MANILA, Philippines (ENS) — The Philippine Postal Corporation on Saturday, May 10, officially launched the “Iglesia Ni Cristo Centennial Commemorative Stamp” inside the INC Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Church’s registration in the Philippines which it said was “of national historical significance.”
In a brief formal ceremony held at the Bulwagan of the INC Central Office, INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, PhlPost Chairman Cesar Sarino and Postmaster General Ma. Josefina M. dela Cruz unveiled the INC Centennial Commemorative Stamp that featured the sprawling INC Central Temple and a photo of the first INC Executive Minister Felix Y. Manalo in sepia. The colored INC Centennial logo is also placed at the bottom.
The May 10 launching date of the INC stamp was itself significant since it was timed to coincide with the 128th birth anniversary of the late Felix Y. Manalo whom the INC believes is the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy on the “last messenger of God.”
It was also the first time that PhlPost issued a 50-millimeter by 35-mm stamp, which is bigger than the ordinary-sized stamp of 40mm by 30 mm.
“This is not an arbitrary decision,” said Postmaster General Dela Cruz on the issuance of a bigger-than-ordinary “INC Centennial Commemorative Stamp.”
“It passed through the certification of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines,” she said in Filipino. This meant that the INC centennial, including its rich history, was “of national historical significance,” she said.
Dela Cruz said PhlPost will be issuing 1.2 million copies of the INC stamp, which is more than twice the usual maximum number of stamps they had issued before for a single design.
PhilPost usually issues a maximum of 500,000 stamps per batch, or even lower at 300,000 pieces. There are even instances that they only issue 20,000 pieces for a stamp design.
The issuance of 1.2 million INC Centennial stamps was done , she said, to accommodate the expected big number of people who will be interested to buy the stamps, particularly INC members all over the Philippines and INC brethren who would be coming over from other countries this year. The INC centennial stamp, which was designed by INC minister Bienvenido “Dindo” A. Santiago Jr., was made available starting Saturday at P10 a piece so it would be more affordable to the public, PhlPost said.
Dela Cruz said it was “an honor” for PhlPost to issue the INC Centennial Commemorative Stamp, so “we could be a small part of the INC’s celebration of its Centennial this year.”
She also noted how the INC was able to spread in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide, a hundred years since it was first registered by Felix Manalo on July 27, 1914.
“Sa inyong paglaganap at pagpunta sa marami pang mga bansa, nandoon rin at dala ninyo ang tatak ng Pilipino,” Dela Cruz said in her speech before the official unveiling of the INC stamp, as she stressed that the growth of the INC is already a phenomenon in Philippine history.
After the unveiling, Manalo, Dela Cruz and Sarino participated in the ceremonial signing of the INC stamp’s “first day cover.”
Dela Cruz also presented a souvenir frame of the INC Centennial commemorative stamp to the INC leader.
Eduardo V. Manalo is the third executive minister of the INC, succeeding his father, Eraño G. Manalo, who had served as the INC’s leader from 1963 until his death in 2009, during which time the church had spread in more than 100 countries and territories all over the world.
Before this, it was Felix Y. Manalo who first preached about the biblical doctrines of the Iglesia Ni Cristo after secluding himself inside a room for three days and nights in intense prayer and studies of the bible sometime in November 1913. He continued to preach about the biblical beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, baptized new INC members and on July 27, 1914, the Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered with the Philippine government. Before his death on April 12, 1963, the INC had spread all over the country. The INC believes that the establishment of the Church of Christ in the Philippines on July 27, 1914 that coincided with the start of World War I, is the fulfillment of God’s prophecy on the re-emergence of the Church established by Christ for mankind’s salvation in “these last days.”
In his speech after the official unveiling of the stamp, “Ka Eduardo” said the INC’s string of victories was the “handiwork of God.” He said this is why it is only proper and fitting that in the Church’s celebration of its Centennial on July 27, all INC brethren should give honor and glory to God for making all these victories possible.
Manalo also mentioned the significance of the launching date of the INC Centennial Stamp as part of remembering the INC’s first executive minister Felix Y. Manalo and his ministry, citing a biblical verse, Hebrews 13:7. He also thanked PhlPost on behalf of the INC for issuing the Centennial commemorative stamp.
PhlPost Chair Sarino said the INC is notable for being a “Filipino” Christian religion that had spread throughout the world, exporting the Filipino character and qualities to other countries. He said that being a Filipino himself, he takes pride in this achievement of the INC even if he is a not a member of the Church.
Presently, the INC church membership includes not just Filipinos, but various nationalities all over the world.
Alvin Alcid, chief of the Research, Publications and Heraldry Division of the National Historical Commission noted that not all organizations celebrating their centennial are given a commemorative stamp.
But after a thorough study, the INC centennial had been decided by the Commission to be of national historical significance, particularly because the INC originated in the Philippines and had reached more than 100 countries and territories in its 100 years of existence, he said in an interview after the program.
Alcid said this was why the Commission is also deliberating on issuing a historical marker for the INC Centennial this year, hopefully in time for its 100th anniversary celebration on July 27.
During the program, Dela Cruz also said Philpost is also interested in setting up a “selfie stamp” booth at the Philippine Arena on the centennial celebration of the INC in Bocaue, Bulacan
The INC’s Philippine Arena, which is touted as among the world’s largest domed arenas, will be the center of the Church’s Centennial celebrations on July 27. (Eagle News Service)