IN PREPARATION of the Christmas season, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) released its se-tenant strip of four stamps for Pasko 2018 featuring the traditional Filipino feast or the “Noche Buena.”

Christmas is one of the grandest holidays in the Philippines where Filipinos celebrate the world’s longest season with Christmas carols heard as early as September until the 3rd Sunday of January of the following year.

The stamp features the “Noche Buena,” the Spanish word for “Christmas Eve.” It consists of a traditional dinner with Lechon (roasted suckling pig) as the center piece being observed since 15th century.

Traditionally, Filipino dinner consists of variety of dishes like lechon, pancit, hamon, queso de bola, puto bumbong, bibingka, fruit salad, suman, and many more comes at midnight after the family hears the late evening mass called “Misa de Gallo.”

The official observance of the Simbang Gabi is on December 16.

PHLPost has printed 50,000 copies of the four designed se-tenant strip of Noche Buena stamp sold for P12 each. The Christmas stamp was designed by PHLPost in-house graphic designer Rodine Teodoro.

The stamps and official first day covers are now available at the Philatelic Counter, Central Post Office, Liwasang Bonifacio 1000, Manila and area post offices nationwide. For inquiries, please call 527-01-32. (PR)