MANILA – The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) unveiled the “Paskong Pilipino” 2021 (Filipino Christmas 2021) for the first time in a concert that features the world-famous Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra held in front of the majestic and historic Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio.
The 2021 Christmas stamp illustrates the Filipino way of celebrating Christmas here and abroad. It is anchored on hope, togetherness, love, and faith. These virtues are being depicted in the traditional Filipino Christmas lantern or “Parol”, a lighted and star-shaped bamboo-made material that is hung in every house and street to feel and experience the excitement of the Christmas season.
Each design is accompanied with the declaration “Narito na, Paskong Pag-asa (Here it is, the Christmas of Hope),” “Sama-sama pa rin tayo ngayong Pasko (We are still together this Christmas),” “Taos-pusong pananalig sa Paskong puno ng Pag-ibig (Whole-hearted faith in Christmas full of Love)” and “Maniwala, Magtiwala, Pasko ng Himala (Trust, Believe, Christmas of Miracles).”
“This is our own way of bringing joy, hope, and inspiration to the public. That in spite of the pandemic, Filipinos should not forget to keep our faith and celebrate the birth of Jesus,” Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said in a media release on Friday (Dec. 10).
Together with the launching of the Christmas stamps, the event, dubbed PPO @ PPO (Philippine Post Office), was part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) outreach program whose objective is to bring music and arts closer to the people.
The Nightingales (Bianca Lopez-Aguila and Bernadette Mamauag) and young soprano Alexa Isobel Kaufman performed their operatic renditions of various Christmas carols. The orchestra played classics such as the William Tell Overture, the 1970s Manila Sound, under the baton of maestro Herminigildo Ranera. The concert was facilitated by actress and model Issa Litton.
Fulgencio thanked the Office of the President headed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Director Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, president of the CCP and chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for their initiative to feature this memorable event in front of the historic Post Office building. The Post Office, NCCA, and CCP are all under the Office of the President.
The Post Office has printed 60,000 pieces of the four stamp designs at P12 each. The stamps were designed by In-house graphic artist Ryman Dominic Albuladora. Christmas stamps and First-day cover envelopes are now on sale at the Post shop, located at Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio. (PhilPost) – bny
