The Philippine Postal Corporation will issue a stamp to commemorate the Fourth World Meeting of Families from January 22 to 26, 2003.

This is the first time that the' World Meeting of Families will be held in Asia. The first was held in Rome (1994) during the Year of the Family, the second in Rio de Janeiro (1997), and the third in Rome (2000) in the framework of the Jubilee of Families.

It is significant that the Fourth World Meeting of Families will be held in the Philippines, the only Catholic country in Asia, which is home to about two: thirds of the world population. However, Christians in Asia comprised only three percent of the entire continent's population. Thus, a great majority of Asian people has yet to hear and meet Jesus, making Asia a vast mission field for evangelization. Apart from being a missionary recipient, Asia has much to offer the world especially in the way it values families as a great treasure. All these boils down to this year's theme: "The Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium."