MANILA – The Philippines is adding a unique feature to its hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits this November: the traditional snail mail and an ASEAN post stamp for visitors, especially foreign delegates looking to mail a piece of the Philippines to their home countries.
The stamp features the Philippine ASEAN chairship logo and were unveiled alongside the official Philippine tourism postcards at a signing ceremony of a Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost)-DOT memorandum of agreement in Makati City on Wednesday.
Under the partnership, PHLPost will make its postal services available to local and international delegates at the ASEAN International Media Center. They will also have an opportunity to send the postcards, bearing Philippine stamps to anywhere in the world.
“Through our country’s official postal operator, we will bring the Philippines closer to the world through something as simple yet meaningful as postcards and posted stamps and mailing services available to all delegates at the International Media Center and the World Trade Center,” said DOT Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay.
“These postcards and stamps will serve as our invitation to the world. Through them, we hope to share not only the beauty of our destinations but also the stories, traditions, and cultural identity that make the Philippines truly loved by many,” she added.
PHLPost CEO and Postmaster Maximo Sta. Maria III said this initiative also serves as an opportunity to reintroduce the value and relevance of postal services in today’s increasingly digital world.
“These may seem like simple gestures, but postcards and stamps carry something meaningful. They tell stories that capture experiences and create connections between people, places, and cultures,” he said.
“More importantly, they give our international guests something tangible to remember their time in the Philippines,” he added.
The Philippines is set to host the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit from November 15 to 17. (PNA)
