By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno / Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has honored the four Filipino athletes who led the country’s most successful Summer Olympic stint ever earlier this year in Tokyo by having commemorative stamps created for them.
The PHLPost on Saturday (Sep. 18) unveiled the new stamps with no less than gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial witnessing the event at the Manila Central Post Office.
“It feels great that some of our countrymen have brought home honor and given inspiration to our nation. This is what led us here at the Philippine Post Office to issue postage stamps or seals that feature the images of the winning moments of our countrymen during the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Postmaster-General Norman Fulgencio said.
“The stamps featuring the winning moments of our very own first Olympic gold medalist Ms. Hidilyn Diaz and her fellow Team Pilipinas Olympic medalist and boxing champions Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and Eumir Marcial remind us how important they are to be recognized properly in what they are doing to keep our Philippine flag high and shining in the world of sports. The glory they have given to our nation and to the Filipino people is priceless,” he added.
For her part, Diaz stressed the importance of sending the so-called ‘snail mail’ even at this time in which you can just send your letters and files through e-mail or chatting apps.
“In this time of social media and the internet, I hope we still have the space and connection similar to writing using stamps or seals,” she said.
“During this time of the pandemic, even if we don’t see each other, let’s continue to inspire and give hope and heroism to others. We need to discover a way to make our communication creative and deeper like what PHLPost is doing. Thank you so much for this honor. This has become part of history, not only for me or for the athletes here, but for all of us Filipinos.”
The Tokyo Olympic commemorative stamps were not the only ones unveiled on Saturday as a series of stamps encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 has been debuted too. (PNA) – jlo
