In April 1945, to herald the liberation of the Philippines, stamps were put on sale at various post offices throughout the archipelago, as each were re-opened - so there are several " first day of issue " covers, such as Tacloban ( January ), April ( Manila, as shown ), June ( Iloilo ), July ( Cebu ), and August ( Bacolod ).


• The Manila Central Post Office ( built 1926 ) had been severely damaged, but re-opened in April 1945 ( and was rebuilt next year ). The pre-war Commonwealth stamps were overprinted with " VICTORY " and " COMMONWEALTH " :-







This was Manila Post Office just before World War II :-







…. and around the early 1970s :-







( “ Araw ng Kagitingan “ ( Day of Valour ), held on April 9 each year, is a national public holiday in the Philippines, commemorating the fall of the Bataan Peninsula during World War II after months of fighting between the Philippine and American armies against the invading Japanese ).