Press Release No. 114-03
27 March 2003


COMMEMORATIVE STAMP TO CELEBRATE
 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
RP-MEXICO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

The Department of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) and Embassy of the United Mexican States in Manila, has organized a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of RP-Mexico diplomatic relations.

A commemorative stamp will be issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation to highlight the strong bonds of history and culture that have always characterized the friendly diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Mexico, which were established on 14 April 1953.

The stamps will feature the Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of Mexico and secondary Patroness of the Philippines (by Papal Bull), and the Cristo Nazareno of Quiapo, whose image came from Mexico.

The commemorative stamp will be launched at the lobby of the Philippine Post Office’s Main Branch in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila, on Wednesday, 23 April 2003, 50 years after the first Philippine diplomatic mission was established in Mexico.

A Mexican philatelic exhibit will also be inagurated in the same evening.  The Mexican Postal Services will be sending 167 stamps from the period 1986-2000 for this exhibit while the Philippine Postal Corporation will display another 167 from its own collection.  

The public is invited to view the exhibit, which will run from 24-30 April 2003.