National Museum Declares Post Office Building an Important Cultural Property

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The cultural, artistic and historical significance of the historic Post Office Building has been officially recognized by the National Museum with the public declaration of the iconic building as an Important Cultural Property (ICP).

The National Museum is mandated to declare cultural properties of the Philippines as either Important Cultural Properties or National Cultural Treasures, pursuant to several laws, including Republic Act No. 4846 (Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act) as amended by Presidential Decree No. 374, Presidential Decree No. 260, Republic Act No.8492 (National Museum Act of 1998) and most recently, Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009).

An Important Cultural Property (ICP) is a cultural asset that possesses “exceptional cultural, artistic and/or historical significance”. 

Postmaster General Joel Otarra said that the Philippine Postal System has a remarkable history. It was first established in Manila in 1767. The first known location of the Manila Post Office was on Escolta, next to the Estero de la Reina near Santa Cruz church.

During the American occupation, the Post Office Building was built in the 1926 as a modern colonial architecture, an example of a perfect neo-classical monument built and designed by Filipino Architect Juan Arellano and Tomas Mapua in the heart of Manila.  The building was rebuilt after World War II.

The Post Office Building has maintained its formidable and beautiful edifice.

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has also unveiled the Museum Ceremonial Groundbreaking Marker to officially start the construction and retrofitting of the Philippine Postal and Philatelic Museum in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA).

PHLPost aims to inspire Filipinos to protect, preserve and promote these exceptional and outstanding cultural properties by establishing a Museum that will hold nationally important historical archive of stamps and museum collections, providing visual, physical and written records of 250 years of postal heritage in the country. 

The Philippine Postal Service is celebrating its 251st founding Anniversary and the National Stamp Collecting Month (NSCM) this month.  

The event also highlights the launching of the colorful “Year of the Pig” commemorative stamps to celebrate the coming 2019 and stamp exhibit featuring rare stamps by known collectors in the country.