MANILA, (PIA) — The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) recently launched the Pope stamps exhibit, featuring Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Secretary General Kim Robert De Leon’s “Guinness Book of World Records” largest collection of Papal stamps.
PHLPost commemorated its corporate anniversary with the passing of Republic Act 7354 on April 02, 1992, otherwise known as the Philippine Postal Service Act which paved the way for the corporatization of the Postal Service Office (PSO).
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest collection of stamps featuring Popes is 2,398, and was achieved by Kim Robert De Leon from Navotas City on February 22, 2022.
“We Filipinos are proud of this achievement,” said Postmaster General Luis Carlos.

It was during the pandemic that De Leon increased his Pope Stamp Collections. He started his collection of stamps and covers upon discovering his Pope Francis First Day Cover which he bought from PHLPost shortly after the Papal Visit in 2015. As his collections grew, he got interested in a much larger collection which led him to try his collections to be certified by Guinness.
The stamps were counted in February 2022, on the occasion of the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, the first Pope, at San Ildefonso Parish in Navotas City where he served as a Ministry of Lectors and Commentators member. His other collection includes stamps featuring Scouts, which is also certified by Guinness, a collection featuring Christmas and the Madonna, among others.
The BSP Secretary-General accepted the Philatelic frame from PHLPost.
“It is an honor for me to be given this opportunity to recognize my work and for my fellow Filipinos to appreciate it which I hope would inspire others especially the youth to collect postage stamps,” De Leon said.
Meanwhile, Postmaster General Luis Carlos said that excitement is now happening in the philatelic (stamps) world with the release of several innovative stamp designs and the soon-to-be-released Philippine Postcards in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Tourism.
“The stamps we issued are now appealing and intended to capture not only to philatelists but also to the younger generations as well. We want to showcase the best of our country to the international tourism and local market,” he added.
The PHLPost chief also noted that in the digital age where communication is mostly virtual, PHLPost needs to innovate, connect, and sell these miniature pieces of art to attract younger collectors.
“We thank the Robinson’s Group for supporting this event,” Carlos said.

The exhibit also honors Filipino Philatelic collectors who have been patronizing the services of the post office, particularly those valuable Philippine Postage Stamps which are considered priceless, being the country’s recorder of history and culture.
The exhibit is located at Robinsons Manila and will run until Saturday, May 4, 2024. (PHLPOST/PIA-NCR)