Shortly after the Philippines gained formal independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, the Philippine government received a letter of congratulations from Dolores Pickert, née Blumentritt, from Kufstein in Tyrol.
Manuel Roxas, the first president of the Philippines, was so pleased with Dolores Pickert’s congratulations that he sent a personal letter of thanks back to Tyrol in August 1946.
Unfortunately, only part of the envelope with the stamps has been preserved.
About two months later, on October 17, 1946, Austria and the Philippines established formal diplomatic relations.
The Austro-Philippine Society is delighted to be part of this tradition and joins in the congratulations.