Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
They’re beautiful and they’re badass What more can snail mail fans ask for?
“The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has released special postage stamps on Wednesday, May 13, featuring hybrid gumamelas. The launch was done in celebration of Heritage Month that aims to promote the country’s unique heritage, traditions, and landmarks here and abroad,” reports Ernie Reyes on InterAksyon.com.
The report pointed out that “the new set of stamps features four different varieties of gumamela flowers: the single, large-flowered white ‘Tandang Sora,’ the yellow ‘Nay Isa,’ ‘Goria,’ and ‘Nazaria.'” The said blooms are tagged as “the first locally developed hibiscus hybrids in the country.”
The flowers were picked from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Hibiscus Hybrid “Centennial Series,” which is “dedicated to Filipino women who unselfishly served the cause of the Philippine revolution during the Spanish and American regimes, hence named after them.”
“Tandang Sora” is Melchora Aquino, a great Filipina revolutionary who is called the “Mother of the Katipunan.”
“Nay Isa” is Teresa Magbanua who is considered as the “Visayan Joan of Arc.” She joined the Visayan arm of the Katipunan and led many battles against the Spanish colonizers and, later on, against the Americans.
“Goria” is named after Gregoria de Jesus, also known as “Oriang,” who was the founder and vice-president of the women’s chapter of the revolutionary group Katipunan. She was also Andres Bonifacio’s wife.
“Nazaria” is named after Nazaria Lagos, who was appointed the first Red Cross president in the country in 1897 and had helped wounded Filipino soldiers during the Philippine-American War.
The stamps are sold at PHP10 each and only 120,000 copies were printed by Amstar Company, Inc. measuring 30X40mm. The stamps, souvenir sheets and official first day covers are now available at the Central Post Office, Door 203, Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila and area post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.
Photo: PHLPost
