From 1960's onward, majority of Philippine stamps issued are COMMEMORATIVES. They are issued to honor persons, events or institutions. Some, however, feature graphic arts instead of painters such as Francisco, Hidalgo, Amorsolo, et. al., and thinkers; and events. They are usually issued in a million or fewer.

DEFINITIVES, used in many postal forms, feature historical figures--heroes and heroines. These stamps are usually small, one-color stamp issued in greater quantities than COMMEMORATIVES. The 6s Rizal (A158 s.857) reached the 190 million mark. Several other persons were featured as the main vignette of the stamp as early as 1900's. Dr. Jose Rizal is the first Filipino portrayed in the 2c issue in various shades of green in 1906. Recently, the Center for Philatelic Research and Studies published "Rizal on Stamps," a philatelic literature exclusively on Rizal's portrait (much of it definitive), life and works and the Aseanpex '96 issues.

SPECIAL ISSUES, on the other hand, promote several causes, the Philippine Heritage, native flora and fauna, myriad of scenic and tourist spots and others that depict national consciousness and awareness.

Philippine flora was featured in sheets of 40, containing 10 blocks of A#84 s.850-853 se-tenant on May 9, 1962. On September 15, 1969, a butterfly series came next (A # 209 s.1031-1034). Three Tropical Fish stamps (A#235 s.1138-1140) came out in August 14, 1972. The most enduring stamp issue was, however, the Jade Vine 15s multicolored (A#268 s.1255) issued on June 9, 1975.

Tourism is another topic featured in Special Stamps. The Tourist Type of 1970, issued the following year, with scenic designs came in succession from November 12, 1970 (s. 1074-1077), February 15, 1971 (s.1086-1089), April 19 (s.1090-1093) and May 3, 1971 (s.1094-1097).

In a year, COMMEMORATIVES are usually issued during the first quarter. Most of these, however, are REPRINTS and SURCHARGED stamps. They are followed by an average of 9 issues of COMMEMORATIVES and at least two SPECIAL ISSUES. Similarly, most surcharges later in the year are overprinted to commemorate anniversaries and events.

SPECIAL ISSUES include the Christmas "Pasko" issues, first done in December 1967 with Philippine Nativity Scene (A191) 10s multicolored (s. 976) and 40s multicolored (s.977).

Also, regular COMMEMORATIVES are issued in November to observe Philatelic Week. Ironically, this event was only commemorated in 1969 on a reprinted 4s multicolored & black featuring Bureau of Posts, Manila, Jones Bridge over Pasig River (a190 s.1015). It was only in 1975 that the Philatelic week was honored with a stamp of its own. The 5s ultra and 1.00p blue (A#275 s.1279-1280) featured the emblem of the Amateur Philatelic Organizations celebrating their 25th Anniversary.