How to Appreciate Philippine Postcards
Based on my observations, Filipinos are not avid postcrossers. Maybe 1 out 30 or more people are involved in postcrossing (the hobby of sending, receiving and collecting postcards). In the advent of text messaging and email, sending postcards or even snail mails have dropped significantly. So finding one who is into postcrossing in our place would be really rare.
The only postcards that are constantly produced are those from Sterling Paper Products Ent., Inc., National Bookstore and Philippines Postcards. If you have been constantly exchanging postcards from the Philippines, I am sure you have gotten one or more similar postcards from these companies. But still, we keep on sending these postcards because these are the only postcards we have that are descent enough to send because of their high quality prints. Aside from that, Philippines Postcards is the only company who produces map cards of our country and its islands.
Now, if you are not choosy or picky in quality and in print, you can actually get rare postcards from the Philippines. Just like the kind of postcards I mentioned earlier. These rare postcards were printed back then when technology was not yet at its finest both in printing and in photography. These postcards were dug at old local bookstores that were hidden because the sales clerk probably thinks they are instinct or nobody wants them.
So, how do we appreciate Philippine Postcards?
Simple, if you get postcards that are already yellowish or has low quality print, don’t think bad of the sender for sending you a cheap postcard or an ugly one. Think of it this way, your sender probably have scoured all bookstores in their city, searched high and low just to find another postcard to send. And if not, just think that these postcards where printed back in the 90s or much older. Or, just think of this, the postcard in your hand right now is unique. It is not the same as any of the other postcards in the Philippines and even the rest of the world.
And if you get the same postcards from the Philippines (those that are constantly produced), think of this: the sender made a great deal to send you the only descent postcard he or she can find. The person doesn’t want you to feel bad about the postcard he or she sent.
To make my short post shorter, every postcard sent from the Philippines whether old or newly produced is unique. Your sender gave time and effort in looking for postcard. They spent hours or even days visiting different bookstores just to get these postcards and be able to send you something different than the usual. This just means that your Filipino sender valued you so much!
Therefore, to appreciate a Philippine Postcard is to appreciate your sender, the history of how the postcard was found and sent to you. Why do I know these things? I know because everytime I send my postcard, I pour out more than my time and effort to it, I put even my HEART!! 
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totally agree!
Wow ganon pala yon.. Thanks for the info mommy…
i couldn’t agree more marce. ive been collecting postcards for the past 15 years and im saddened that there are less nicer postcards now than many years ago in our country
Love this article… you wouldn’t believe it but the postcards seem to be on their way of becoming scarce here in the U.S.A. Especially with them closing so many post offices here I wonder if I will be able to get stamps for snail mail instead of having to send things online.
so…sooooo agree!!!!!
Promise! I put my heart on selecting cards..I wish my recepient to get the best card i can afford..pero wala eh..yun na lang talaga ang available..
i want to buy cards like yung mga national animals, damit, sayaw, prutas..mga ganayan pero wakey talaga ako nakikita..even here in my hometown..I’m looking for something na personal..yung napuntahan mo na dito..pero wala..
..and yeah, i hope our recipient will be thankful instead na mangutya..kahit naman ako honestly hindi masyado natutuwa sa mga postcards ba nakikita ko eh..pero sa yun lang meron..
I still accept those kind of postcards as long as it is NOT black and white or sepia colored pictures. When I send a postcard, i make sure to read the preference of the receiver first and find a postcard that would fit or closer to fit of the ones she likes. Not all postcards are perfect.
I am no post-crosser YET but I definitely agree with you! Not to mention the hardship of writing the message and address and bring it to the post office.
In the state of North Dakota where everything is flat and big farmlands, it’s hard to find great or high quality or even nicer picturesque of the state. I try my best to find the good ones. Every postcard I received, I do appreciate it. Because who knows someday, they’re not available anymore because things around us change.
This is a great post, Mommy Ruby. Thanks for sharing.
Very well said Mommy Ruby!
I totally could relate with this…the first time i joined postcrossing, i searched every bookstore for the perfect postcard to send kaso not available kaya kahit mahal doon ako sa mga art gallery bumibili..good thing that hubby’s willing to send me to post office on saturday morning just to buy postcards…Wish may negosyanteng makabasa nito Mom Rubz and will put up a business on printing unique Philippine postcards! Kung meron akong capital, ako nalang sana..he..he…
well said mommy..
What you said here is very true. I often end up sending the cards w/ yellowed edges since I really put an effort into finding a card that would fit the preferences of the receiver.
Sometimes I really feel down that I can’t find a card that perfectly matches what they would want to receive. During those moments, I really wish that there would be other printing companies who would print more designs than what I am used to find at the National Bookstore.
I am grateful for my latest find, at the school supplies section of SM Department Stores, there are postcards that feature Filipino symbols like ‘pagmamano’. I love sending out cards that reflect our values and culture. These cards doesn’t come in regular postcard size though and some postcrossing members are requesting to receive regular-sized cards.
Anyways, this is still a hobby that really brings great joy to me…and like you, I would continue to select, stamp, and write on each card with my
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I totally agree with you, do you believe that i bought my postcard here at Php. 1.50 , some are 2.00 because that was the old amount , national bookstore sells them for Php. 3.00 and the new one are Php. 4.00 and 12.00 for the maps and big postcards.
Doing my own postcard will cost much more for the printing.
i must agree!that is probably the reason why it never fails to bring a smile on my face whenever i get postcards, just thinking of the efforts the sender put into finding, choosing, writing on it + mailing it to me makes me feel so extra special
dami nito marz ahh. i dont collect postcards when I was still in the philippines, but I buy postcards for visual aids hehehe.
Beautiful… gandang hobby mommy.. your very talented mommy rubz, I was looking for Philippines postcard with Pinas map 4months ago, wala akong nahanap sa national, sa DV nalang. Old postcard nila. hehe.. sis ko may gusto nun.
wow, very nice collection mommy Ruby..
btw I’m a new FB fan fr. the caravan 23
it is nice that you guys have done this to revive the art of sending mails in the post office!
So true! I always tried my best to find a perfect postcard to send to friends and appreciate the postcards received from them. It made me smile every time I open my mailbox with postcards from different countries^_^
Just found out about postcrossing.
It will be my New Year’s resolution to do it. Never tried buying postcards and sending snail mail, so this will be a fun new experience for me! Yay! Happy New Year!
With their new campaign… maybe we can send a pitch to DOT… Postcards: It’s more fun in the Philippines