"It is sad to think that . . . politics [play] in the issuance of Philippine stamps. It is no longer a matter of issuing a good Philippine stamp but [of] what others think . . . . I was just reading a statement from the news and it makes me sad that somebody in his idiotic mind [infers] that nude painting made by our famous painters are dirty and immoral to the eyes of the beholder. It is sad to think the Filipino will make fun of it despite [that] it is a work of art. Many foreign nations . . . issued nude stamps without malice toward issuing it. Here . . people, . . . have bright minds but [have] closed their minds toward arts. I pity them.

"Stamp is a written history of it's people, it show[s] . . . who and what is . . . significant [in] each topic. Each of this stamp was chosen to reflect the ways and means of the people. The Filipino tends to forget the past and just let the politicos do what they think is right. They tend to forget the many people who have sacrificed their lives in order to save a nation; they tend to forget historical events, whether it is intentional or not. They don't see the beauty of the nation that is their country. . . .

"May I make a suggestion to the officials of the stamp advisory committee, why don't they see the contribution of movie industry, thebeauty of our natural [resource], all I see is the Mayon Volcano and Taal. Why don't they promote the different beautiful sites of the nation like the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the Salt mines of Pangasinan, the marble industry of Romblon. Why don't they print the smallest fish in the world, there are endless topics and not just the heroes of some . . . events and some fish and flora. I wish the Philippine government could see the benefits of a well printed stamps. Here, it already very expensive to buy a set of stamps, let alone have a good reference book to look at. I hope that [said] my [piece] and may the Almighty bless a nation that is still in mourning."

1997::: May | June | December

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