save Our Shores, Save Our Ocean” series featuring the Amusium pleuronectes, a species of bivalves belonging to the pectinidae family, and the Tridacna squamosa, one of several large clam species native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Valentine’s Day
On Feb. 10, PhilPost launched the Valentine’s Day stamps with the theme “Far but Not Apart” featuring a couple donning face masks while on their devices.
PhilPost also released various issuances to commemorate the quincentennial celebrations. The first was the Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Islas Filipinas or the Murillo Velarde Map of the Philippines.
The souvenir sheet, which cost P500, was released on March 16 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines. It features the map with tarjetones engraved on the side. The map is very important to the Philippines not only because of history but also because it is a monumental piece of evidence in the South China Sea dispute.
Stamps that commemorate 500 years of Christianity in our country were issued on March 22. The stamps also commemorate the 500th anniversary of
the first Easter Sunday Mass, which was held March 30, 1521.
On April 27, PhilPost released stamps commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan. The stamp features the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Also part of the quincentennial celebrations and to celebrate National Heritage Month, on May 18, PhilPost released stamps featuring indigenous boats, with designs featuring the vinta, paraw, caracore, balangay and others.
On June 24, PhilPost released stamps to mark the 450th anniversary of the City of Manila. The two designs feature the Famous Jones Bridge and the iconic city clock tower of the Manila City Hall.
After the death of former President Benigno S. Aquino III, PhilPost released a stamp honoring him. It came out on Aug. 2, just in time for the 40th day of his passing.
Honoring teachers
On Sept. 6, the stamp celebrating National Teachers Month was released with the theme ““iTeach for a Better Future: My Teacher, My Front-line Hero.”
On Sept. 16, PhilPost launched the “Keep the Faith— Be a Hero, Save Lives” miniature sheet to encourage everyone eligible to receive the COVID vaccine to get it.
Hidilyn F. Diaz got a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, something generations and generations of Filipinos will look back on and be proud of. Other athletes made our country proud as well, like Carlo Paalam who won a silver medal in men’s boxing; Nesthy Petecio, silver in women’s boxing; and Eumir Marcial, bronze in men’s boxing. All four were featured on stamps while Diaz also got a sheetlet of her own to mark her great achievement. The athletes were all present at the launch on Sept. 18.
A stamp honoring lolos and lolas was released on Sept. 27, the month Grandparents’ Day was celebrated.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first stamp of the Philippines, PhilPost issued stamps for basketball icon Robert Jaworski. He became one of the first “Living Legends” featured on stamps. The World Renowned Filipinos/Living Legends series 1 stamp set featured Lea Salonga, Efren “Bata” Reyes, Eugene Torre, Josie Natori and Jordan Clarkson, among others. The stamps were launched on Nov. 13.
Best and brightest
The Christmas stamps for 2021 highlighted Paskong Pilipino, which features friends and family, young and old, celebrating the season with one another, virtually or not. The launch took place on Dec. 4 in front of the Manila Central Post office with a performance by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.
PhilPost Philatelic Division chief Elenita San Diego said, “Stamps issued in 2021 captured one of the main goals of philately—the historical documentation of events that unfold such as the triumph of Hidilyn Diaz . . . The year 2021 recorded one of the saddest events in our lives as Filipinos—the death of President Benigno S. Aquino III, which was captured and immortalized in a single stamp issued on the 40th day after his death. Philippine stamps made a rebound when, during the last quarter, ‘Living Legends’ were highlighted in stamp issues. Expect more exciting stamp issues in 2022 and beyond.”