Christmas stamps feature Pinoy holiday traditions

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost) recently released its “Pasko 2014” stamps featuring a block of four designs that show unique Filipino traditions in celebrating Christmas. 

PHLPost marketing management and support services manager Enrique Tagle said this year’s Pasko stamp features a parol (lantern) at the center, which makes it unique compared with that of last year’s.

“In order to see the whole picture you need the four designs,” Tagle said.

 Tagle said the designs remind Filipinos that these four traditions are needed in order to make the Christmas celebration complete.

He said PhlPost would like to highlight the parol, which is popular not only in the Philippines but in many other countries as well, and to pay tribute to the Kapampangans, who made a festival of Christmas lantern-making.

One of the designs features a picture of the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary and Jesus – with the star in the background.

 “It signifies the warmth and love for the family. Christmas is a celebration of family,” Tagle said.

The three other designs feature illustrations of three young carolers, the noche buena and the Filipino custom showing respect to elders, the ‘pagmano.’

“This is to remind the youth to respect and honor their elders. Nowadays, the new way of greeting is the ‘beso-beso’ (cheek-to-cheek), but this is a western custom,” Tagle said. 

PhlPost printed 104,000 pieces of the Pasko 2014 stamps, which had been in circulation since Oct. 30. These are sold at P10 apiece and will be available to the public until Oct. 29 next year or until stocks last.

Tagle said they know people usually start sending Christmas cards during this month, so PhlPost decided to release the stamps early.