Following the untimely demise of Hotdog founding member Dennis Garcia last Saturday, January 18, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has issued a posthumous honor to the OPM icon with a special souvenir frame presented to the bereaved family Tuesday, January 21.
Last year, PHLPost launched its Pinoy Music Icons stamp series featuring Rico J. Puno, Joey “Pepe” Smith and Garcia’s younger brother and lead singer of Hotdog, Rene Garcia. The elder Garcia was instrumental in the creation and issuance of the special commemorative stamps. Hence, the souvenir frame was presented to Garcia’s family “in recognition of [Dennis Garcia’s] valuable contribution in the conceptualization and execution of the Pinoy Music Icons stamp series featuring Rene Garcia, Rico J. Puno and Pepe Smith.”
“Like these three icons, Mr. Dennis Garcia is himself an acknowledged legendary musician and songwriter and was a big part of the ongoing evolution of Original Pilipino Music,” read the rest of the frame’s description.
In a statement issued to BusinessMirror, PHLPost also took note of Garcia’s role as “a pioneer of the popular Manila Sound that began in the mid-1970s” and as co-composer of “most of the band’s biggest hits in tandem with brother Rene.”
“The legacy of Hotdog did not stop after the latter has passed away as Dennis remained active in advocating the promotion of Filipino culture through the postage stamps that he hopes will also honor other Pinoy Music Icons in the future. Their musical genre mirrored not only the distinctive music of the era but also the sentiments of many Filipinos toward their culture and homeland,” PHLPost further pointed out in its statement.
While also acknowledging that the commemorative postage stamp of Rene Garcia in particular is its “way of honoring the band’s important role in linking the past and present generations through their own brand of music,” PHLPost said it is likewise forever grateful to Dennis Garcia for “his selfless attitude in supporting the successful launch of the Pinoy Music Icons commemorative stamps and icons memorabilia exhibit at PHLPost.”
“Even as we mourn their loss, we will continue to celebrate the remarkable life and the musical legacy that the brothers Dennis and Rene have shared with the Filipino people,” PHLPost concluded.