Pasko 2020 Stamp and First Day Cover Issued by PHLPOST

Philippine Postal Corporation or PHLPOST issues the yearly Pasko 2020 stamp and first day cover in a virtual launching during the end of the ” National Stamp Collecting Month. On November 28,2020, the launching was held at the iconic Manila Central Post Office within Liwasang Bonifacio, Ermita, Manila.

Pasko 2020 Stamp and Meaning

“At the end of this extraordinary difficult year, the Christmas stamp will remind us that spending time together with the Family will bring much needed respite from the worries and adversity, and looking forward for better days to come.”

The “Pasko 2020” stamp features an image of the contemporary Filipino family. They gather around for support and encouragement, maintaining a positive outlook, with the traditional Parol (Christmas lantern) in the background to complement the postage stamp.

Technical Description

Date of Issue: November 23, 2020

Kind of Issue: Special

Denomination: Php 12.00

Designer: Ms. Eunice Beatrix Dabu

Size: 30mm x 40mm

Sheet Composition: 40 (10×4)

Printing Process: Offset Lithography

Printer: Amstar Company Incorporated

Perforation: 14

Quantity :10,000 pieces

First Day Cover : 400 pieces

PHLPost said the stamp and official first day Covers of “Pasko 2020” will now be available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, all Mega Manila Post Offices, Area 1, Tuguegarao, Area 2, San Fernando, La Union, Postal Area 4, San Pablo, Postal Area 5, Mandaue, Postal Area 6, Iloilo, Postal Area 7, Davao, Postal Area 8, Cagayan de Oro, and Postal Area 9, Zamboanga.

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Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club Meeting and Salu-Salo

Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club had their last meeting and get together for 2019. I have 3 mail bidders which send their bid only during the day of the meeting.

I have to travel to the post office to check the items for auction. It was quite surprising to see some new faces and club members.

Meeting

There were about 500 items for bid, ranging from stamps, stamp magazines, specimen stamps, coins, banknotes, papel sellado, postcards among others.

What is exciting on this stamp club meeting was the on the spot raffle and salu-salo. It is good that someone gave electric flat iron, mugs, lock and locker tumbler and multi-purpose swiss knife.

item 40 -United States Philippine Islands 1921 postal card with 1906 2 centavos stamp

The author was quite lucky to have bid this item, This was listed under #40 and starting bid was just Php 80.00 or roughly around US$ 1.58. The postal card was written around August 25th 1921 and send to Mr. Hashi Kawa of #617 Camba street, San Nicolas, Manila by Assistant Secretary Hermo Cruz of Bureau of Labor.

The office was under the Department of Commerce and Communications ( Bureau of Labor) which was situated along 662 Rizal Avenue in Manila.

It is rare to see a correspondent postal card with English and Spanish words printed.  Another unique way to affixed the stamp within this postal card it was inverted.

The author is quite lucky to have gotten this postal card correspondence without much bidders interested.  A lot of them might have paid attention to the other items.

Php 5 pesos banknote ( circa 1987) with overprint San Lorenzo Ruiz canonization Serial number JC555555 ( item 253)

The Php 5.00 paper bill issued during President Corazon Aquino sometime in 1987 with overprint of San Lorenzo Ruiz canonization and with solid serial numbers initial bid was just Php 700 but a male banknote collector outbid everyone and reach an outstanding Php 3,600 !

The quality of the banknote is almost MINT condition and it is collected not because of the condition but the serial numbers and overprint. The banknote collector might be a newbie in the collecting world, since solid serial numbers would only reach around Php 1,000 outpost.

1 peso 1974 error coin off center with blank and clip planchet ( item 273)

The 3 pieces 1 peso Rizal coin had minting error. The starting bid was Php 700 and the lot item reach final last bid of Php 1,800 ! In the normal quality and security procedure in the MINT. These coins were normally re-minted or re-cast. Somehow, one of the person behind the mint might have got hold of these coins and collected them for over 30 years before selling them in local bourse or coin market.

one centavo coins ( item 274)

The item above were three pieces 1 centavo coins ( Marcos regime) with obvious error in the minting process with black clip planchet. The item starting bid was Php 700 and a coin collector was quickly to bid the item.

Salu-salo

chicken empanada

peachy-peachy from Arny Dading

 After the bourse / auction the members got to taste several late afternoon snacks which consisted of peachy- peachy from Arny Dading, Kikiam ni Aling Upeng, Sushi rolls from Suki Market and Chicken empanada.

sushi rolls from suki market

Gat Andres Bonifacio shrine near Manila Cityhall

Christmas tree at the Andres Bonifacio Shrine and Manila Cityhall clock tower

Everyone enjoyed the hearty afternoon snack, We decided to visit the Andres Bonifacio and Manila Cityhall to see the beautiful evening Christmas lights and went to nearby Manila Cathedral for the start of the anticipated misa de gallo.

Eyeball of Postcrossing Philippines and 150th Anniversary of Postcard

Postcrossing Philippines had a lot of meet-up during the past few weeks. One of the biggest and most important eyeball or meet-up was held at the Manila Central Post office last October 19.

The meeting also coincided with the monthly postal heritage and talks which was a joint project between Philippine Postal Corporation( Pilipinas Philately),Philippine Philatelic Federation, Philippine Philatelists and Collectibles, Walkwithchan and different cause- oriented stamp collecting groups.

 postal heritage tour participants

hundreds of postcards send

There were about 70 participants who join the short talk and tour, There were at least a dozen or so members who joined the eyeball. There were representatives from Business Mirror and bloggers.

Mr. Isidro Tan ( Philippine Philatelic Federation member),Mr. Dojie Lutera ( President -Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club), Mr. Jimmy Ang (APO Philatelic Club),Mr. Eugene Siy also came and bought new stamp and postcard issuance at the Philippine Postal Corporation post shoppe.

a participant together with Ms. Eunice

Got a chance to meet Dr. Venus Fortuna, She creates her own postcard and swap with fellow postcard collectors. Mr. Dennis Dy Kho joined in much later around past 11:00 am, But quickly disappeared.

It is quite rare for Philippine Postal Corporation to issue commemorative postcards for sale to the general public. The last was in 2013 which commemorated the 150th anniversary of Malacañang palace.

We already told Ms. Arlene our suggestion on the possibilities of issuing some postcards since there is a demand from postcard collecting groups, tourist and even in the international travel swap groups.

The postcards will surely be a collectible material especially when issued by PHLPOST. They should also have a joint project with DOT and other attached government agencies so that their postcard issuance can be sold in tourist destination sites.

150th Anniversary of Postcard

The history of postcards started when Dr. Emanuel Herrmann, a professor of Economics in Vienna, suggested to his national postal service a means to streamline communications.

There needed to be a cheaper, less troublesome alternative to letters. The Correspondenz-Karte, or correspondence card was first issued on 1 October 1869. He came to be known as the “Father of Postcards” through the official creation and implementation of this new system via the Austrian Post.

Technical Description

Date of Issuance: October 19, 2019 Saturday

Kind of  Issuance: Commemorative

printed on special board paper with a matte finish

Graphic Artist: Mr. Rodine C. Teodoro (PHLPOST in-house artist)

Design: Dr. Emmanuel Herrmann , the inventor of the postcard on a copy of the first correspondenz-karte,

Size: 148mm x105 mm

Printing Process: Offset Lithography

Printer: Amstar Company Inc.

Quantity: 4,000 pieces

The postcard are available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, all Mega Manila Post Offices, Postal Area 2, San Fernando La Union, Postal Area 4, San Pablo, Postal Area 5, Mandaue, Postal Area 7, Davao, and Postal Area 8, Cagayan de Oro.

Highlights of the Postal Heritage Talks and Tour

Philippine Philatelic Federation in partnership with walkwithchan, heritage groups, Pilipinas Philately, Philippine Postal Corporation had a highly successful postal talks and tour held last saturday ( September 21) at the main lobby of the Manila Central Post office.

Ms. Arlene Labao

Tita Josefina Cura

Ms. Abi Tarroza- postal tour specialist

stamps, postcards, first day covers and book

Highlights

participants admire the architectural details of the main post office

participants

main lobby

participants looked at the display

sorting of mail area

The highlights of the tour includes the participation of Urban Sketchers members who went to join the activity by sketching important architectural details of the post office. There were also a large group of students from Catholic Filipino Academy of Cubao, University of Santo Tomas faculties, Polytechnic University of the Philippines students , tourism guides and other cause oriented groups.

Catholic Filipino Academy students together with their teachers group photo

Reader digest and eco bag were given to the early birds courtesy of Philippine Postal Corporation while stamp packs were given by Professor Micheal “Igue” dela Fuente and Mrs. Josefina T. Cura of the Philippine Philatelic Federation and founder of Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club.

The next FREE postal talks and tour will be held next month October 19, 2019 saturday from 9:00 am to 12nn. Do not forget to bring your own water. Candies and biscuits for sharing with fellow participants and indigent children within Liwasang Bonifacio area.

Postal Heritage Tour and Talks

Philippine Philatelic Federation which is an NGO organization of several stamp clubs in partnership with PHLPOST, Pilipinas Philately ,WalkwithChan, Philippine Philatelists and Collectibles FB, Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club and among other cause oriented stamp and postcard collecting group is inviting the general public, students, heritage advocates, stamp collectors and tourists to join this FREE guided tour, lecture and explore the historic Manila Central Post Office.

Here are tentative schedule for September 21,2019 ( Saturday ): ( Manila Central Post Office main lobby )

8:50 am to 9:00 am registration and assembly
9:00 am to 9:10 am briefing by Mr. Rence Chan ( walkwithchan) games, trivia and on the spot raffle.
9:10 to 9: 30am – Ms. Arlene Labao- ( philatelic section )
9:30 am to 10:00am- Mrs. Josie Cura -special talks about philately and heroes .

10:00am to 11:45 am -post office tour, facilities, P.O. boxes, sorting of mails, proposed museum and gallery, post shoppe.

Parking space is at the left side portion of the post office beside the ( Postal Saving Bank/ OFW Bank) area.

Last month several bloggers and vloggers like Finding Tom,LOLPhilosopher went to the tour.

Note: For the “Certificate of Attendance” please try to attend the activity and wait between 3 weeks to 1 month before claiming at the PHLPOST. Contact Persons: Ms. Abi Tarroza, Ms. Perla Goco or Ms. Arlyn Labao (02) 527-01-08 or 527-01-32 ( Mondays to Fridays ) from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.