PHLPost Unveils “Year of the Rat” Special Stamps to Celebrate Lunar Year

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) releases “Year of the Rat” special stamps to welcome the Lunar Year.

Occupying the first and prominent position in the Chinese Zodiac, people born under the year of the Rat are known to be flexible, smart and alert. The rat is also associated with fertility and financial abundance.

This 2020 is the year of the Metal Rat.

The Chinese Zodiac has twelve representative animals, namely: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The “Year of the Rat” Stamp also comes with a souvenir sheet to highlight the special embellishment of “Gold Foil Stamping” to reflect the look and feel of the stamps.

PHLPost has printed 50,000 copies of the two (2) different colorful designs of the regular stamps which can be purchased at P12.00 and P45.00 per stamp.

In addition, PHLPost also printed 4,000 copies of the limited edition souvenir sheets to be sold at P200.00 each for stamp collectors.

The layout of the stamps was done by in-house graphic artist Rodine C. Teodoro.

Stamps, souvenir sheets and official first day covers of “New Year 2020: Year of the Rat” are available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, all Mega Manila Post Offices, Postal Area 2, San Fernando, La Union, Postal Area 4, San Pablo, Postal Area 5, Mandaue, Postal Area 6, Iloilo, Postal Area 7, Davao, and Postal Area 8, Cagayan De Oro. For inquiries, please call 8527-01-08 or 8527-01-32 or follow/like the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates.

Newly Opened InterContinental Phuket Resort Heralds A Contemporary Era Of Thai Hospitality, Culture And Heritage

Wazzup Pilipinas!

IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group) celebrated the official opening of InterContinental® Phuket Resort with a weekend of spectacular festivities to celebrate the luxury brand debut on Phuket island.

InterContinental Phuket Resort is located on Kamala Beach, between Millionaire’s Mile and the Amanpuri headland, the most exclusive area on the stunning west coast of Phuket. Inspired by Phuket’s natural landscape, the beachfront resort features a collection of 221 elegant rooms and villas with panoramic view of the Andaman Sea and surrounded by pine forests.

The resort is a visual and architectural showcase of Thai heritage designed by award-winning Bangkok-based Habita Architects. Inspired by “Traibhumikatha”, the oldest Thai text which sets out an explanation of heaven, Habita Architects used the estate as a canvas to illustrate the recurring concept of “Heaven on Earth”. Through their paintings and sculptures, iconic Thai artists were commissioned to re-interpret the Traibhumikatha from personal perspectives. Mr. Komkrit Teptian, a local artist renowned for his Giant Twins sculpture that was prominently featured at Bangkok Biennale 2018, was commissioned to create a series of statuary arts that reflect Thai beliefs and culture about heaven and earth. Another highlight is a series of mural paintings depicting life in Old Phuket Town by Dr. Khan Payungphan, a local artist and a Fine Arts professor at Phuket Rajabhat University.

“As a tribute to our unique Thai identity, the resort crystallizes the essence of local culture and distinctive style of heartfelt service. InterContinental Phuket Resort a destination for memorable experiences. It is a social enclave for the island’s most vibrant entertainment, gourmet, wellness experiences with a relentless focus on environmental sustainability and local community,” said Bjorn Courage, general manager of InterContinental Phuket Resort.

Offering stunning sunset views, the expansive Club InterContinental® Lounge is a sanctuary for discerning guests. The signature lounge features unobtrusive butler service, a second-floor beach vista frontage, tasteful dining areas with al fresco settings as well as a large private sundeck and infinity pool. Other resort facilities include five swimming pools with breath-taking views, a well-equipped Fitness Centre, tennis court and Planet Trekkers Kids Club for multi-generational recreation.

Jaras, the signature modern Thai fine-dining, celebrates sustainably sourced products from the island’s fishermen and farmers. Pinto restaurant offers international gourmet cuisine in a family setting, taking inspiration from Old Phuket Town and quirky shophouse eateries. Pine is an upscale barefoot beach bar and lounge offering the best sunset view in Phuket. Here, Sawan Beans and Leaves Bar serves handpicked wild grown teas from Chiang Mai, single origin small batch roasted coffee from local farmers and the finest chocolate made from organic Thai cacao.

The resort’s masterpiece, Heavenly Pavilion Lounge is inspired by the mythical Himmapan Forest with its white and silver tones, Monta flower chandelier and sculpted creatures. Located within this surreal structure stands the Sati Spa and Wellness®, an InterContinental Phuket spa, which enhances the journey to mindfulness. Sati Spa offers exceptional signature treatments specially designed with the guests in mind. From treatments featuring customized flower scents based on guest’s day of birth to the world’s first unique application of Khit triangle pillow to enhance the comfort and benefits of Thai massage. The spa offers eight treatment rooms, a Duet Suite with Jacuzzi and full service nail salon. Sati Spa uses HARNN’s natural body care, skin care and home spa products from Thailand.

In celebration of its grand opening, InterContinental Phuket Resort has curated the ultimate Wellness Escape for those who wish to be amongst the first to experience the new luxury sanctuary. Enjoy exclusive offer of 20% off any of Sati Spa and Wellness® “Detox & Wellness Packages” for stays from 1 January – 31 March. The multi-day detox and wellness packages can be individually tailored to combine treatments with outdoor yoga, mindful practices, healthful dining, as well as multi-sensory fitness experiences designed to promote health and wellbeing long after you depart InterContinental Phuket Resort.


For more information, visit https://phuket.intercontinental.com/special-offers or email icphuket.info@ihg.com for reservations.

3 Cities Every Traveler Must Visit For An Authentic Pinoy Road Trip

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines is made up of over 7,600 islands, and nearly every one of them has a story to tell. For the road tripper however, Luzon is the best bet to experience a wealth of history, nature, and culture while keeping along a continuous, non-looping path. The best way to experience most of Luzon from Manila is to travel northward, and here are the most iconic locations to visit when going up that path.

Seaside Fun at Subic

Home to a US Naval Base until 1992, Subic is the definitive beach location in Luzon. You’ve got the iconic boardwalks of Subic bay with its inflatable obstacle islands; the playful dolphin teams of Ocean Adventure; and the wreck of the USS New York to dive into. If land-based fun is more your speed, you can also meet animals up close at Zoobic Safari, or stand in the middle of a whirlwind of feathers at Magaul Bird Park.

Subic also has a colorful nightlife; the Baguio Craft Brewery is a fantastic place for an evening out, and live music shows are abound both onshore and inland. It’s also a brilliant place to shop, at places like the Nike Factory Store, and the ever-famous Royal Duty Free.

Baguio’s Precipitous Heights

The “Summer Capital of the Philippines” is more than your average Filipino city that’s a few degrees cooler. The area around Baguio is a shining example of the mountainous Northern Luzon aesthetic. The city itself is one rife with history, evidenced by places of interest like the Emilio Aguinaldo museum and the Presidential Mansion.

Given its special location and historical significance, Baguio has a culture all of its own. However, the narrow winding streets and zigzag roads aren’t for the faint-hearted. It can be a bit difficult to negotiate its steep, winding roads, though, so taking a reliable vehicle with you is essential.

The Vintage Allure of Vigan

A city trapped in time, Vigan is a well-kept bubble of Spanish influence on the Philippines. The brick-paved streets bustling with horse-drawn cart traffic alone scream colonial times, and the perfectly preserved period architecture drive the point right home.

The cobblestone streets are lined with rows upon rows of shops that sell traditional crafts and restaurants and cafes featuring culturally iconic dishes. A monument of Filipino history, Vigan is simply a must-visit location for anyone exploring Luzon.

The Philippines has all the features of your average tropical country, but a closer look reveals that there’s a bit more to it than just that. The best way to take a closer look at this great archipelago nation is to take a trip along its roads and experience everything from street level, to more intimately get to know the rich culture and history that’s hiding underneath the surface.