The Philippine Post Office (PHLPost) has printed 80,000 pieces of stamps in eight illustrated color designs featuring ordinary people who are considered heroes in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The “Keep the Faith, Be a Hero, Get your Dose, Fight Coronavirus” is the first postage stamp series issued by a postal administration to encourage and promote vaccination against the coronavirus.

The stamps were the works of creative art director Rodine Teodoro and in-house philatelic artist Ryman Dominic Albuladora, who put the finishing touches on the layout.

The stamps were launched Saturday at the PHLPost Manila with Olympic medalists Hidilyn Diaz, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and Eumir Marcial, who were also honored with their own stamps.

The stamps and first day cover envelopes are now available at The Stamp Shop of the Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio.

First day cover envelopes are affixed with a stamp or stamps on the first day that they are made available for sale to the public.

The stamps were the second in the series of Covid-19 Heroes stamps.

The first one, launched last year when the pandemic started, was the “Frontline Heroes” series, a tribute to the untiring efforts and dedication of front-line workers in keeping the country moving and safe, PHLPost said in a statement released on Tuesday.

“The stamps are all inclusive of people from all walks of life who are being recognized as heroes in our fight against Covid-19,” Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said in the same news release. “What we only need to do now while facing this pandemic is to unite and hopefully, our people will get vaccinated to help our country move forward.”

For inquiries on the stamps, call (02)8527-0108 or (02)8527-0132 and follow and like Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates. (PNA)