On this day in Filipino history, December 5, 1837, a significant milestone was achieved as the first postal service in the Philippines, initially established by royal decree 70 years prior in 1767, underwent a substantial reorganization. This marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of postal services within the archipelago.

Originally founded in 1767, the inaugural post office found its home in Manila and primarily functioned as a courier for government and church documents. A major restructuring occurred in 1779 when the postal system was organized under a new Spanish postal district, encompassing not only Manila but the entire Philippine archipelago.

In 1854, the Philippines made history by receiving the first postage stamps, utilized across all Spanish colonies. Spain’s accession to the Universal Postal Union in 1875 marked another significant development, officially announced in the Philippines two years later. In 1872, Spain issued the inaugural Philippine stamps, bearing the inscription “Correos Filipinas,” intended for domestic use.

During the Philippine Revolution, President Emilio Aguinaldo recognized the importance of a postal system and ordered its establishment to provide essential services to Filipinos during a turbulent period.

On January 1, 1922, the Philippines, now a sovereign entity, joined the Universal Postal Union. The iconic Manila Central Post Office Building, designed by Filipino Architect Juan M. Arellano, stood as the hub of Philippine postal services and headquarters for the former Bureau of Posts. Completed in Neo-Classical style in 1926, the building faced destruction during World War II but was meticulously rebuilt in 1946.

A transformative moment in 1987 saw the Bureau of Posts undergo a name change to the Postal Service Office (PSO) through Executive Order No. 125, issued by President Corazon C. Aquino on April 13, 1987. This order also placed the PSO under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The next chapter unfolded on April 2, 1992, when Republic Act No. 7354 transformed the PSO into its present-day iteration, the Philippine Postal Corporation or PhilPost, solidifying its role as a vital component of the country’s communication infrastructure.

(Source: Philippine News Agency archives)

(Jr Amigo/ai/mnm)