The hundreds of churches that were built throughout the Philippines were a product of the missionary enterprise of the Spanish regime that began in 1521. In 1899, when the last of the Spanish fleet left the Philippines, they left behind, among many irrevocable influences, hundreds of brick and stone churches throughout the archipelago.

Among these were the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila, St. Augustine (Paoay Church) in llocos Norte, Miagao Church in lloilo City and Barasoain Church in Malolos City.

Manila Cathedral - The cathedral, also known as the minor basilica of the Immaculate Conception, was the seat of the Archbishop of Manila during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, and still remains the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Manila. Completed in 1951, the Manilc Cathedral rises majestically over the remains of five predecessors, the first of which was erected in 1581. Four of the previous constructions were destroyed by earthquakes and fires, the fifth was reduced to a bombed-out shell during the Battle for Manila in 1945. The new Romanesque edificf incorporates stone carvings and rosette windows salvaged from the ruins.

St. Augustine Church (Paoay Church) - Popularly known as Paoay Church, St. Augustine Church was built in 1694 through the efforts of Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo. Considered as the most outstanding variant of the "earthquake Baroque", the church was built of baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap) and lumber, and has 24 curved buttresses. Earthquake damaged portions of the church in 1865 and 1885. In an excavation conducted inside the church in 2000, a prehistoric human skeleton and fragmented ceramics were discovered and are now on display at the National Museum. The Paoay Church was declared a national treasure by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Now included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, it revealed several structural decays after centuries of exposure to the elements and will soon undergo restoration under the auspices of UNESCO.

Miagao Church - The Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in the town of Miagao, lloilo is one of the Philippines' architectural and religious gems. Built between 1787 and 1797, its fortress-like design suggests its dual purpose as a place of worship and as a fort used in defending the town against Moro raiders at the time. It is one of only four (Augustinian-built) churches in the country to make it to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. Its unique features include the unusual Aztec like bas-relief in the facade depicting St. Christopher carrying the baby Jesus through a tropical forest. The adobe used in building the church is made from silt and clay that can only be found in this part of lloilo, giving the building a unique warm-yellowish glow. Flying buttresses from the side of the church walls are typical of the "earthquake baroque" design reminiscent of churches in llocos, particularly that of Paoay Church and Vigan Cathedral. Also of note are the dissimilar designs of the two belfries; both were commissioned by two different parish priests. The church's simple interior is nevertheless highlighted by a striking gold-plated retablo. Miagao is about 40kms southwest of lloilo City.

Barasoain Church - A national shrine, this historic church is the site of the Constitutional Convention of the first Philippine Republic. It is in this church that the Malolos Constitution was drafted on September 29, 1898. Founded by Augustinian Missionaries in 1859, it is said to be a replica of the Barasoain Church in Navarra, Spain.

The launching of two beautiful special stamps in celebration of the 108th Anniversary of the Postal Service pays tribute to the sturdiness and beauty of the post office building in Manila. The stamps aptly capture in miniature the main post office building, from its ruins to restoration. Touted as one of the most dominating landmarks in Metro Manila and considered the grandest and the most beautiful building of its time, it was built during the early American occupation in 1926. The building's Roman-ionic architectural design is considered the perfect model of Neo-Classical architecture popular during the 1920s.

The design was the product of combined efforts of noted Filipino and American architects namely Ralph Doane, Tomas Mapua and Juan Arellano. The Philippine Postal Corporation is indeed fortunate to be its owner and to be housed in it.

The building was heavily damaged in the last World War but was restored faithfully according to its original design after the liberation of Manila in 1946, to become the splendid structure that it is now. Today, it stands proud and pleased face to face with the other classical buildings nearby.

Just as the post office building survived through out all these years, so has the postal service able to withstand and endured the many challenges that tested its very existence. To chronicle this achievement is simply to celebrate the determination, perseverance and loyalty of those many individuals who have aided in sustaining this great institution for the past 108 years.

A million Filipinos and more to STAND UP against poverty......

For one whole day, from 6 p.m. of October 15 until 6 p.m., October 16, 2006, over one million Filipinos from different sectors of society will join millions of others worldwide in an ultimate pledge of commitment to make poverty history by 2015. Within a 24-hour period, people from all over the world will physically and symbolically stand up to communicate their desire to fight poverty. This is also expected to set an official Guinness World Record. The event is part of the UN Month celebration in 2006.

Launched in 2002 by the United Nations Millennium Campaign, STAND UP is a global advocacy effort to have the greatest number of people to ever stand up against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The campaign informs, inspires, and encourages people's involvement and action towards the realization of the MDGs. It further supports citizen's efforts to hold the government accountable for the millennium pledge.

The MDGs are a set of time-bound, concrete, and specific targets to combat extreme poverty and human deprivation and lay the foundations for sustainable development by 2015. These goals are: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop global partnerships for development.

The Philippine campaign dubbed Tumayo Tayo: Labanan ang Kahirapan, Tuparin ang MDGs, together with partners from government, civil society, NGOs, business sector, aims to raise awareness on the state of poverty in the country.