After several years, Philippine bank notes get a much-needed overhaul.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday unveiled the bank notes’ new designs as well as its new security features.
Amando Tetangco, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor said the new currencies took three years to complete, from conceptualization and printing.
He said the new bills will make it “difficult for counterfeiters to copy while easier for people to determine counterfeits.”
Tetangco said the new bank notes “combine new and familiar elements.”
“We retained colors to make sure people don’t get confused,” he added.
The bills will be in circulation this December while the old bank notes will still be accepted within the next three years.
Money features
The new bills continue to honor great Filipinos like former presidents Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, and Diosdado Macapagal. As well as former Senator Ninoy Aquino, and war heroes Josefa Llanes Escoda, Vicente Lim, and Jose Abad Santos.
However, the P500 bill now features former President Corazon Aquino, whose photo is placed beside his husband, Ninoy. It also depicts a smiling Ninoy, a far cry from his forlorn image in the current P500 bill.
“The decision to honor Cory Aquino in the 500 note was announced in the week that she passed away, long before their son ran for president,” said Tetangco.
The P500 bill also makes history by having both parents with the signature of their son, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, added Tetangco.
Aquino said it makes him happy “as a son and as a Filipino” to have his parents on the same bank note where his signature appears.
“It is a testament to what they sacrificed for our people, and a testament to their love for our country,” said Aquino.
The 50-year-old bachelor also said it serves as a “constant reminder for me that my parents were more fortunate than I in finding that person that made them whole and allowed them to achieve the heights that they did.”
The P500 bill shows Puerto Princesa’s Subterranean River National Park and the a blue-naped parrot.
All the bills continue to have these security features: embossed prints, serial numbers, security fibers and threads, and watermark. But new security features include the word “Pilipino” written in ‘Baybayin,’ a pre-Spanish writing system, and the Republic of the Philippines seal.
The bills also feature a ‘woven cloth’ design, which is different for each denomination.
The back of the P20 bill shows the Banaue Rice Terraces and an animal, Palm Civet or ‘Alamid’ in local language.
The now darker red P50 bill meanwhile shows Taal Lake and Maliputo, a fish that thrives only in the waters of the lake.
The back of the almost purple P100 bill shows ‘perfect cone’ Mayon Volcano and a Butanding, a whale shark that is a main attraction in Sorsogon.
The almost green P200 bill shows Bohol Chocolate Hills and the world’s smallest primate found in the Philippines, the Tarsier.
Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s photo taking oath is now in front of the P200 bill but is almost not visible.
The P1000 bill features the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and a South Sea Pearl.
