Heroes, legends featured in stamp exhibit

The Philippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost) yesterday opened a stamp exhibit featuring heroes and legends at SM Manila in line with the upcoming 118th Independence Day celebration.

The PhlPost Heroes and Legends Stamp Exhibit will run until June 16.

On display are 22 different stamps and mock up images of stamps. The oldest featured stamp is the Evolution of the Philippine Flag issued on June 12, 1972.

Series of stamps featuring Philippine presidents, World War II and guerrilla units are on exhibit. The lyrics of the country’s national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, was also spread out in six series of stamps from 1993 to 1998.

PhlPost also exhibited the stamps featuring five living legends: boxing icon and incoming senator Manny Pacquiao who was featured twice; Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran-Floirendo, Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Through the exhibit, Filipinos “would be able to look back on giving importance to our heroes… We should give honor to them because without them, we would not be enjoying our freedom today,” PhlPost Philatelic Service director Elenita San Diego said.

Since stamps are considered as miniature records of history, San Diego said it could be proposed to release an Independence Day stamp every year as a reminder of the country’s freedom.

Currently, PhlPost only releases an Independence Day stamp during milestone years like 25th, 50th and 100th anniversary. The last time PhlPost issued an Independence Day stamp was in 1999.

“There is no standard operating procedure that every Independence Day, (we will issue a stamp). Usually the stamp committee follows the milestone years… However, it can be taken up with the stamp committee so we would be able to instill the importance of our independence,” San Diego said.