MAMA SITA COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS ADDED TO US POSTAL MUSEUM COLLECTION

WASHINGTON, DC – The Mama Sita Foundation officially handed over a donation of Mama Sita commemorative stamps to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum during a simple turnover ceremony held at the museum lobby on 15 August 2016.

The late Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes was an iconic figure in Philippine culinary arts history, pioneering the use of mixes and seasonings that accompany Filipino food. The series of commemorative stamps were issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation in honor of her contribution and influence in the propagation of authentic Philippine cuisine as well as to honor her birth centenary in 2017.

“The stamps signify the flavors that the Philippine cuisine offers as well as the country’s vision of sharing our biodiversity to the rest of the world,” Mr. Roberto Mercado, consultant and representative of the Mama Sita Foundation said.

“We love to have it,” Mr. Ted Wilson of the Postal Museum’s Collections Department received and welcomed the inclusion of the stamps to the museum’s collection on display.

After the ceremony, Mr. Wilson took Mr. Mercado and other Philippine Embassy representatives to a brief tour of the Postal Museum’s William H. Gross Stamp Gallery.

The turnover ceremony was organized by the Mama Sita Foundation in collaboration with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Washington, D.C. ###

Mr. Roberto Mercado (5th from left) hands over the commemorative Mama Sita stamps to Mr. Ted Wilson (6th from left) of the Collections Department of the National Postal Museum on 15 August 2016.

Mr. Ted Wilson (right) shows Mr. Roberto Mercado the Philippine stamps that were on display at the Postal Museum’s William H. Gross Stamp Gallery.