Memorable Valentine’s Day Sweets and Chinese New Year Treats at The Manila Hotel

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2021 and Valentine’s Day 2021 with your favorite sweets, pastries and dishes at the grand old dame of Philippine hotels. Do not forget to treat your special someone to something special from The Manila Hotel.

Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year 2021

Chocolate gifts have long been a staple of Valentine’s Days for decades, so what better way to show your love than with handcrafted chocolates. Two new items from The Manila Hotel Deli will surely make your Valentine’s night all the sweeter. Surprise your loved one with either the Valentine Praline Bouquet or the Chocolate Strawberry Bouquet.

For only Php980 nett, the Valentine Praline Bouquet is exactly that—a round bouquet of hazelnut gianduja-based pralines, with highlights of rolled pistachio nuts. Timeless and popular, round bouquets are popular in weddings, but this artisanal chocolate bouquet is one that will surely add a sweet touch to Valentine’s Day.

And just in time for the day of hearts, the Valentine-inspired Raspberry Delight heart-shaped cake combines three ingredients that make the perfect combo: Chocolate Mousse brings sweetness and mellowness; raspberries an acidity note; and pistachio biscuit just the right crunch. For only, Php1,300 nett, this indulgent dessert is just what you need to satisfy your sweet tooth without going overboard. One-day pre-order is recommended.

Chinese New Year 2021

The Manila Hotel also sells ( Red Bean Round )Tikoy for just Php 888 and handmade nian gao – (Almond Round ) or locally known as tikoy/ tike for just Php 888

These sweet surprise variants can be pre-ordered from The Manila Hotel’s Delicatessen, or by calling 85270011 or 09989501912.

Universal Love on Valentine’s Day 2020 Stamps Issued by PHLPOST

4 new set of stamps were issued by Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPOST) last February 6, 2020 to commemorate the Valentine’s Day for 2020.

The stamps were  titled “Valentine’s Day 2020 – The Love We Deserve” with a theme that PHLPost says promotes universal love.

Valentine’s Day Stamps 2020

PHLPost’s new special stamps feature digital art using the popular character of the human heart bearing four types of love.

The four heart-shaped designs show the values important to contemporary society, focusing on current issues and are intended to touch on subjects the public – especially the youth – can both relate to and reflect about.

“We see the familiar symbol of love everywhere — from eating heart-shaped chocolates to sending text messages to a special someone with the iconic heart of the popular ’emoji’ or symbols,” says PHLPost referring to the symbols of love used in digital platforms such as the internet.

Each stamp denomination is Php 12.00 while block of 4 stamp would cost Php 48.00 for the entire set.

The four topics in the Valentine’s Day stamps are:

• Love Nature in the color green, with a background of a tree that symbolizes life
• Love for Country in a nationalistic theme where the color and design of the Philippine flag and map are reflected in the background while little doves fly around to symbolize peace and love
• Love Knows No Gender theme indicates that Love has no sexuality, race, skin tone, color or gender
• Love Yourself inspires people to have self-respect, a positive self-image, and unconditional self-acceptance. The magenta/purple inspired color illustrates a person holding one’s head high.

Considered as one of the most awaited Philatelic releases, this year’s Valentine’s Day stamps were designed by PHLPost in-house graphic artist Ms. Irma Jane Junio, deviating from the usual romance theme but focused more on the universality of love.

The 2020 Valentine’s Day Stamps, Souvenir Sheets, and Official First Day Covers are available starting February 06, 2020 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”. Go to Pilipinas Philately for the latest update.

King and Quen of Hearts stamp issued by PHLPOST for Valentine’s Day 2019

Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) unveiled its “2019 King and Queen of Hearts Special Stamp” on February 1, 2019 ( SATURDAY).

“Valentine’s Day or “Araw ng mga Puso” in the vernacular Filipino is celebrated worldwide annually on February 14. The romantic occasion is best celebrated by sending flowers, confectionery, or greeting cards, known as “Valentine’s card” to a special someone”, PHLPost said.

The celebration is not only for lovers, but also for married couples, old and young, and for singles searching for partners.

Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include hearts, doves, and cupid. This year’s stamp features the Filipino king and queen of hearts in national costumes to emphasize the Filipino way of celebrating the “Araw ng mga Puso” in the Philippines.

Stamps and Official First Day Covers of the “King and Queen of Hearts” will be available starting February 1, 2019 at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio 1000,Ermita, Manila and all postal areas of PHLPost.

Valentine’s week celebration at the Philippine Postal Corporation

Manila Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio, Ermita , Manila -Philippines

 Postmaster General Maria Josefina Dela Cruz together with Ms. Jamia Mei Tolentino ( Saint Stephen High School)

Philippine Postal Corporation ( Philpost) open another opportunity to young students from different parts of the country when they organized an on-the spot painting contest last year. The winning designs will be featured in Philippine stamps ( such as  Valentine’s day 2014 ) and other succeeding occasions like Christmas season 2014.

Ms. Winnie Cordero host of  ABS-CBN channel 2- Umagang Kay Ganda program

Inviting local students , amateurs ,  professional artists and designers to a stamp design contest in not new in the Philippines, This had been a tradition for several decades which tapped the young generation artists in expressing their thoughts and ideas into a new concept in designing colorful stamps that are issued to the collecting public and those people who collect mails, postcards, greeting cards on special occasions from around the world.

Philpost  caravan through main thorough fares in metro manila

The  top winner of the stamp design contest  last year received Php 15,000 , a certificate of participation, framed stamp and a her works feature in Valentine’s day 2014 stamp issuance of Philippine Postal Corporation.

artwork

The young third- year student Ms. Jamia Mae Tolentino is a student of Saint Stephen High School – Manila .  The school is active  in sending representatives in  various art design contests . They proudly display the winners of various design contests in their hallways and lobby area.

edible flowers  for sale

Launching

The stamp and the first day covers was issued  last January 27, 2014 with no fanfare and elaborate unveiling ceremonies at the  ( Manila Central Post Office ) .

Mr. Allan Patrick S. Afable -marketing specialist ( contract of services ) Business Lines Department – Philippine Postal Corporation

Some stamp collectors , especially in the provinces are not fully aware that  the 2014 Valentine’s day stamp was  issued by the local post office.

Saint Stephen High School students and teachers paid a courtesy call to the postmaster and visited the ongoing stamp exhibition

According to some of the collectors, They have not even seen the 2013 Valentine’s day stamp and First Day Covers, How much more the 2014 Valentine’s day stamp? How ironic ? I think the marketing , logistic and Philatelic section must work double time to properly distribute all those 2014 Valentine’s day stamps and FDC’s to the regional areas , so that provincial stamp collectors can buy and somehow send them to their love ones and pen-pals from the other parts of the world.

First Day Cover-  with Valentine’s Day 2014 stamp

When i visited the Philatelic section last week ,  ( February 6, 2014 Thursday ) that was the only time i knew that there will be some sort of launching and the student winner of the stamp design contest will be invited to grace the important affair .

Technical Description

Purpose: Valentine’s Day -commemorative stamp

Date of Issuance: January 27, 2014

Printing: Litho-offset

Printer: Amstar Company Incorporated

Perforation: 14

Quantity: 55,000

Artist: Ms. Jamia Mei Tolentino ( Saint Stephen High School)

Theme: Mahal Kita  ( I love You)

Denomination: Php 10.00

Single: Sheet of 40

First Day Cover: Manila Cancellation

valentine’s day stamps issued by Philpost from 1992 to 2013

Exhibits

framed valentine’s day stamps and love letter exhibition

There were some love letters ( some dated between 70 to 100 years ago)  that were exhibited at the main lobby, framed valentine’s day stamps issued by the Philpost from 1992 to 2013 were exhibited. There are  some commercial booth sections were the public can buy donuts, edible bouquet, fresh bouquet flowers,  pocket books, pins , chocolates that can be send via post office couriers  from February 10 to February 14, 2014 to their love ones or special someones.

The stamp exhibit will last until March 2014 .

Note: I bought some first day covers for my friends and even gave some to Philpost employees who do not have time to let Ms. Jamia Mae Tolentino sign an autograph .  I personally believe that there are a lot of stamp collectors in the Philippines which still collect stamps.  One of  their problem  is the inaccessibility  of some current stamp at their local or regional post offices .  How can you promote a hobby of stamp collecting if the public is not aware and local post offices do not have those current stamp issuance?

Valentine’s day on stamp

Today marked  Valentine’s  Day , While everyone is busy sending messages of love and gifts. The Philippine Postal Corporation issued a set of stamp celebrate Valentine’s Day this February 14.

According to popular church tradition, St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 AD. At the time the Roman Emperor Claudius II issued an edict forbidding marriage. When Claudius II became the emperor, he thought that he can make good soldiers. So, to assure good soldiers, he banned marriage.

St. Valentine saw the trauma of young lovers, so he met them in a secret place and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned this and arrested Valentine and executed him on February 24, 270.

the custom of sending greeting cards or gifts to express affection to a chosen partner. The cards – valentines – are generally sent anonymously and are often designed with hearts to symbolize love.

Another theory by historian  derived  from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalis (February 15).  Originally a festival for shepherds, it was celebrated in honor of Faunus.  Its primary purpose was to secure fertility for the fields, the flocks, and the shepherds themselves.

But the tradition of   calling oneself a “valentine” and asking ones beloved to be the same, was  referred to in the Paston Letters, the largest surviving collection of 15th-century English correspondence written by the Paston family and their neighbours in Norfolk.

Valentine’s Day 2010 stamp

The U.S. Postal Service has issued Love stamps for Saint Valentine’s Day  annually since the 1973 issue  which was designed by  Mr. Robert Indiana . The first issue was an 8 cents stamp with a printing production of 320 million stamps.

Several countries have issued love  stamps for Saint Valentine’s Day, such as Belgium, France, Philippines,  Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Collectors will often try to collect covers  from romantically named towns. Perhaps the most well known, servicing more than 200,000 each year around Valentine’s Day, is Loveland, USA.

The Philippines started to issue Valentine day stamps on February 9, 1996 .

1996, February 9. Greetings Stamps. Series 5. Happy Valentine’s Day. Stamps inscribed “Happy Valentine”.

• 2p Love Birds.
• 6p Cupid.
• 7p Chocolates.
• 8p Roses.

Postal patrons can avail themselves of the flowers and chocolates that the mailman will deliver for them or to their loved ones. The special limited edition of Valentine’s Day stamps to be issued by PhilPost, Filipinos can definitely relate with their love ones through love letters.

Valentine’s Day message in different languages

“Despite  modern technology, such as the use of (text messaging), it is still different when love is expressed through the sending of flowers, chocolates and Valentine’s cards,” according to one of the Philpost employees.

Come what may, romance will never be lost to Filipino . As long as there are people falling in love, love letters will always be written, cherished and enjoyed forever by the grateful recipient.

These cards and letters sent through mail, are most of the time kept through the years for sentimental reasons.