Philippine Post Office Valentine’s Day special stamps launched in the City of Pines

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The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) launched its “Titibok pa rin" Valentine’s 2022 special stamps featuring designs that spread hope, strength and love in the midst of difficulties brought about by the pandemic held at the Burnham Park Grandstand in Baguio City, Feb.10.

“Confronted with difficulties, some have lost their loved ones, many are struggling, feeling sad, scared, frustrated and broken. The Post Office Valentine’s Day Stamp features broken hearts that are still willing to fight and love”, Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said.

“Sa kabila ng pandemya, ang Pusong Pinoy ay titibok pa rin (Inspite of the Pandemic, the heart of the Filipinos will keep on beating), he said.

The Valentine’s Day special stamp was unveiled by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and his wife Arlene together with Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio and other Post Office Officials.

Valentine’s Day celebrates the bond and the relationship between people. It is a day which teaches us how we express love, not just between couples, but also emphasizes the different kinds of love.

The designs for 2022 Valentine’s Day Stamps celebrate the Hearts that are not often celebrated during Valentines. The stamps depict the Filipino spirit that never gives up and show heart images expressing different emotions which prevail amid the pandemic.

The eight (8) heart stamps that express feelings or emotions are: Titibok pa rin (heart still beating), nagmamahal pa rin, lalaban pa rin, nagmamalasakit pa rin, titibok pa rin para sa bayan, buo pa rin at lumalaban pa rin. “These are the hearts that really matter”, Fulgencio added.

“People across the globe celebrate this day by sending love messages to partners, friends and family. This is the day to thank people, wherever they are for their love in the form of friendship, family, service and in all its forms”, the Post Office said in a statement.

The Post Office has printed 40,000 copies of the eight (8) colorful heart designs to be sold at P12 each. In-house graphic artist Ms. Eunice Beatrix U. Dabu layout the stamps.


Stamps, souvenir sheets and official first day covers of “Titibok pa rin 2022 Valentine’s Special Stamps” are now available at Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio. For inquiries on the stamps, call (02)8527-0108 or (02)8527-0132 and follow and like Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates.

#AllinLahatsaALS: DepEd rallies support for ALS, its law and IRR

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“A truly strengthened and intensified Alternative Learning System (ALS) Program for all out-of-school children in special cases, youth, and adults (OSCYAs) is a promise that the administration of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones delivered in less than six years in office,” ALS Assistant Secretary G.H. Ambat declared as the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to conduct the roadshow for Republic Act 11510 (ALS Act) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) beginning February 2022.

DepEd, through the newly created Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) in the Central Office, will engage DepEd officials, personnel, and partners in the field to make the implementation of the law more understandable, relatable, and practicable.

“After we levelled-up the Program, we intend to build on the gains of ALS 2.0 and make sure that everyone – from DepEd officials and personnel to external partners – is all-in for ALS. Their stake in and support for ALS should continue even after the current administration,” Ambat added.

With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Opportunity 2.0 (O2) Project, the roadshow will kick off in the 12 O2 project sites: Zamboanga del Norte, Isabela City, Davao City, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cotabato City, Legazpi City, Angeles City, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Cebu City, and Tagbilaran City. Thereafter, BAE will conduct the roadshow with relevant offices in the Central, Regional and Division offices, and schools.

“We share the same goal with DepEd of reaching the vulnerable Filipino out-of-school youth and making sure they have access to quality education and training. A large part of doing that is to build awareness and the capacity of ALS implementors including administrators, coordinators, and teachers down to community learning centers—even local governments, private sector, academia, and the youth themselves. This way, everyone will know what the ALS law means for them and their work together on youth development,” USAID Opportunity 2.0 Chief of Party Dr. David Hall said.

The roadshow aims to explain the salient features and key terms in the law and its IRR that will define the roles and responsibilities of DepEd and its partners in the continued implementation of the ALS Program. Likewise, the roadshow is designed to boost stakeholder support by enabling them to appreciate the provisions of the law, and discuss strategies and practices that may be used to further an effective advocacy campaign.

To signify support for the ALS Program, and its institutionalization through the ALS Act and its IRR, roadshow participants and program stakeholders are encouraged to use #AllinLahatsaALS in their social media posts related to ALS and its activities. The hashtag also serves as a call-to[1]action for all to acknowledge and participate in the collective effort to make basic education more accessible and inclusive for marginalized Filipinos.

On December 23, 2020, the President promptly signed the ALS Act that responds to the growing demand for a quality second-chance basic education as a viable learning option for Filipino OSCYAs who are unable to study in the formal education system due to economic, geographic, political, physical, and social barriers.

On November 5, 2021, Briones signed the final IRR following BAE’s conduct of a series of consultations with DepEd officials and personnel, relevant government agencies, and non-government organizations.

Vice Admiral Fabricante named PCG OIC as Commandant Admiral Laroya retires

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Transportation Secretary Art Tugade has appointed Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante as Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with the retirement of Commandant Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya as the 28th PCG Commandant.Secretary Tugade announced the appointment during the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony today, 10 February 2022.

Vice Admiral Fabricante is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989 and served as Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations before his appointment as the PCG OIC.

Secretary Tugade commended Commandant Laroya for his over 38 years of public and government service. He added that under Laroya’s leadership, the men and women of the PCG have united in the service of the country and of the Filipino people amid the COVID-19 pandemic and calamities.

“Commandant Laroya please accept the gratitude, the sincerest gratitude of a grateful nation. Nagpapasalamat ang bansa at mga tao pagkat ang iyong serbisyo ay nag-contribute nang malaki sa pagkakaroon ng isang matatag na bayan. ‘Pagkat ang serbisyo na iyon ay isang naging malaking kadahilanan kung bakit ‘yung Philippine Coast Guard ay narating ang kanyang narating nitong mga nakaraang taon,” Secretary Tugade said.

During his speech, Secretary Tugade recognized PCG's sustained COVID-19 response, supporting the whole-of-government efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Among these initiatives include the assistance of PCG personnel in the daily operations of the One-Stop-Shops (OSS) at airport terminals.

Secretary Tugade also commended the PCG’s calamity response operations, particularly at the height of Typhoon Odette’s onslaught. The PCG not only rendered assistance to affected residents, it also conducted search, rescue, and evacuation operations.

Meanwhile, Secretary Tugade also recognized the efforts of Admiral Laroya in furthering the modernization of the PCG as he continued with the expansion of the Coast Guard's workforce, including the PCG Auxiliary.

“Ang Philippine Coast Guard ngayon, na kung saan ang kabuuan ay nasa 21,000 na kumpara noong 2016 – kung saan nagsimula ang termino ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte – na 7,000 lang po. Ngayon makikita mo ang Coast Guard hindi lang sa baybayin o karagatan. Makikita n’yo ang Philippine Coast Guard sa bawat sulok of the archipelagic nation of the Republic, sa bawat bagyo at unos, pati na ‘ho sa airport, pati sa kalsada makikita mo ‘yung Philippine Coast Guard,” Secretary Tugade added.

In his valedictory address, Admiral Laroya took pride in serving the country, saying: “I now bow out of service with pride in knowing that I have served my country well.”

The retired PCG Commandant then expressed his gratitude to Secretary Tugade for his support to the PCG.

“We owe it to you for what is the Philippine Coast Guard right now. Secretary Tugade, Sir, it is just befitting that you will be remembered as the ‘Father of the Philippine Coast Guard.’ You made all of these happen and we are truly grateful for the support that you have provided for the development of the Philippine Coast Guard,” Admiral Laroya remarked.