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Ako ay guro, at isa sa mga itinuro ko sa aking mag aaral ang sumulat ng liham para sa kanilang mga magulang, ang kanilang mga saloobing isululat sa papel.

Maaaring ang gusali ng Post Office ay isang alala, kailanman hindi mawawala ang kahulugan nito sa ating kasaysayan.

Nawa ang gusaling ito ay buhayin muli, hindi man bilang isang Post office kundi sa isang paraang mananatili ang pagpapahalaga nito sa ating nagisnan at pamana sa ating kutlura.

Hanggang sa muli mong pagbangon.

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Shot during the Kabataan activism movement activities Infront of Manila's Post Office Building in Liwasang Bonifacio.

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Activism Infront of Manila's Post Office Building 

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Activism Infront of Manila's Post Office Building 

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Ang aktibismo ay isang paraan ng paglaban sa katiwalian, ito ay pinagsamang tinig ng mga mamamayan, kabataan, mangagawa at mga inaapi ng lipunan.

Nakatayo sa aming harapan ang isang Gusali na siyang piping saksi sa sigaw at hinaing ng mga maralitang makabayan, siya ang nagsisilbining tenga sa sigaw ng kabataan, mangagawa at mga inaapi ng lipunan, sandalan at silungan ng mga taong humihingi ng katarungan.

Ngayong siya ay pansamantalang nawala, nawala rin ang aming laban, humina din ang aming sandalan ngunit hindi nawala ang aming pag-asa at naniniwala kaming muling babangon ang silab mula sa kaniyang pagka-abo.

Magbangon ka mahal kong Kartero!

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Remains of the Manila Central Post Office after fire hit last Sunday

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The building that holds millions of stories untold to many #SaveManilaPostOffice

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The building that holds millions of stories untold to many #SaveManilaPostOffice

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As a native probinsyano, whenever we travel to Manila, we always pass by Lawton. Not knowing back then that this very building I grew up fascinating, was the Manila Central Post Office. Not as others see it, this building holds the very history of how Filipinos back then were able to communicate and send letters to their loved ones. These are the stories that although untold to many, make up the historic landmark of the Central Post Office. It was heartbreaking to see the once stood mighty in Lawton, know covered in ash and aftermath of fire. I just do hope that the government will do its duty to restore a national historical structure and we as people, have a responsibility to always remind both local and national government to put efforts in restoring the Post Office. And until then, until you breathe again, Manila Central Post Office, I will be there.

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Babalik din ang Post Office.

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wish to see you restored again, post office 💙🤍💛

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Before i started participating and now  providing awareness to heritages online. You were the first i saw and said "Wow, kay ganda mo nga Manila!" Everytime i stroll and rest the Plaza Yuchengco, You were the only one that caught my eye. That sorrowful day i felt mournful for you. Its is in your dark times we stand and support you. 'till the day we will all see you recover, a greetful cheer will echo through Manila.

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A Glimpse of Manila Central Post Office..i still remember gettin' parcels with my friend at Post Office and just amazed seeing letters on mails inside their boxes..i'm so impressed of this historical building that brought beautiful memories to many like the letters and postcards we received from our lovedones here also thru different part of the world..in this fast changing world i will always love traditional mails..nothin' like a solid proof of souvenirs..
#RestoreManilaCentralPostOffice

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this is a picture from May 21, 2018, my first time to attend a stamp exhibit in MCPO. its called SELYONG PAMANA. and as a beginner stamp collctor. I will surely miss this hall, the grand chandeliers, the high ceilings, the not yet completed postal museum, and the lil ghost stories. but I believe with continued media exposure, this property wont be sold to developers,

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I started visiting mcpo during the years from 2012-2020 before the scamdemic.
in recent decades, there has been
a massive use of emails which has  greatly affected the number of people who use
traditional postal mail. and the hobby of philately has slowed down over decades
of technological change. like the film based cameras,  the post office has not
anticipated the rise of the internet.
AM A STAMP COLLECTOR. not yet a Philatelist.
the pure simple joy we feel when collecting.
the stamp auction. and friends. yes, most of my friends sa heritage group, well, I met them in this building. during the postal Heritge walking tour of Lawrence Chan. thanks to Rence, I got to see the post office last 2012.

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The Manila Post Office has been my favorite subject in Manila since I started to learn photography. Whether I'm doing a paid shoot or just roaming around to destress, I would usually include it in my set. I was able to enter the post office several years ago when I had to claim a parcel, and it's the first and only time I got in.

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Sarado pagpunta ko dyan pero nagpapicture pa rin ako, Sayang nga di ako bumili Ng Stamp. Hope na marestore siya and mabalik Yung dati

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MCPO you cannot be just a memory. Keep on living. Keep on shining. Please save MCPO.

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Manila Post Office and Pasig River Painting

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Manila Post Office and Pasig River Painting

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In 2019, during our cultural mapping project in Zambales, a painting by Vicente Quiba, a talented artist and graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, caught our attention. Painted in 1993, the artwork depicted a river scene with watercraft and, notably, the recognizable Manila Post Office structure, which revealed the location as the Pasig River. Quiba's painting captured the essence of life and the connection between individuals and their surroundings. It served as a testament to his skill and offered a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the region. #NHM2023

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Hello little post, you are a love letter, a gift, a book a box of treasures and a thousand million things from my heart to the hearts of so many someones I love.

You brightened the days of countless people I hold in my soul, immeasurably. Each letter I wrote and sent out had a piece of me with it.

Thank you for all the years of service.

P.S
We will still try to save you.

-Rache

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O mutya sa Ilog Pasig at ermitanyo ng Maynila,
Ngayo'y muling natupok at nadungisan ang mukha,
Tiwala mong ang bayan ay matiyagang maghihintay
Sa pagbangon mo sa gabok at muling magmamahiwaga.
Natutulog ka man ngayon sa isang buhay na siyudad,
Kabisado ng nasyon ang iyong kuwento't kalidad,
Dahil itinahan mo kaming mangha sa gandang mapagkupkop,
Sa ilalim ng iyong tayog, at paninilaw sa ilog.
Walang mabubuwag na poste at
Walang mapapaanod na haligi,
Sa paanan mo ay may tanod kang henerasyon ng mulat at mangingibig.
Kalakip ng mga liham ng lubos na pagmamahal, pakikidalamhati, at pag-aalala,
Magbalik ka,
Hindi lamang araw at buwan ang tutunghay sa iyong pamana.

PA(G)HINGA NG MUTYA
-Fred Laurente

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Of all buildings in Manila, this is my favorite.

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Of all buildings in Manila, this is my favorite.

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I've been there only twice- when I picked up the confirmation letter of my salary loan which I got all the way to the back some years ago, and the monthly tour by Pilipinas Philately which I went to last March. Both occasions left me amazed by the building and the people who work for the postal service. I would have loved to go back, learn more and maybe a little bit lost inside, and by the events of Monday it may not be possible, at time of writing. I feel I've lost something so dear now, even I don't even send letters anymore. Please come back, because I miss walking along and seeing you across the river, and I still want to use the PO box.

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Photo courtesy of Bea Dolores, Sept. 2021

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Thank you. For your beauty, for the delight you bring, for the letters and everything you've catered all throughout the years - imagine all the lives you've reached.

My mom is the same age as you on your rebirth. I always go to you whenever I have to go home (wala akong choice, jk - andyan yung sakayan eh). You've been my favorite place in our heritage walks, and it's always a treat to bask in your halls. I remember I wanted all the excuses to enter within for my curiosities and when the moment came, so many surprises awaited me. It hurts so much to see you burning right before my birthday. I would love to do everything I can to help bring you back and for more people to love you for generations.

You'll always be my favorite hericake. :')

love,
Diwata

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Taken on Chinese New Year, February 2020 

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Always fascinated by the grandeur of this building and how it imposingly defines this space in our nation’s capital. Looking forward to the day when it literally rises up from the ashes.

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Di ko man lamang naexperience yung singing kartero niyo. Sana pala, binilhan ko sarili ko ng chocolates para sumaya saya naman ako nung Feb. 14.

Pero thank you Manila Post Office for the great memories!

- Abigail Aguas

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My drawing cover of the Post Office Passport I always bring when visiting POs

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I would never let my first time would be the last time

This is my Post Office Passport, I carry it everytime I go to post offices so I can add a postage stamp, and rubber stamp it with the name of the post office and the date I've been. My last stop was on MCPO last year, and I didn't got any chance of going to others now since I'm a busy person. Last year, November 12, I've been lucky going there for the first time, I've been planning this for many years coinciding to the celebration of the National Stamp Collecting Month. There, I met new friends and old friends I'm just talking online, bought stamps, win prizes, and getting a heritage tour. And I didn't let the chance and moment of getting a stamp to this building for my passport. Now that it is burned, I feel like it's not just the history that was also burned, it's also the memories made by us, collectors and tourists. For us collectors, it is our home, our safe place, our everything. We must rebuild it and conserve it. We must protect it and never let be converted into a hotel or a mall, it is what it is!!!

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My last stop as of today, the Manila Central Post Office

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I would never let my first time would be the last time

This is my Post Office Passport, I carry it everytime I go to post offices so I can add a postage stamp, and rubber stamp it with the name of the post office and the date I've been. My last stop was on MCPO last year, and I didn't got any chance of going to others now since I'm a busy person. Last year, November 12, I've been lucky going there for the first time, I've been planning this for many years coinciding to the celebration of the National Stamp Collecting Month. There, I met new friends and old friends I'm just talking online, bought stamps, win prizes, and getting a heritage tour. And I didn't let the chance and moment of getting a stamp to this building for my passport. Now that it is burned, I feel like it's not just the history that was also burned, it's also the memories made by us, collectors and tourists. For us collectors, it is our home, our safe place, our everything. We must rebuild it and conserve it. We must protect it and never let be converted into a hotel or a mall, it is what it is!!!

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BTS of the documentary we did for the Post Office more than a decade ago.

TV5’S INSIDER hosted by Lourd De Veyra

Aired 2012

BODY 1-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za_zLWBKYnw

BODY 2- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rOwn3Eo9QU

BODY 3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZqs52vRi44

BODY 4- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKxSSDOVPn0

BODY 5- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T8UuC9ojzk

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The year was 2021.  For my birthday, I wanted to buy some stamps as a gift to myself.  So off I went to  my happy place, the Manila Central Post Office, and brought my family along with me.

- Andee P.

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PHLPost is my LIFE, no matter what..we'll rise again!!!

ARNOLD MIRAFLORES HEY
PHLPost-Area 7

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I remember seeing the inside of the post office for the first and last time with an old lover. I didn't mind waiting in line for the package that probably traveled more than I have ever did in my lifetime. I was in awe of its structure, it looked like a place that I thought I would only see in movies. I wonder while my eyes wander at any spot that picqued my interest, how it could be real all real. It looked so magnificent. I was so sure that I was going to come back next time with my camera, unlike that day, with an outfit that I only wore for errands. I hope someday it could still happen.

#SaveManilaPostOffice

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Proud Postal Worker
Bangon PHLPOST💪

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We're looking forward to your rebirth.

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Hope everyone realizes the Value of the Post Office

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Hope everyone realizes the Value of the Post Office

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Not just the Building, it is beautiful in itself, but the actual Snail Mail. I actually received some packages from Switzerland the last time I was there. Don’t let it go to waste guys. Also save our Heritage Beh!

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Ever since its construction during the American Colonial Period, the Manila Central Post Office stands as a silent sentinel and a witness to Manila's growth and evolution. The Post Office is a survivor to the city's historical events, and like how it had stood the test of time and through the ravages of World War 2, it shall continue to stand despite the flames of devastation.

The Post Office and its grandeur never fails to amaze me despite it being an everyday sight during my commutes, when I go on walks and tours, etc. I also got to enter the structure multiple times due to some obligations, tours, among others. At least I got to bring my family to one of RM's tours inside the Post Office before it burned.

Of course, I believe even a fire of such magnitude will not cause the Post Office to cease existing. I, and I am sure countless others as well, will not allow for its demolition under any circumstance. This is not the end of the Manila Post Office, and I long to see the building again in the future, restored and standing, beautiful as it had been for the numerous decades it has graced the city of Manila. There shall be no goodbyes, only see-you-laters.

As it stands, we shall continue advocating for the restoration, and conservation of the Post Office (as well as our other built heritage).

RAAD

#SaveManilaPostOffice
#SaveOurHeritage

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These are just some of the pics I had with my friends after one of the postal heritage tours.

-Andee P.

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The Manila Central Post Office had been very good to our family. It was there when my eldest sister (now deceased), then barely 18,  first got employed in the early 60's as a mail sorter. She was a minimum wage worker receiving P4.00 a day, but it was enough to help defray the daily expenses of  a family of eight. My late father was then the sole breadwinner before my sister got her job.  Sometime in 1968, I also got employed there as a casual employee receiving P4.00 a day. I was then 19 years old and a first law student at the FEU. The money helped me a lot in buying my law books. Aside from sorting mails, I was also assigned to tie and seal postal sacks containing the mails. Sometimes, I would be tasked to list down the registered mails in the journal and prepare the requisite notices to the addressees. As a casual employee, I was supposed to work from Mondays through Fridays only. However, being then a working student, and to have time to go the law library to study my lessons before classes, my immediate superior, a kind and considerate elderly gentleman,  also aspiring to become a lawyer who had already finished law but had yet to take the  Bar examinations, allowed me to leave at 4:00 pm everyday subject to the condition that I would report to the office every Saturday morning to clean the place - mop the floor, wipe the tables, arrange the sacks, etc. so that the office would be totally clean by Monday. In due time, I finished my law course, took the Bar examinations and passed it the same year, became a law practitioner, public prosecutor, and later,  an RTC judge. Am now retired after having served the judiciary for more  than 28 long years. Salamat nang marami sa iyo minamahal naming Manila Central Post Office at naging malaking bahagi ka ng buhay ng aming pamilya. Nakakalungkot ang iyong pagkakatupok. Sana"y makabangon kang muli at maging bahagi pa rin ng buhay ng mga susunod na salinglahi.

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The Manila Central Post Office had been very good to our family. It was there when my eldest sister (now deceased), then barely 18,  first got employed in the early 60's as a mail sorter. She was a minimum wage worker receiving P4.00 a day, but it was enough to help defray the daily expenses of  a family of eight. My late father was then the sole breadwinner before my sister got her job.  Sometime in 1968, I also got employed there as a casual employee receiving P4.00 a day. I was then 19 years old and a first law student at the FEU. The money helped me a lot in buying my law books. Aside from sorting mails, I was also assigned to tie and seal postal sacks containing the mails. Sometimes, I would be tasked to list down the registered mails in the journal and prepare the requisite notices to the addressees. As a casual employee, I was supposed to work from Mondays through Fridays only. However, being then a working student, and to have time to go the law library to study my lessons before classes, my immediate superior, a kind and considerate elderly gentleman,  also aspiring to become a lawyer who had already finished law but had yet to take the  Bar examinations, allowed me to leave at 4:00 pm everyday subject to the condition that I would report to the office every Saturday morning to clean the place - mop the floor, wipe the tables, arrange the sacks, etc. so that the office would be totally clean by Monday. In due time, I finished my law course, took the Bar examinations and passed it the same year, became a law practitioner, public prosecutor, and later,  an RTC judge. Am now retired after having served the judiciary for more  than 28 long years. Salamat nang marami sa iyo minamahal naming Manila Central Post Office at naging malaking bahagi ka ng buhay ng aming pamilya. Nakakalungkot ang iyong pagkakatupok. Sana"y makabangon kang muli at maging bahagi pa rin ng buhay ng mga susunod na salinglahi.

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This photo was taken last November 16, 2019.

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I just love going to the Manila Central Post Office - my happy place due to a number of reasons.  Its beauty is undeniable and I just feel calm whenever I'm there (despite the horrors it went through in the past).  I also collect stamps as a hobby and I remember going there way back in college to participate in a stamp auction.  That was my first time to join an auction.  I actually went there "kase bad trip ako" and I wanted to clear my head of whatever caused my bad trip (I don't remember now what it was).  What I still remember is I really felt happy after the auction and I was proud of my self for participating and winning some stamps (at a low price) to add to my collection.
With regard to this photo, it was taken by one of my two friends who I encouraged to join also the free guided tour by PHLPost.

-Andee P.

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Let us just HOPE for the new MCPO to rise up from the ashes, else there will no longer be monthly visits to the Philatelic Shop and Mail Receiving tellers.

Lunie and Didi

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The very first picture of the Manila Central Post Office I have ever taken. 2013

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This was the building that led me to tourguiding

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This was the building that led me to tourguiding

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As much as I am known for my Intramuros tours, the MCPO has always been my anchor. This was the building that showed me that there was so much more to Manila than we were led to believe. This was the building that made me truly fall in love with Manila.

You will rise again. I know it.

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My heart sank when I saw the news. Too bad I never got to take a photo of the interiors.

Maybe this is not a final goodbye, just "see you later," Manila Post Office. Let's rise again together.

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Never got a chance to actually stop at the actual grounds; only through quick candid shots from a moving car.

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I live in Antipolo, so seeing old gems like the Manila Post Office is unfortunately a rare sight for me. The stark contrast and evolution of our capital from old pictures of pre-war Manila and contemporary views leaves a bitter taste because of how much had been lost and the horrifying truth that we still continue to lose (what remains of) heritage structures through ignorance and a false sense of security and protection.

Thank goodness at least that the Post Office did not collapse and burn to the ground, so we can be vigilant and hopeful for its reconstruction and rehabilitation.

- Ferdinand Marquee Fuentes
#SaveManilaPostOffice

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Postal Heritage Tour conducted by The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) through Pilipinas Philately in October 15, 2022

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I remember my first visit in the Manila Central Post Office (MCPO) when my friend invited our tropa to go to the Postal Heritage Tour. I was the only fortunate victim friend who was available and wiling at the time. Although months had already passed, memories from the tour never fleeted away. Perhaps it was the relevant information given by the docent, the grandiose interior and exterior design of the building, the memories my ancestors and family collectively have with handwritten letters, or all of these. Whatever the case may be, one take away I got from reminiscing after what has transpired is that all art involved in the process of sending letters transcend through time; however, a concrete manifestation of this institution (e.g., a post office that stood the test of time and environmental elements) is needed for this to be remembered for centuries to come similar to how I, a Gen Z who never sent a postal letter through mail, continue to value this heritage all thanks to the MCPO.

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You are a beautiful subject, model, muse. Whenever I see you, I can’t help but photograph you.

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Back before emails were the thing, I used to go to the Manila Post Office to send my mail, which was conveniently located near where I used to work. I never knew the building's history but have always thought it to be beautiful. I've felt some reverence whenever I'd go there (maybe because of its sheer enormity), like I was entering an ancient temple. I even enjoyed leafing through that free booklet they gave out which list the postal code of all cities in the country.

During the pandemic, stuck at home, I started following local FB pages focused on the preservation of historical buildings and learned more about the building which made me appreciate it more. To think that it was designed by renowned local architects and that I had been passing by and going to a building that has seen, and has even been a poster child for, the last world war almost everyday when we lived in Manila!

So when a friend - who I met during a heritage tour of San Nicolas and is a volunteer fireman there - posted a live feed of the Post Office in flames at around 2 am on May 22, my heart sank. It was like watching the burning and eventual collapse of Notre Dame's famous spire all over again which inexplicably still breaks my heart. Only this time, it was closer to home. It was home!

I hope that the building can rise again from its ashes the way it did after the war. I also hope that the hurt, anger and loss we felt and still feel seeing images of the building threatened (by fire as well as the planned PAREX) burns long and strong enough to move all of us to do our part to protect and preserve historical and cultural treasures like the Post Office. Otherwise, this tragedy will just be, yet again, one of many footnotes in our history books.

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Behind the majestic pillars of the Post Office

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My only chance to visit the MCPO, was during the National Stamp Collecting Month of 2022. I was the Pogi Santa that Day & the substitute for the pscs Manila Local Post.
However, I always see the building & its nearby community everday during my college days. I ride the jeep daily from Binondo to De La Salle.
I was deeply saddened by the fire. I am hoping for the complete reconstruction of this cultural heritage building. Please Save this Philippine Treasure.

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I was captivated by this view so when my friends and I passed by the newly refurbished Jones Bridge one night in January, 2020 we didn't miss the opportunity to take pictures there. MCPO, equally beautiful, illuminated in the dark, and perfectly reflected in the waters of Pasig River. Instagrammable views, those were in my thoughts then.

Fast forward 2021. Pandemic time. My friend Pebbles and I joined Philipine Stamp Collectors Society (PSCS), for both of us were stamp collectors during our college days. Our hobby was revived and met wonderful people in the group. I wanted to send these friends a meaningful and relevant postcard, so the MCPO photo came to my mind.  They loved it, so I made more copies for other members to receive.

I made these MCPO postcards because it's relevance to our hobby. And little did I know that I would be going back the place several more times, for stamp launches, meet ups or simply to buy stamps. For me, it's a wonderland for philatelists!

I sent these post cards to share the elegance of MCPO that I captured on photo. And eventually,  it raised our awareness of the history and significant cultural heritage that this structure encompases.

And now Im still grieving for the loss.
Never thought this tragedy would happen in my lifetime. Yet still thankfull and blessed to have been there several times and had wonderful memories in a place I call my Wonderland.
#savemanilapostoffice

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POST OFFICE ang bumuhay samin ❤️ iba dyan laking post office ❤️. Hindi lang kaibigan ang matatagpuan mo kundi pamilya rin ❤️

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Though my 3rd home is now in ashes, im pretty sure of its rebirth...metaphorically...a phoenix!

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Lagi ako sinasama ni Mama dito sa MCPO.
Isa ito sa bonding moment namin.
Kaso, hindi ko pa naikot lahat ng sulok nawala na siya pansamantala.. at sana hindi siya samantagal mawawala

See you soon my beloved MCPO

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This is one of the places where I usually go whenever i feel lonely, sad, stressed and over worked.
This is the place where my hobby belong and exist.
this is the place where i met and found new friends in life.

-Melai-

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From the early 60s when I first stepped inside the MCPO building till March this year, my last visit, the memories I have are volumes. Collecting stamps, meeting fellow collectors & PO employees & officials, meetings & auctions of clubs, the APO, the PPFed, the Stamp Advisory Comm, the many stamp exhibitions are all part of the fond memories I will cherish in life. Best of all is the multitude of people I have met there. I have enjoyed the company of newbie collectors, the advanced, employees & officials up to the few PG during those years, too many to mention. Thank you for the opportunity to have enjoyed their company, especially to some that have lasted up to today. Long live the MCPO Building !!!

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When I visit Manila, I always look forward to seeing the Manila Central Post Office, the first building I see whenever I get off the bus. It is like being greeted by an old friend, not needing to keep each other posted of everything rather always picking up from where we left off. Just seeing it gives a certain quiet comfort of familiarity for me. The grandeur of the Manila Central Post Office always leaves me in awe regardless of the countless times I’ve seen it. I enjoy crossing the MacArthur Bridge whenever I’m headed to Quiapo and/or Escolta as I know I can expect to see the Post Office in all its beauty and right across are the equally beautiful buildings along the Queen of the Streets.
It is truly heartbreaking to learn about the fire that broke out last Monday, and can only hold on to hope and prayers that the beloved Post Office be restored. I hope to make more memories with the Post Office, the same sentiments to everyone who has shown their love. It has definitely made its mark to Filipinos (and maybe even foreigners alike) that cannot never go unnoticed. Despite the odds, I am holding to hope that this may be considered important and not sold off like how it happened for the Capitolio and the Santa Cruz building. Filipinos do not deserve another heartbreak, we’ve been and are still going through too much.

<3,
Ali Uy

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I've always been in awe of how majestic this infrastructure is - standing amidst the chaos of Manila.

I'll hold on to that glimmer of hope that your people with help you go back to your glory. And, if not, I'll raise my voice to do so.

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12c Jones Bridge stamp issued June 19, 1947 and MCPO at Night postcard from my collection (postcard photo shot by Stamp Collector, Amy Lopez @amy.lopy)

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I am one of the many stamp collectors grieving over the tragic fire incident that wreaked havoc on the iconic neo-classical Manila Central Post Office.

My only memory of this grand building and landmark dates back in 1986 when l had to accompany my father accomplish his clearance as retiring Postmaster from the Bureau of Posts after 30 years of service. Now I realize how fortunate I was to have gained entrance into a number of its offices. Sad to say, we had no photo documentation of this one and only visit ever, hence, posting this stamp (featuring the MCPO building issued on June 19, 1947 with the William Atkinson Jones Memorial Bridge spanning the Pasig River) and a postcard mailed to me in December 2021, showing the majestic MCPO at night, shot from the Jones Bridge by stamp collector friend, Amy Lopez @amy.lopy.
-by Eve Sison
Member, Philippine Stamp Collectors’ Society (PSCS)

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Ang sabi naming magkasintahan, kapag nagkaroon kami ng anak ay susuyurin namin ang loob ng makasaysayang Manila Post Office. Bukod kasi sa Liwasang Bonifacio, ay saksi ang Manila Post Office sa aming pag-iibigan dahil dito kami unang nagkakilala noong 2014. Hanggang sa naging kami, at nang palagiang nagbibisikleta mula Muntinlupa hanggang Maynila ay hindi puwedeng hindi namin madaanan ang aming unang tagpuan.

Bilang isa sa mga Philippine History Enthusiast, nakakalungkot ang balitang sinapit nito. Naalala ko din na hindi ko pa pala nararanasan na magpadala ng mga sulat gamit ang post office sa ilang kong mga kaibigang naranasan ang pagsusulatan noong kasagsagan ng pandemya. At kung kailan may anak na kami, at magpaplanong bumisita muli sa Maynila, tulad ng aking sinabi ay aming susuyurin balang araw ang Manila Post Office ay naudlot dahil sa malungkot na pangyayaring ito.

Alam kong sa gitna ng unos, ay may uusbong na pag-asa hindi lang tulad naming tatlo na nagmamahal kundi marami kami na nais isalba ang makasaysayang Manila Post Office.

@hermanaanadelacruz
#SaveManilaPostOffice

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I 'Vin, my beloved mother in heritage advocates Tita Marivic and her good son Kuya Eufy Agbayani  of NCHP. Taken last November 2022 during Philatelic Week.

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Visiting MANILA POST CENTRAL OFFICE is like a family reunion once your "IN" Heritage advocacy, meeting long time friends and colleagues who treated like you as siblings and also we will meet new friends and  create more meaningful bond  with one voice and one beat of our hearts that is to call for the preservation of our remaining gems that is called "HERITAGE". -Lagunenseng Laog 

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Visiting MANILA POST CENTRAL OFFICE is like a family reunion once your "IN" Heritage advocacy, meeting long time friends and colleagues who treated like you as siblings and also we will meet new friends and  create more meaningful bond  with one voice and one beat of our hearts that is to call for the preservation of our remaining gems that is called "HERITAGE". -Lagunenseng Laog 

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#saveManilaCentralPostOffice

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Ang Manila Post Office (MCPO) Building ang itinuturing na tahanan ng Philippine Stamp Collectors’ Society (PSCS), na binubuo ng higit na 2,700 mga miyembro sa aming FB group. Saksi ito sa masasayang pagtitipon at pagbabahaginan ng kaalaman at stamp ayuda naming mahihilig mangulekta ng selyo, postcards, at covers (sent mails), katuwang ang PhlPost. Hangad naming lahat na maitayo muli ang MCPO Building at maging hudyat sa pagbangon ng serbisyong postal at interes sa philately ng marami pang Pilipino!

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The Manila Central Post Office is one of the quiet places in the city where you can walk, write, draw, and reflect; it has seen all sides of history and carries a message for generations to read and pass along.

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Last November 2019, I visited the Jones Bridge to look at its new lampposts that were just installed. Then, I saw this view of the Manila Central Post Office, while I was standing on the Binondo side of the bridge. I just had to take this dusk shot.

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I am from the province so I did not grow up to use the Manila Central Post Office as a post office, so I see it in a different light.  It is a vision.  A product of Filipino artistry and architecture, its columns and aura evoke a unique grandeur rarely felt in a Philippine Building.  It is powerful because the Filipino is powerful.  Despite being a financially challenged country, the building reminds us of what the Filipino really is and what more it can be.

Because it is featured in pop culture, in a old PLDT commercial that evokes connection of the family, in a Jescom music video “Pananatili” which evokes constancy, and in “Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon” which is a love story, for many of us, it is not just a building, it is alive!  - A character in itself with its own theater and stage.  Even if you rarely visit it, it evokes emotions.

And inside of if, are the stamps which is the repository of what is may saysay for us, our heroes and character.  Stamps are the microcosm of the Filipino, and the stamp collectors, the culture bearers, showing pakikipagkapwa with their fellow collectors with their dealings with each other.  The Manila Central Post Office was a vessel of the Filipino spirit, the stamp being a literal mini museum of things we hold dear. Like the Filipino, its loob is mabuti.

Despite its age and its wear and tear, it stood tall, because it is strong, like the Filipino.  Fire might have engulfed it twice, but it is not gone, it is still there. It still stands!!! Because like the Filipino it will always rise again.

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Manila central post office is a living history itself. It stands as a symbol of our nation’s triumph and defeat. We must felt the heed to bring it back to its glory.

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My selfie with the Manila Central Post Office in July 2017

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My first visit to the Manila Central Post Office was in July 2017, before I was sworn in to be a licensed professional. I continued to look at the stylish neoclassical design of the building. Also, I had a chance of entering its interiors, and I had a chance to look at them. What I really love to see are the people who send their letters and packages (in addition to watching different auctions for philately and numismatics. Unfortunately, that precious Manila gem had been ripped open by fire since Sunday night. We call on our heritage colleagues, as well as cultural and governmental organizations, to restore the building to its original splendor so that the next generation of Filipino people will able to see the wonders of old Manila.

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Let's also support the stamp artists and other postal workers

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Let's also support the stamp artists and other postal workers

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I have been inside the Manila Central Post Office only twice. The first time, it was a tour organized by Pilipinas Philately which also introduced us to the artists who made our stamps.

They really loved their work, and they really loved sharing their art through the stamps. I head that their laptops were among those lost in the fire.

At this time of great tragedy, we should all the more support PHL Post and their stamps. Even if we're not going to use them--just collect them and show them to those interested. Let's help them get back to their feet.

#BangonPHLpost
#SaveManilaPostOffice

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Probably like many who has taken a photo like this, I delayed my visit to the building for some future time. I regret not going inside, and realize now that Manila’s heritage buildings have many more challenges than I expected. What can we all do to help prevent this from happening to other historic buildings?

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Bonifacio monument near Manila post office

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I remember doing my own photowalk in Escolta and Lawton area after our lecture in History of Architecture. Nakakamangha at nakakalungkot na ang gaganda ng mga buildings sa area noon pero dahil nasira sa gyera or nademolish ang ilan ay makikita nalang natin ito sa mga litrato.

Back to the photowalk, I was so amazed seeing the grandeur and details of it up-close. I only saw the facade that time. I think I geeked up that time dahil ayun nga, arki student eh.

Nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makita ang loob ng Manila Post Office nung sumali ako sa heritage walk.

Ang dating nakikita ko lang sa mga palabas, ngayon nalibot ko na.

Hearing the news of the fire in Manila Post Office, I felt sad that another architectural gem is at risk of being lost. It is one of the instruments othat made me aware of our heritage and society.

Sana maging paraan ito sa pagkamulat na ang isang parte ng ating heritage ay madaling mawala at dapat binibigyang halaga.

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Nakikiisa ang Project Saysay sa pagdadalamhati ng sambayanang Pilipino sa pagkakasunog ng Manila Central Post Office Building noong Lunes.

Gaya ng marami, umaasa rin ang Project Saysay na sa pagtutulungan ng mamamayan at pamhalaan, mabubuong muli ang Manila Central Post Office upang pakinabangan ng taumbayan bilang pamana.

Gayundin, paalala rin ang sunog kung gaano kadali mawala ang mga bagay na mapagbabatayan natin ng kasaysayan. Kailangan nating pagtulungan na ipreserba at ipalaganap ang mga sanggunian at mga saliksik na naisulat dahil dito. Handang umagapay ang Project Saysay sa mga ganitong adikhain.

#SaveManilaPostOffice
#pSaysay10

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just wanna share this pic I have taken of my first time seeing this building... really saddens me to hear about what happened recently... I hope they could return it to its former glory...🥺

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just wanna share this pic I have taken of my first time seeing this building... really saddens me to hear about what happened recently... I hope they could return it to its former glory...🥺

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Took this photo back in May 2019. Created this image as I envisioned it.

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A poem inspired by the Manila Central Post Office

...

what fuels the city to dazzle
are all the numbers
from the fleeting fortune on an earnest hand
to the hand that ever turns everything to fleet

it was never the letters
that once watered its obliterated soil

what drives you to exist
are all the numbers
that hold infinite values
but with no lasting meanings
it was never the letters
that made you
and made the earth
and made the city
and made you make more

against the cacophony
the heart quiets there
trapped, wondering
lost, wandering

against the romantic montage
the heart once bursting with seeds
obviously hides
obliviously lies

where have all the letters gone
you used to carry by boats or wheels
where have all the letters gone,
those you have fallen for before it is all fallen

in this broken world
where all the letters have gone
were you

'letters have gone'

— @gibbierish (vii.xxvi.mmxix)

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july 16, 2022 was my first date with my partner, and it was by the bureau of posts building. we were attending the pasig river walks my organization hosted- and while we were there we split from the main group. granted it was mostly to wait for one of my dearest and closest friends to arrive- this was the first time i saw her in almost three years, but still.

we took our time to bask in the details. i talked with her about certain things related to the building, we walked along the stairway leading to the driveway, and just enjoyed under the shadow of the looming edifice. of course we had to catch up after a while- but again- it felt nice to have this iconic piece of history to watch over us.

my second great memory was my second reunion with my dearest friend. also the same, another walking tour my organization hosted. this time, we got to enter the building and just... bask in all the glory. it was different from seeing it in photographs, after all. i remember my first thought- the interior was cool and airy, grand and welcoming. we got to take photos of things, buy stamps and other collectibles, and just have fun while the tour went on.

i hope that more generations, and more in mine get to create lovely memories like i have too. ill make a third memory too- when i arrive by the end of the week, my partners and i plan to visit to have a vigil. by then, ill help all i can.

till then, let's spread the call to #SaveManilaPostOffice. she may have gone through worse in '45, but she would still need our help to get back to her feet.

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Postal Heritage Tour by Rence Chan, April 2012. Photo by Andrew Pamorada

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My first encounter of the Post Office was way back in 2012 through the free postal heritage tours organized back then by sir Rence Chan. Were it not for those tours, I wouldn't know more about the Post Office and be able to even go inside the building. I also got to know many people during those tours who eventually became my closest friends and colleagues in the heritage advocacy. The Manila Central Post Office became a silent witness to those treasured memories! #SaveManilaPostOffice

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#SaveManilaPostOffice for the future generations of Filipinos!

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#SaveManilaPostOffice for the future generations of Filipinos!

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The Manila Post Office building was one of the most beautiful buildings I've been to in the Philippines. Stepping inside it was like glimpsing into the past my lolo (who frequented the building in its heyday) kept on telling me about. I hope we don't allow the Manila Post Office to just live on in our memories. Let's #SaveManilaPostOffice for the future generations of Filipinos!

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Manila Post Office inspires me w/ its timeless beauty

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Manila Post Office inspires me w/ its timeless beauty

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Last year, I visited the Manila Post Office with Gizelle and my brother. I was amazed by its rich history, stunning architecture, and the way it has stood strong over time. The grand architecture and intricate details left me in awe, as if the building itself carried stories of love and human connection. I left that day, dreaming that one day I would write a story about this beautiful place. I hope that Manila Post Office gets saved so I can fulfill my wish to create a story as beautiful as the building.