Centuries-old churches featured in stamps

MANILA, Philippines — From being National Cultural Treasures (NCT), the beauty and grandeur of 10 centuries-old Spanish churches have been replicated and turned into miniature pieces of art as stamps. 

The Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) recently released the commemorative stamps to raise public awareness on these unique and irreplaceable ecclesiastical monuments.

PHLPost postmaster general Joel Otarra, in a statement, said the stamps were released in time for the celebration of National Heritage Month this May.

NCT churches were built at the height of Spanish colonization and have remained intact for centuries, even as efforts have been made to preserve these cultural edifices.

This latest stamp release was a product of the collaboration of PHLPost,  the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and FUNtastic Philippines, which is a group of amateur and professional photographers from the Philippines and abroad.

Through collaboration, they captured the beauty and distinctive architecture of the colonial churches and transformed these into stamps.

Featured in the block-of-four stamps is the San Matias Parish Church, photographed by Nelson Gonzales. It is known as the Tumauini Church, an ultra-Baroque edifice in Isabela province. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared it a National Historical Landmark last Feb. 24, 1989.

Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Pan-ay Church in Capiz, was photographed by Bernadette Juson. It is a Baroque church with neo-classical influence, where coupled piers in Corinthian style are attached. It is the oldest church in Panay Island and its five-level belfry is the biggest and houses most likely the heaviest bell in Asia, cast in 1878 using 70 sacks of coins.

Another Santa Monica Parish Church is located in Minalin, Pampanga, photographed for PHLPost by Richelli Castellano. It is of baroque style and was founded in 1614. The Santa Monica Parish Church was declared an NCT by the National Museum last Aug. 27, 2011.

Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church, popularly called Tayum Church, is found in Abra province. Its picture was taken by Ma. Remedios Sotto. It is a Baroque church and was founded and built by secular priests to Christianize the native group Tinguians in the region during the 19th century. The Tayum Church was declared an NCT by the National Museum in 2001.

Limited copies of souvenir stamp sheets feature the San Carlos Borromeo Church, called Mahatao Church, in Batanes. The picture used in the stamp was taken by Annabelle Chavez.

Photographer Rolino Bucao Jr. took pictures of the Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church in La Union, commonly called the Namacpacan Church; the Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church in Cebu; and the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo. The Iloilo-based church was declared a national shrine by Presidential Decree No. 260 and was declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site in 1993.

The Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Ilocos Sur was also photographed by Castellano.

The picture of the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Daius, Bohol was taken by Remus Nicolas Doroon.

PHLPost released 80,000 copies (20,000 pieces each) of the block-of-four stamps with a denomination of P12 each and another 5,000 pieces for the souvenir sheet of stamps.

These stamps were designed by PHLPost in-house artist Vic Serevo, in coordination with Judith Neric Filipino Heritage Festival Inc.  

PHLPost announced that the stamps are now being sold at the Post Shop, Central Post Office at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.