Banknotes of the Philippine peso

New Generation Currency Series banknotes.

Early issue 1896 10 pesos note from El Banco Español-Filipino (1896).

Banknotes of the Philippine peso are issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (formerly the Central Bank of the Philippines) for circulation in the Philippines. The smallest amount of legal tender in wide circulation is ₱20 and the largest is ₱1000. The front side of each banknote features prominent people along with buildings, and events in the country's history while the reverse side depicts landmarks and animals.

The dimensions of banknotes issued since the US-Philippine administration, 16 x 6.6 cm, has remained the same on all subsequent Philippine peso banknotes (except pre-1958 centavo notes), and was introduced during William Howard Taft's tenure as governor-general of the Philippines. In view of its highly successful run, President Taft then appointed a committee that reported favorably on the advantages and savings from changing the size of United States banknotes to Philippine-size. Since 1928 the sizes of the United States Federal Reserve Notes and Philippine banknotes have therefore been nearly identical.

History

Timeline of the Philippine banknote series

On May 1, 1852, the first commercial bank of the Philippines, El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel II issued the following denominations initially 10, 25, 50 and 200 pesos fuertes (strong pesos). They were used until 1896.

• 
  50 peso fuerte
• 
  25 peso fuerte

First Philippine Republic

The revolutionary republic of Emilio Aguinaldo ordered the issuance of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100-peso banknotes which were signed by Messrs. Pedro A. Paterno, Telesforo Chuidan and Mariano Limjap to avoid counterfeiting. However, only the 1 and 5-peso banknotes have been printed and circulated to some areas by the end of the short-lived First Republic.

American Period

BEP design proof (top) and issued note (bottom) of the 1924 Philippine one peso. The BEP proof was approved by MG Frank McIntyre, Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs.

By 1903, the American colonial Insular Government had issued Silver Certificates in denominations of 2, 5 and 10 pesos, backed by silver pesos or U.S. #eedba3 dollars at a fixed rate of ₱2/$1. The authorization of the issuance of Philippine Silver Certificates were placed on the notes, "By Authority of an Act of the Congress of the United States of America, approved March 2, 1903." The first shipment of the currency were sent to the Philippines on September 1, 1903, and issued on October of the same year.

In 1905, higher denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 500 pesos were printed. However, amendments were made before the shipment of the notes from the United States to the Philippines to allow #eedba3 to be included as a reserve for the Silver Certificates. As the Series of 1905 was printed, but not yet shipped, they were sent to the United States Government Printing Office, and overprinted vertically with, "Subject to the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved June 23, 1906."

• 
  100 peso bill Silver Certificate (1905)

In 1908, the El Banco Español Filipino was allowed to print banknotes in the following denominations with text in Spanish: Cinco (5), Diez (10), Veinte (20), Cincuenta (50), Cien (100) and Dos Cientos (200) Pesos. In 1912, the bank was renamed Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and henceforth issued the same banknotes in English.

In 1918, the Silver Certificates were replaced by the Treasury Certificates issued with government-backing of bonds issued by the United States Government in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 Pesos. In 1916, the Philippine National Bank (PNB) was created to administer the state-holding shares and print banknotes without any quota from the Philippine Assembly. They printed banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. During World War I, the PNB issued emergency notes printed on cardboard paper in the following denominations: 10, 20, 50 centavos and 1 peso. Also overprinted BPI Notes in Five, Ten and Twenty Pesos due to the lack of currency.

The Commonwealth of the Philippines issued Treasury Certificates with the seal of the new government but still circulated the BPI and PNB banknotes.

Japanese government-issued Philippine peso

Main article: Japanese government-issued Philippine peso

1942 series

Image	Value	Issue date	Series
	1 centavo	1942	First
	5 centavos	1942	First
	10 centavos	1942	First
	50 centavos	1942	First
	1 peso	1942	First
	5 pesos	1942	First
	10 pesos	1942	First

1943-1945 series

Image	Value	Issue date	Series
	1 peso	1943	Second
	5 pesos	1943	Second
	10 pesos	1943	Second
	100 pesos	1944	Second
	500 pesos	1944	Second f
	1,000 pesos	1945	Second

Banknotes issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Summary of the Philippine banknote series

Summary of the Philippine banknote series
Series/Value	₱1	₱2	₱5	₱10	₱20	₱50	₱100	₱200	₱500	₱1000
English Series										—
Pilipino Series		—						—	—	—
Ang Bagong Lipunan Series	—							—	—	—
New Design/BSP Series	—	—
New Generation Currency Series	—	—	—	—
First Philippine Polymer Series	—	—	—	—	—			—

"VICTORY-CBP" banknotes

The banknotes first issued by today's Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (formerly the "Central Bank of the Philippines") were the VICTORY-CBP Overprints in 1949, which were merely overprints of older American-era banknotes. The first official banknote series to be printed were the English Series in 1951.

"VICTORY-CBP" banknotes
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color	Description		Year
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse	First issue	Withdrawal
		1 peso	160 mm × 66 mm	Maroon	Apolinario Mabini	"VICTORY", "CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES", value	before 1949
		2 pesos		Blue	José Rizal
		5 pesos		Yellow	William McKinley and George Dewey
		10 pesos		Brown	George Washington
		20 pesos		Orange	Mayon volcano
		50 pesos		Pink	Henry Ware Lawton
		100 pesos		#eedba3	Ferdinand Magellan
		500 pesos		Violet	Miguel López de Legazpi
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

English Series (1949–1971)

The English Series were Philippine banknotes that circulated from 1949 to 1969. It was the only banknote series of the Philippine peso to use English.

English Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Description		Year
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse	First issue	Withdrawal
Small denomination notes
		5 centavos			Red	Bank title, bank seal, value, serial number	"PHILIPPINES", value	April 15, 1951	June 30, 1958
		10 centavos			Maroon
		20 centavos			Green
		50 centavos			Blue
		1⁄2 peso			Green	Mt. Mayon and three men riding on a carabao-drawn cart		July 1, 1958	February 28, 1969
Large denomination notes
		₱1	160 mm × 66 mm		Gray	Apolinario Mabini	Barasoain Church	April 15, 1951	March 31, 1971
		₱2			Blue	José Rizal	Landing of Magellan in the Philippines
		₱5			#eedba3en yellow	Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena	La Solidaridad
		₱10			Brown	Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora	Urdaneta and Legaspi Monument
		₱20			Orange	Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto	Cartilla of the Katipunan and the Balintawak Monument
		₱50			Red	Antonio Luna	Blood compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi
		₱100			Yellow	Tandang Sora	Regimental flags and the veterans
		₱200			Green	Manuel L. Quezon	Legislative Building		December 31, 1959
		₱500			Violet	Manuel Roxas	Former Central Bank Building
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Pilipino Series (1969–1974)

The Pilipino Series banknotes is the name used to refer to Philippine banknotes issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines from 1969 to 1977, during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.. This series represented a radical change from the English series by undergoing Filipinization and a design change. It was succeeded by the Ang Bagong Lipunan Series of banknotes, to which it shared a similar design. The lowest denomination of the series is 1-piso and the highest is 100-piso.

Pilipino Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Description		Year
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse	First issue	Withdrawal
		₱1	160 mm × 66 mm		Blue	José Rizal	Declaration of Philippine Independence	May 5, 1969	March 1, 1974
		₱5			Green	Andres Bonifacio	Blood Compact of the Katipuneros
		₱10			Brown	Apolinario Mabini	Barasoain Church
		₱20			Orange	Manuel L. Quezon	Malacañang Palace
		₱50			Red	Sergio Osmeña	Legislative Building
		₱100			Violet	Manuel Roxas	Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Building
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Ang Bagong Lipunan Series (1973–1996)

The Ang Bagong Lipunan Series (literally, ”The New Society Series") is the name used to refer to Philippine banknotes issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines from 1973 to 1985. It was succeeded by the New Design Series of banknotes. The lowest denomination of the series is 2-piso and the highest is 100-piso.

After the declaration of Proclamation № 1081 by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. on September 23, 1972, the Central Bank was to demonetize the English Series banknotes in 1974, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 168, later amended by Presidential Decree 378. All the unissued Pilipino Series banknotes (except the one peso banknote) were sent back to the De La Rue plant in London for overprinting the watermark area with the words "ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN" and oval geometric safety design. The one peso bill was replaced with the two peso bill, which features the same elements of the demonetized Pilipino series one peso bill.

On September 7, 1978, the Security Printing Plant in Quezon City was inaugurated to produce the banknotes.

The banknotes were still legal tender even after the introduction of the New Design Series banknotes, however it is seldom used after the EDSA Revolution. The banknotes were eventually demonetized on February 2, 1993 (but can still be exchange with legal tender currency to the Central Bank until February 1, 1996) after clamors that the banknotes can be used to buy votes for the 1992 Presidential Elections.

Ang Bagong Lipunan (New Society) Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Description		Year
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse	First issue	Withdrawal
		₱2	160 mm × 66 mm		Blue	José Rizal	Declaration of Philippine Independence	March 17, 1973	February 2, 1996
		₱5			Green	Andres Bonifacio	Blood Compact of the Katipuneros
		₱10			Brown	Apolinario Mabini	Barasoain Church
		₱20			Orange	Manuel L. Quezon	Malacañang Palace
		₱50			Red	Sergio Osmeña	Legislative Building
		₱100			Violet	Manuel Roxas	BSP Complex
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

New Design/BSP Series (1985–2019)

Main article: New Design series

By 1983, the committee was deciding on the issuance of new banknotes to replace the Ang Bagong Lipunan Series by issuing seven new banknotes consisting in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000-pesos.

On June 12, 1985, the Central Bank issued the New Design Series starting with a new 5-peso banknote with the face of Emilio Aguinaldo. A new 10-peso banknote with the face of Apolinario Mabini was then introduced in July 1985 a month after the 5-peso banknote was issued. On March 3, 1986, a new 20-peso banknote appeared. After the 1986 People Power Revolution and the new 1987 Constitution was promulgated, the Central Bank issued a new 50, 100- and for the second time a new 500-peso banknote with the face of Benigno Aquino Jr. In 1991, the Central Bank issued for the first time a new 1000-peso banknote, containing the portraits of José Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda and Vicente Lim.

After the passage of the New Central Bank Act of 1993 when the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was reestablished as the central monetary authority, this series was renamed the BSP Series and featured the new seal of the BSP.

On May 2, 1997, the year of issue or printing was introduced on banknotes starting with the release of 10-peso note with Andres Bonifacio and Blood Compact of the Katipuneros. This feature was later adapted on other banknotes of the series which are 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 peso notes in 1998. The only banknote of the series that does not use the printing or issue year is the 5-peso note as it stopped being printed in 1995 two years before the printing year was introduced or added on banknotes.

In 1998, the 100,000-peso Centennial banknote, measuring 8.5"x14", accredited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest legal tender note. It was issued in very limited quantity during the celebration of the Centennial of Philippine Independence. In the same year, the practice in banknotes since the Commonwealth era of reproducing the signature of the President of the Philippines over the legend "President of the Philippines" was abandoned in favor of explicitly stating the president's name. Also the names of the Philippine president and BSP governor are capitalized, while their titles are now in lowercase.

In 2001, the BSP upgraded the security features (visible fibers, value panel, security thread and watermark) of 1000, 500, and 100-peso banknotes with additional security features like a second glossy security thread, iridescent strip, fluorescent printing, optically variable ink, and microprints. In 2002, the Bangko Sentral issued a new 200-peso banknote with the same aforementioned security features and with the face of former President Diosdado Macapagal. His daughter, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is at the back of the 200-peso banknote which showed her being sworn into office at the EDSA Shrine. She is the first president whose image has been included in a banknote while in office since emergency currency was issued by various provincial currency boards during World War II.

On July 8, 2009, the BSP announced that it would recall all bank notes made of abaca and cotton soon and replace it with an all-polymer series. This plan has been abandoned, however, when the New Generation Currency series was released to the public on December 16, 2010, with all banknotes still made of abaca and cotton.

The series had the liability of the BSP alongside the New Generation Currency series until the demonetization of the 2,000 and 100,000-piso commemorative banknotes on August 2, 2019, when the New Generation Currency series became a single circulating set, making New Design Series having the longest banknote series to have a liability of the BSP for 34 years with main banknotes demonetized on January 3, 2018, and the said commemorative banknotes and series overall in August 2019.

Signature pairs of the President of the Philippines and Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas appearing on the banknotes:

• 1985–1986: Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Jose B. Fernandez Jr.
• 1986–1990: Corazon Aquino, Jose B. Fernandez Jr.
• 1990–1992: Corazon Aquino, Jose L. Cuisia Jr.
• 1992–1993: Fidel V. Ramos, Jose L. Cuisia Jr.
• 1993–1998: Fidel V. Ramos, Gabriel Singson
• 1998–1999: Joseph Estrada, Gabriel Singson
• 1999–2001: Joseph Estrada, Rafael Buenaventura
• 2001–2005: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Rafael Buenaventura
• 2005–2010: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Amando Tetangco Jr.
• 2010–2013: Benigno Aquino III, Amando Tetangco Jr.

New Design/BSP Series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Design		Year
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse	First Issue	Withdrawal
		₱5	160 mm × 66 mm		Green	Emilio Aguinaldo, First Philippine Republic historical marker in Malolos Cathedral, cannon	Declaration of Philippine Independence, June 12, 1898	June 12, 1985	January 3, 2018
		₱10			Brown	Apolinario Mabini, Mabini's True Decalogue (El Decalogo Verdadero), quill and inkwell	Barasoain Church	July 1985
						Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Mabini's True Decalogue (El Decalogo Verdadero), quill and inkwell, Kartilya ng Katipunan, Katipunan flag	Barasoain Church, Blood Compact of the Katipuneros	May 2, 1997
		₱20			Orange	Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth of the Philippines coat-of-arms, 1935 Philippine Constitution, Filipino as the National Language	Malacañang Palace	March 3, 1986
		₱50			Red	Sergio Osmeña, Fuente Osmeña fountain in Cebu, gavel	National Museum (formerly Legislative Building)	April 18, 1987
		₱100			Violet	Manuel A. Roxas, Inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic, July 4, 1946	Old and current headquarters of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Manila	April 18, 1987
		₱200			Green	Diosdado P. Macapagal, Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite	EDSA People Power 2001 and the inauguration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo	June 12, 2002
		₱500			Yellow	Benigno S. Aquino Jr., BSAJ typewriter, His quotations of The Filipino is worth dying for and his signature Ninoy	Aquino as a journalist for the Manila Times holding a Rolleiflex camera (in front of an article about "1st Cav" and the Partition of Korea), Study Now, Pay Later education program, Concepcion, Tarlac town hall, Tarlac Provincial Capitol, 1986 People Power Revolution.	August 21, 1987
		₱1000			Blue	José Abad Santos, Vicente Lim, Josefa Llanes Escoda, eternal flame at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, laurel wreath	Banaue Rice Terraces, Manunggul Jar cover and Langgal hut.	December 16, 1991
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

New Generation Currency Series (current; 2010–present)

Main article: New Generation Currency Series

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) began the 12-year demonetization process of the New Design Series when the New Generation Currency (NGC) project was started in 2007 through formal conceptualization process which was a result of the meeting of the minds of people with diverse backgrounds and ideas: central bankers, artists, technocrats, historians, communication experts, and currency printers to further enhance security features and to improve durability. It is where the thematic content, designs, and security features underwent thorough deliberations and evaluation, and was undertaken by the BSP's Numismatic Committee (Num Com) in consultation with the Monetary Board (MB) and, subsequently, with the approval of the BSP Governor and the President of the Philippines. The BSP released the new design of the banknotes on December 16, 2010, to the public, along with an initial batch, three years after the project was started. The series was approved by Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her immediate successor Benigno Aquino III, making the only banknote series to be approved by two presidents.

The members of the numismatic committee included Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo and Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, chairman of the National Historical Institute. Designed by Studio 5 Designs and Design Systemat, the new banknotes' designs feature famous Filipinos and iconic natural wonders. Former President Corazon Aquino was added to the 500-peso bill together with her husband Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. The word "Pilipino" is rendered on the reverse in Baybayin (ᜉᜒᜎᜒᜉᜒᜈᜓ). The font used for lettering in the banknotes is Myriad, while the numerals are set in the Twentieth Century font.

The New Generation Currency series is the only circulating set of notes since August 2, 2019. In 2017, the BSP updated the design of the NGC series banknotes with the following changes:

• Enlarged the font size of the year of issue (all banknotes)
• Italicized the scientific names on the reverse (all banknotes)
• Replaced the images of the Aguinaldo Shrine and the Barasoain Church on the obverse side of the ₱200 banknote with scenes of the Declaration of Philippine Independence and the opening of the Malolos Congress respectively.
• The text "October 1944" was added after the word "Leyte Landing" at the obverse of the ₱50 banknote
• The Order of Lakandula Medal and the phrase “Medal of Honor” were removed on the obverse side of the ₱1000 banknote

In 2020, the Enhanced NGC series all banknotes except for the ₱20 were updated with the following changes:

• The addition of intaglio tactile markings for the visually impaired in the form of horizontal bands (all banknotes)
• The addition of an improved windowed security thread for the ₱100, ₱200, ₱500, ₱1000 banknotes featuring indigenous weaving patterns.
• For the ₱1000 note the thread size has been increased to 5 millimetres, with the rest remaining the same.
• For the ₱500 and ₱1000, the denomination value has been embossed with optically variable ink wherein the color changes if the banknote is tilted.
• A stylized Philippine Flag has also been added with optically variable ink on the ₱500 note replacing optically variable device patch.
• The Concealed Value are more reflective (all banknotes).
• For the ₱500 and ₱1000, the denomination at the left has a rolling bar effect which you can tilt, and changing colors.

On December 7, 2022, the 2020 BSP logo is now used on 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000-peso (non-polymer version) bills which replaced the 2010 logo that has been in use since the series' release to the public on December 16, 2010, upon the release of banknotes bearing the signatures of President Bongbong Marcos and BSP Governor Felipe Medalla.

Signature pairs of the President of the Philippines and Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas appearing on the banknotes:

• 2010–2016: Benigno Aquino III, Amando Tetangco Jr.
• 2016–2017: Rodrigo Duterte, Amando Tetangco Jr.
• 2017–2019: Rodrigo Duterte, Nestor Espenilla Jr.
• 2019–2022: Rodrigo Duterte, Benjamin Diokno
• 2022–2023: Bongbong Marcos, Felipe Medalla
• 2024–present: Bongbong Marcos, Eli Remolona

New Generation Currency series (2010 original)
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Design		Year of First Issue	Usage in circulation
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse
		₱20	160 mm × 66 mm		Orange	Manuel L. Quezon, Declaration of Filipino as the national language, Malacañang Palace	Banaue Rice Terraces; Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Asian palm civet); Cordilleras weave design	December 16, 2010	Wide
		₱50			Red	Sergio Osmeña, First Philippine Assembly, Leyte Landing	Taal Lake in Batangas; Caranx ignobilis, maliputo (giant trevally); Batangas embroidery design
		₱100			Violet	Manuel A. Roxas, Old Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building in Intramuros, Manila, Inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic	Mayon Volcano in Albay; Rhincodon typus, whale shark (butanding); Bicol textile design		Limited
					Violet (mauve)	Manuel A. Roxas, Old Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) building in Intramuros, Manila, Inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic, stronger mauve color than previous banknote		April 11, 2015	Wide
		₱200			Green	Diosdado P. Macapagal, EDSA People Power 2001, Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan	Chocolate Hills in Bohol; Tarsius syrichta, Philippine tarsier; Visayas weave design	December 16, 2010	Limited
						Diosdado P. Macapagal, EDSA People Power 2001, Declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, Opening of the Malolos Congress in Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan		December 5, 2017	Wide
		₱500			Yellow	Corazon C. Aquino, Benigno S. Aquino Jr., EDSA People Power I, Benigno Aquino monument in Makati	Subterranean Underground River in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Tanygnathus lucionensis, blue-naped parrot; Southern Philippines cloth design	December 16, 2010	Wide
		₱1000			Blue	José Abad Santos, Vicente Lim, Josefa Llanes Escoda; Centennial celebration of Philippine independence; Philippine Medal of Honor	Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Sulu Sea; Pinctada maxima, South Sea pearl; Mindanao design for T'nalak (Ikat-dyed abaca)		Limited
						José Abad Santos, Vicente Lim, Josefa Llanes Escoda; Centennial celebration of Philippine independence		December 5, 2017	Wide
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Errors

Several errors have been discovered on banknotes of the New Generation series and have become the subject of ridicule on social networking sites. Among these are the exclusion of Batanes from the Philippine map on the reverse of all denominations, the mislocation of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Underground River on the reverse of the 500-peso bill and the Tubbataha Reef on the 1000-peso bill, and the incorrect coloring on the beak and feathers of the blue-naped parrot on the 500-peso bill. The scientific names of the animals featured on the reverse sides of all banknotes were incorrectly rendered as well.

According to Design Systemat, the designers of the new bills, that drafts prepared by the company of the new 500-peso bill shows a red beak of the blue-naped parrot. This color was changed by the printers to account for practical printing concerns. The designers further explains that printing banknotes is not like printing brochures. Due to the intaglio printing and limited printing capability of banknote printers, it can only produce a limited full color reproduction.

The alleged mislocation of the Tubbataha Reef on the one thousand peso note was due to a security feature, a smaller version of the featured species on the bills' reverse (which is also featured on all banknote denominations) was located on top of the exact location of the Tubbataha Reef on the map. Giving the option of either moving the key security feature on the standard position or locating the Tubbataha marker correctly, the bills' French printers, Oberthur Technologies, decided to move the reef marker slightly south on the Philippine map.

First Philippine Polymer Banknote Series (current; 2024–present)

Main article: First Philippine Polymer Banknote Series

In April 2022, the BSP in partnership with the Reserve Bank of Australia, released a limited trial polymer version of the 1000-piso banknote, with the same design elements from the New Generation Currency series but now features an image of the Philippine Eagle with a clear window of Sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines. The banknote is also the first to be printed which features the 2020 logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which has received much criticism from the general public. In an interview, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno stated that “The new series will focus on fauna and flora in the Philippines.”

On December 19, 2024, the designs for the 50, 100 and 500 piso polymer banknotes were revealed during a presentation to President Bongbong Marcos, who led the unveiling ceremony in Malacañang, and it will be in circulation on December 23, 2024, in limited quantities and in the Greater Manila area.

First Philippine Polymer banknote series
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Design		Year of First Issue	Usage in circulation
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse
		₱50	160 mm × 66 mm		Red	Visayan leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori), Vidal's Lanutan (Hibiscus campylosiphon)	Taal Lake in Batangas; Caranx ignobilis, maliputo (giant trevally); Batangas embroidery design	December 23, 2024	Limited
		₱100			Violet (mauve)	Palawan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis), Ceratocentron fesselii orchid	Mayon Volcano in Albay; Rhincodon typus, whale shark (butanding); Bicol textile design
		₱500			Yellow	Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi), Acanthophippium mantinianum orchid	Subterranean Underground River in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Tanygnathus lucionensis, blue-naped parrot; Southern Philippines cloth design
		₱1000			Blue	Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac)	Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Sulu Sea; Pinctada maxima, South Sea pearl; Mindanao design for T'nalak (Ikat-dyed abaca)	April 18, 2022	Wide
For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Commemorative banknotes

Commemorative banknotes have been issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to memorialize events of historic significance to the Philippines. Most commonly they were issued by adding a commemorative overprint on the watermark area of a circulating denomination. Less common are especially-designed non-circulating commemorative banknotes sold to collectors at a premium over face value.

Commemorative overprint banknotes summary

• Ang Bagong Lipunan Series:
  • 50-piso, 1978: Sergio Osmeña Centennial
  • 10-piso, 1981: Inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos
  • 2-piso, 1981: Pope John Paul II's visit to the Philippines
• 5-piso, New Design Series:
  • 1986: President Corazon Aquino's visit to the United States
  • 1987: Canonization of Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz
  • 1989: 40th Anniversary of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
  • 1990: Kababaihan Para sa Kaunlaran (Women for Progress)
  • 1990: 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines
• 50-piso, New Design Series:
  • 1997, 1999: 50 Years of Central Banking in the Philippines
  • 2012: DFA-ASEAN 45th Anniversary
  • 2013: Canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod
  • 2013: PDIC 50th Anniversary
  • 2013: Trinity University of Asia 50th Anniversary
• 100-piso, New Design Series:
  • 1997–1998: Philippine Declaration of Independence Centennial
  • 2008: University of the Philippines Centennial
  • 2011: UP College of Law Centennial
  • 2011: Ateneo Law School 75th Anniversary
  • 2012: De La Salle University Centennial
  • 2012: Philippine Masonic Centennial
  • 2012: Manila Hotel Centennial
  • 2013: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 20th Anniversary
  • 2013: Department of Agriculture/ National Year of Rice
  • 2013: Iglesia ni Cristo Centennial
  • 2013: Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation Centennial
• Other, New Design Series:
  • 20-piso, 2004: International Year of Microcredit
  • All denominations (20-piso to 1000-piso), 2009: 60th Anniversary of Central Banking in the Philippines
  • 200-piso, 2011: University of Santo Tomas 400th Anniversary
  • 500-piso, 2012: Asian Development Bank Manila 2012 Board of Governors Annual Meeting
• 20-piso, New Generation Currency:
  • 2023: 30th Anniversary of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Higher value commemorative banknotes

2,000 piso

Inauguration of Joseph Estrada (top), Philippine Centennial led by Fidel V. Ramos (bottom). Note that the ₱2,000 currency is only commemorative and is currently not in circulation

The Central Bank of the Philippines (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) issued only 300,000 pieces of this 216 mm x 133 mm 2,000 Philippine peso centennial commemorative legal tender banknote. Another version, with the same design but measured at 160 x 66 mm, was also planned to be issued as legal tender in 2001, but due to the ouster of President Joseph Estrada as the result of the Second EDSA revolution (EDSA People Power II), the notes were stored in the vaults of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. As of 2010, the bank was considering destroying the bulk of the unissued notes (known as the "New Millennium" or "Erap" notes), saving only 50,000 of the five million pieces to be demonetized for "historical, educational, numismatic, or other purposes". However it was not until 2012 that the bank began selling this numismatic product in a folder that clearly stipulates that the notes are not legal tender.

The obverse side features President Joseph Estrada taking his oath of office on June 30, 1998, in the historic Barasoain Church, the seat of the first democratic republic in Asia shown in the background as well as the scroll containing the excerpt texts from the Preamble of the Malolos Constitution and the place (Barasoain) and the date (January 20, 1899 in words) of ratification written in Spanish, and the seal of the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas). The reverse side depicts the re-enactment of the declaration of Philippine Independence at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1998, by President Fidel V. Ramos and also features the Philippine Centennial Commission logo, but in the smaller version, it was replaced by the phrase of "Tiwala Kay Bathala, Pagmamahal sa Bayan". The security features of the note include a 3-dimensional cylinder mold-made portrait watermark of the two presidents and the years 1898–1998 (in smaller version, the electrotype 1898–1998 was removed), iridescent band, color-shift windowed security thread, concealed image and perfect see-through register.

100,000 piso

Commemorative ₱100,000 bank note displaying the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution (top), depiction of the Philippine Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 (bottom)

The 100,000-peso centennial note, measuring 356 x 216 mm, was accredited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest legal tender note in terms of size. 1,000 pieces were issued during the celebration of the centennial of Philippine independence in 1998. It has since been surpassed by the somewhat larger 600 Malaysian ringgit banknote.

5,000 piso

Commemorative ₱5,000 bank note displaying the national hero Lapulapu, considered as the first Filipino to resist Spanish rule

On January 18, 2021, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, in cooperation with the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines launches the 5,000-Piso Commemorative Non-Circulating Banknote, in honor of heroism of Lapulapu. On its obverse, the banknote depicts a young Lapulapu, an image of the Battle of Mactan, the QCP logo, and the Karakoa, the large outrigger warships used by native Filipinos, while on its reverse shows the Philippine eagle, or the Manaol, which symbolizes clear vision, freedom, and strength; and which embodies the ancient Visayan belief that all living creatures originated from an eagle, also featured are the tree of a coconut, which was food the people of Samar provided to Ferdinand Magellan and his crew; and Mount Apo, which is located in Mindanao, where the circumnavigators finally found directional clues to their intended destination of Maluku or the Spice Island.

Higher denominations
Image		Value	Dimensions	Main Color		Description		Date
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse	First issue	Withdrawal
		₱2,000	216 mm × 133 mm		Blue and violet	President Joseph Estrada taking his oath of office on June 30, 1998, in the historic Barasoain Church, the seat of the first democratic republic in Asia shown in the background as well as the scroll containing the excerpt texts from the Preamble of the Malolos Constitution and the place (Barasoain) and the date (January 20, 1899 in words) of ratification written in Spanish, and the seal of the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)	Re-enactment of the declaration of Philippine Independence led by President Fidel Ramos at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1998, Philippine Centennial Commission logo	1998	August 1, 2019
			160 mm × 66 mm				Re-enactment of the declaration of Philippine Independence led by President Fidel Ramos at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1998, the phrase of "Tiwala Kay Bathala, Pagmamahal sa Bayan"	2001 (as supposed legal tender)	Never circulated
		₱5,000	216 mm × 133 mm		Brown	Lapulapu, Battle of Mactan, Karakoa, seal of the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), 2021 Quincentennial Commemoration logo	Philippine eagle (Manaol), Coconut tree (Lubi), Mount Apo	2021
		₱100,000	356 mm × 216 mm		Yellow-orange	Cry of Pugad Lawin, Philippine Centennial Commission logo, Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas logo	Philippine Declaration of Independence, Philippine Centennial Commission logo	1998	August 1, 2019

External links

• Philippine Banknotes and Coins
• Philippine Coins News & Updates
• Philippine currency during WWII