Philippines National Heritage Month

May is the National Heritage Month or Filipino Heritage Month with its month-long festival of exhibits, performances, tours, processions, paradises and poetical jousts celebrating our historical landmarks and traditions.

The month of May was declared National Heritage month through Proclamation 439 in 2003 mandating the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to conserve and promote the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.

The event is in recognition of the need to create among the people a consciousness, respect, and pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural history, and love of country.

Every year, events organizers including the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. (FHFI) President Armita Rufino and Finance Officer Araceli Salas propose a set of cultural activities to make the Filipinos aware of the Philippine traditions, practices and other wonders.
Philippines Traditional musical instruments

The following musical instruments appeared in the regular stamps are:

    Kulintang- sets of graduated gongs laid in a row used in Southern Philippines
    Kudyapi- a two-stringed, fretted boat-lute, used by the Maguindanao and Maranao
    Dabakan- a large goblet shaped drum used in kulintang ensembles
    Gangsa- flat gongs made of bronze, brass and iron

Four different instrument were also featured in the special souvenir sheet.

    Kudlong- a two string lute used by the Mansaka and Mandaya
    the Libbit – a conical drum with a deer goat head used by the ifugao
    the Agung – a larger, deep- rimmed gongs with sides that are turned in and used in southern Philippines
    the Gabbang- a bamboo xylophone found in Southern Philippines

Three different Philippines Traditional Musical Instruments were added to highlight the first day cover envelope and souvenir sheet.

    the Kubing, Jews harps made of bamboo and used in Southern Philippines
    the Gandingan, a set of four large hanging knobbed gongs with narrower rims and less prominent bosses
    the Sulibao, a longitudinal slightly barrel shaped hallowed out logs with deer skin heads on one end used by the Bondok and Ibaloi

These special stamps are a reflection of the country’s rich historic and cultural past, making the Filipinos, especially the younger generation, aware and proud of their roots.

Title: Philippines Traditional musical instruments stamps
Date of Issue: 5 May 2016
Country: Philippines
Denominations: P15 x 8

Source: Philippine Postal Corporation

2020, February 6.  Valentine's Day - "The Love We Deserve"

    VALENTINE'S DAY -  "THE LOVE WE DESERVE"

    The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) releases stamps featuring the digital art rendition of “Valentine’s Day 2020 – The Love We Deserve” special stamps using the popular character of the human heart that signify emotions, including love.

    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.

     Entitled “The Love We Deserve”, the four heart-shaped designs show the values important to contemporary society, focusing on current issues.  It presents the idea that love transcends romance, taking on the many other definitions of love with an open mindset.

     Each of the four topics represents a creed: Love Nature, Love for Country, Love Knows No Gender, and Love Yourself. This issue deviates from the usual way Valentine’s Day stamps are depicted and is intended to touch on subjects the public - especially the youth - can both relate to and reflect on.

    The four (4) heart-shaped stamp designs such as the environment themed “Love Nature” takes on the color green, with a background of a tree that symbolizes life; the nationalistic themed “Love of Country” 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; the “Love Knows No Gender” stamp theme indicates that Love has no sexuality, race, skin tone, color or gender and lastly; the stamp giving emphasis on “Loving Yourself”, inspiring 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 stamp designs deviates from the usual romance theme but focused more on the universality of love.

     

Se-tenant Blocks of Four  (10,000)

12p  Love of Nature

12p  Love of Country

12p  Love Knows No Gender

12p  Love Yourseof

Layout Artist:  Irma Jane C. Junio

First Day Covers:  Manila

2019, October 24.  St. Raphael, The Archangel Parish, Bicentennial

    Litho Offset, Amstar Printing Company, Inc.,  Perf 14

    Singles, Sheets of 40;  Souvenir Sheets of One

12p  St. Raphael, The Archangel Parish - Rise and Soar - Singles (40,000)

55p - Souvenir Sheets of One - 5,000

150p - Miniature Sheets (Personalized Stamps) - 1,000

     17p x 4 Manila Central Post Office + 4 Labels   (First Day of Sale February 10, 2020)

Designer:  Rodine C. Teodoro

First Day Covers:  Manila & Pili, Camarines Sur

ST. RAPHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL PARISH - BICENTENNIAL

The St. Raphael the Archangel Parish was founded in what would be known as the town proper of Pill in 1819. When the mission of St. Raphael was raised to its current status in the sarne year by the Bishop of Nueva Caceres, Most Reverend Bernardlode la Concepcion, OFM., he instated Rev. Fr. Antonio Andres as its first parish priest. Today, the parish of St. Raphael the Archangel in Pili, Carnarines Sur is the central parish of the provincial capital, It is included in the Archdiocese of Caceres which encompasses the entire Bicol region.