Posted on August 29, 2012 by Rence Chan
Philippine Postal Corporation, Main Lobby, Ermita, Manila –Philippines
It was earlier this year, when I heard news about the on-going proposal for the issuance of the Metro Bank ‘s company’s golden anniversary commemorative stamp through the Philippine Postal Corporation ( Philpost ) . Mrs. Elenita San Diego (Philatelic and Postage Department head) and Mr. Reynaldo Ong de Jesus (member of the stamp advisory committee) then invited me as a guest during one of the stamp advisory meeting consultation.
Although it was not my first time to attend such advisory meetings . As a philatelist (stamp collector), being invited in such a meeting is always been a privilege and an honor to meet the current stamp advisory board led by the enigmatic Postmaster General Maria Josefina Dela Cruz and board members of the stamp advisory committee.
Everyone is doing their job since there are various representatives from different government agencies like National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, National Historical Commission of the Philippines for historical validation, representative from stamp collecting clubs and other important people who can share their talent, wisdom and knowledge in the stamp design, marketing and public awareness.
History:
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) founded in September 5, 1962 , has since become the premier universal bank and among the foremost financial institutions in the Philippines. It offers a full range of banking and other financial products and services, including corporate, commercial and consumer banking, as well as credit card, remittances, leasing, investment banking and trust banking. Metrobank currently spans a consolidated network of over 1,400 ATMs nationwide; over 760 domestic branches; and 38 foreign branches, subsidiaries, and representative offices.
The stamp collection traces back the roots and beginnings of Metrobank and into becoming the largest and premiere financial conglomerates today.
Metro Bank Foundation Incorporated:
Mr. George S. K. Ty established on January 8, 1979 , sixteen (16) years after he founded the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, the Metrobank Foundation is engaged in social development projects in the Philippines and other parts of Asia. As the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group, the Foundation implements various programs in education, visual arts and healthcare. It also maintains an active and dynamic partnership with other organizations that likewise provide services for the disadvantaged. Among the Foundation’s flagship programs are the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE), Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT), College Scholarship Program (CSP), Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC), The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), and Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS). It also supports programs aimed at educating the citizenry on public-interest issues through research and lectures given by the distinguished holders of the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Lecture established by the Foundation in partnership with reputable educational institutions.
Golden Anniversary Highlights:
One of the highlights of its 50th anniversary celebration this year, the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company ( Metrobank) unveiled to the public a collection of 4 commemorative stamps that chronicles the milestones in the bank’s history as symbolized by four significant structure built by the institution.
Technical Description: Metrobank, 50th Anniversary
Kind of Issue: Commemorative
Denominations and Quantity: Php 7.00 / 140,000 pieces
Date of Issue: August 29, 2012
Last date of Sale: August 28, 2013 (as stocks allow)
Sheet Composition: 40
Size: 30 mm x 40 mm
Perforation: 14
Printing Litho offset (4 colors)
Paper: Imported Unwatermarked
Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.
Lay out Artist: Victorino Serevo
Design Coordinators: Metrobank Foundation, Inc. & Mrs. Elenita San Diego
Designs: Provided by Metrobank
Stamp 1: Wellington Building -Binondo Branch, 1963
Stamp 2: Metrobank Plaza, Senator Gil Puyat , Makati City 1977
Stamp 3: GT Tower, 217 meters ( 3rd tallest building in the country ) 2004
Stamp 4: Metrobank Plaza, Shanghai,
People’s Republic of China, 2007
Note: I would like to thank, Philpost , Metro Bank Foundation and Metro Bank group of company for the invitation to the event. Maraming Maraming Salamat po ! This is a heart breaking experience as this would be the last stamp launching to be held within the Philpost building compound before the conversion into a hotel.
Source: Collectors Collection
The Chinese New Year stamp has a Junior Dragon (snake) image with “Happy New Year” greetings in Filipino, English and Chinese, state-run Philippine Information Agency reported.
The 2013 Valentine’s Day stamp features an illustration of a couple in traditional Filipiniana attire holding hands. In the man’s hands is a bouquet of flowers, while a love letter—with a stamp of course—is in the woman’s hands.
