DFA and PHLPost Launch Commemorative Stamps Marking 80 Years of PH in UN
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos presented the signed first-day covers of the UN80 commemorative stamps, signifying their official launch. (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Johannes Adrian De Guia)
MANILA 27 June 2025 — Set against the backdrop of Filipino Struggles Through History, the iconic mural by Philippine National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco at the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost), launched a pair of commemorative stamps marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) and the Philippines’ pioneering membership in the organization.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos unveiled the stamps, dubbed “The Philippines’ 80 Years in the United Nations: A Journey of Hope & Endeavor” on 25 June 2025, the eve of the anniversary of the Philippines’ signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco. As one of the 51 founding members of the United Nations, the Philippines has, from the outset, played an active role in advancing the Charter’s core principles of peace, justice, and international cooperation.
The launch comes at a time of heightened global uncertainty and conflict, underscoring the continued relevance of multilateralism, comity and cooperation by the members of the international community of nations.
“In the heart-breaking backdrop of the devastation and human suffering in Gaza and Ukraine, in Sudan and Yemen, and the raging conflict in the Middle East, they [the stamps] remind us of what we have achieved in fellowship with other nations — and of what we must preserve for the future,” Secretary Manalo remarked in his keynote address.
“These stamps are not just beautiful tributes — they are powerful symbols of the Philippines’ enduring commitment to the United Nations and to the values of peace, cooperation, and multilateralism,” echoed United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Mr. Arnaud Peral in his message.
In his remarks, Postmaster General Carlos highlighted the role of stamps as markets of civic memory, serving not only as commemorative pieces, but also as reminders of the country’s enduring global commitments and cultural milestones.
Marthy Angue, Third Secretary at the Philippine Mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia, designed the stamps inspired by the theme “A Journey of Hope & Endeavor.” He drew from the works of renowned Filipino artists such as Botong Francisco and Vicente Manansala, as well as traditional Filipino patterns and cultural motifs.
“Linked inextricably as the Philippines and the United Nations, I pray that these two stamps stand as a reminder that to endeavor without hope is to wander lost, that to hope without endeavor is to let it fade,” said Mr. Angue when he shared his journey of designing the commemorative stamps.
Other speakers who shared their reflections on the interwoven histories of the Philippines and United Nations included Undersecretary for Multilateral and International Economic Relations Charles C. Jose; Assistant Secretary of the Office of the United Nations and International Organizations Maria Teresa T. Almojuela; author and historian Ian Christopher Alfonso; and Diplomacy and International Affairs major and Model United Nations delegate John Elmer Lacson.
The event, which serves as the launch of more commemorative activities to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the UN and the Philippines’ membership in the organization throughout the year, was also an occasion to launch the DFA microsite entitled, “The Philippine Voice in the UN General Assembly,” which can be accessed through https://tinyurl.com/UNGAPHArchive .
The microsite features a searchable compilation of the Philippines' national statements delivered during the General Debate portion of the United Nations General Assembly from 1946 to 2024 and offers a unique longitudinal perspective on Philippine foreign policy, diplomatic advocacies and multilateral priorities over nearly eight decades since the founding of the United Nations in 1945.
The video recording of the launch event may be accessed via:
https://tinyurl.com/ViewUN80Stamps
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Designed by Filipino diplomat and graphic designer Marthy Angue, the UN80 commemorative stamps embody the 80th anniversary theme, “A Journey of Hope and Endeavor”, drawing inspiration from the masterpieces of great Filipino painters Carlos “Botong” Francisco and Vicente Manansala, as well as elements from UN iconography and Filipino culture.
(Photo credits to DFA-OPD Johannes Adrian De Guia)