LOVE IS IN THE MAIL You may see one of these two Singing Karteros of the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) at your doorstep come Valentine’s Day greeting you with love songs courtesy of your sweetheart, wife, husband or suitor. This novel PHLPost “express mail” package comes with a flower bouquet and a handwritten Valentine’s card. —PHOTOS FROM AVLIN FIDELSON OF PHLPOST CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) is offering for the sixth year its “Pada-LOVE! Magpadala, Kiligin, Ma-inlove” package from Feb. 11 to 15, when hopeless and hopeful romantics could send handwritten letters to their lovers or soon-to-be partners while being serenaded by “Singing Karteros” (letter carriers) with two songs of the senders’ choice.
This postal service is a domestic express mail package priced at P2,500 and comes with a flower bouquet, a Valentine’s Day card and a special PHLPost stamp themed “King and Queen of Hearts.” The special stamps are now available at the StampShop of the Manila Central Post Office.
The package could still be modified at the sender’s request.
“They can also ask us to buy chocolates, stuffed toys, balloons or additional gifts for an additional fee,” said Diosdada Marquez, marketing head of PHLPost Mega Manila area.
Nine serenaders
Nine Singing Karteros are providing this serenading service in Metro Manila. They include Erickson Medrano, who joined “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” an amateur singing contest, and Joseph Rosendal Jr., who won ABS-CBN’s “I Can See Your Voice” competition last year, Marquez said.
Rosendal, who hails from Eastern Samar, moved to Manila to continue his studies while working to help his mother, a domestic helper abroad.
Marquez said most clients, especially those overseas, would request that the Valentine’s Day greetings be viewed live on Facebook or other social media platforms, or recorded on video and e-mailed to them.
Some prefer to accompany the kartero and make a surprise appearance after the performance, she said.
The most requested songs are Rey Valera’s “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko” and Filipino rock band Alamid’s “Your Love,” Marquez said.
Not just for lovers
Most of the customers are above 30 years old and include not only lovers but also children who want to surprise their parents or relatives.
One asked a video footage of the kartero singing to her sickly mother at a home for the aged, Marquez said. The old songs touched and made the mother happy, she said.
There were those who were on the brink of a breakup but were able to save their relationship through this thoughtful surprise, she added.
For the past years, the Singing Karteros have also sung to clients on other occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays and weddings.
Fewer people are using the post to send love letters than before.
PHLPost, which employs 3,000 letter carriers nationwide, are now often used for corporate mail, parcel delivery, electronic postal money order and remittance, and verification services.
That is how the agency recovers from lost snail mail revenue, Marguez said.
Word of mouth
“But more people are availing [themselves] of the Singing Karteros services now than before because of word of mouth,” she said.
The Singing Karteros service is available at PHLPost offices in Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Parañaque, Marikina, Caloocan Central, Caloocan North, Pasay, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Taguig, Valenzuela, Novaliches, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, and in Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro and San Pablo City.
Book your Singing Karteros service through Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1697784170323638/) or call 0927-7790251 or 527-0135.