Philippine postmen to play cupid this Valentine's Day

MANILA - Postmen in the Philippines will play cupid this Valentine's Day through its "love express" delivery campaign, said the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) on Thursday, adding it is accepting flowers, chocolates and "real" greeting cards for personal delivery this Valentine's Day.

The Philpost will revive the so-called "singing kartero," wherein people can pay 2,000 pesos (40 U.S. dollars) for a mailman to deliver a bouquet of roses, a greeting card and serenading the recipient with her favorite theme songs -- a romantic Filipino courtship tradition to express a man's love and admiration even on a distance.

Philpost said postal patrons can avail of themselves of the flowers and chocolates that the mailman will deliver to their loved ones.

It also announced that it is issuing a limited edition of Valentine's Day personalized stamps that lover's can use to send their Valentine's card and love letters. "With the popularity of taking selfies, one can now have their selfies printed on stamps for 17 pesos (0.34 U.S. dollars) each," the Philpost said.

"Love is in the air-mail, sealed and to be delivered by your friendly postman," the Philpost said.

The Philpost said its Manila Central Post Office will open its postal counters to receive flowers and other special items that people can buy to send to their loved ones from Feb. 8 until Valentine's Day.

Aside from flowers and chocolates, it said love-senders can also pick from its array of gifts like greeting cards, stuffed toys, cakes and other Valentine novelties.

A team of letter carriers called the Express Elite Force, will deliver these gift items via Domestic Express Mail Service on Valentine's Day to clients within Metro Manila and nearby areas, the Philpost said.

Philpost also launched its Facebook promo dubbed "Pusuan Me Bes," wherein those clients who avail of the singing telegram and domestic express mail packages will have a chance to win a dinner for two worth 2,000 pesos (40 U.S. dollars). All they have to do is take a selfie with the singing mailman and post it on the official Philpost Facebook, and the entry that gets the highest number of "likes and loves" at noon on Valentine's Day will win, the Philpost said.

Despite our modern technology, such as the use of text messaging, e-cards, the Philpost said it is more romantic to express your love through the sending of flowers, chocolates and Valentine's card.

Philpost is encouraging Filipinos to use the snail mail to express their true love during special occasions like Heart's Day.