LOOK: PHLPost ushers in 2024 with Year of the Wooden Dragon stamps
To welcome the New Year, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) unveiled its newest 2024 Year of the Wooden Dragon postage stamps.
The commemorative stamps come in two colorful designs for the P16 and P45 denominations. Both feature a green dragon with red accents designed by in-house graphic artist Ryman Dominic Albuladora.
The P45 one shows a close-up look at the mythical beast while the P16 one gives a look at its full body. Both stamps have "Pilipinas" and "2024 Year of the Dragon" printed on them.
20,000 copies of the stamps have been printed as well as 2,500 pieces of the limited collector's item souvenir sheets (P200 each), and 800 copies of the first-day cover envelopes.
"In Chinese mythology, the Dragon is a symbol of strength, courage, creativity, and innovation. 2024 is expected to be a year of potential and opportunity," PHLPost said.
The postage stamps and other items are available on the second floor of the Manila Central Post Office Annex Building.
What is the Year of the Wooden Dragon?
In Chinese astrology, the Wooden Dragon is the "most vital and powerful creature" in the Chinese zodiac. Each zodiac sign is linked to one of the five elements—Gold (metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth—and they each come once in 50 years.
The dragon is a symbol of strength, courage, creativity, and innovation, and 2024 is expected to be a year for innovators, visionaries, and problem solvers.
In the past, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, and 2012 were the Years of the Dragon.