MANILA – In case you missed it, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has released a commemorative stamp in honor of the birth centenary of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
Born in 1917, the dictator would have turned 100 on September 11.
The stamp was issued on the same day.
PHLPost printed 50,000 copies of the twelve-peso stamp, which features Marcos’ portrait and signature, and was designed by Victorino Z. Serevo.
It will be available until September 10 next year.
Typically, PHLPost actively sends out press releases about new stamp issues. For example, it sent out a press release about issuing postage stamps to boost tourism in the Philippines onAugust 31.
On September 8, it sent a press release about issuing a “cartoon-style” stamp to celebrate Teacher’s Month. It was followed by a press release on September 19, about exhibiting zodiac stamps in Nanjing, China.
On September 27, it sent a press release about receiving the “Scroll of Honor” from the Philippine Red Cross. And on October 2, it sent a press release about holding letter-writing day to highlight the celebration of World Post Day.
But save for a post on its website, PHLPost seemed mum on the commemorative stamp.
The burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November last year drew protests.
And this year, on September 21, days after Marcos’ birth anniversary, massive protests were held against what left-wing activists and the political opposition saw as the creeping dictatorship of the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte.
It was also the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by Marcos, which was marked by thousands of cases of torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. Such abuses were acknowledged by the State with legislation that mandated the payout of billions in reparation to the documented victims of martial law.
