HISTORY OF THE 100 PESO BILL

HISTORY OF THE 100 PESO BILL

Posted by The Big MAC (Music/Arts/Culture) at 8:08 AM ✪ 1 comment

Ah the 100 Peso Bill. Back then I was in Grade 1, I never had the opportunity to hold such an amount. It took me a span of years until they’ve entrusted me with such a bill. First notion on me about it is it is a big bill but as time passes by and you’ll feel it’s just another part of your allowance. I should reconsider what I’ve just thought. Its value is still a hundred and you can count ways even more than a hundred on how it can help and how it’s used. 

The 100 Peso Bill these days has become the midway when it comes to money holders. Hold something lower than that and it can symbolize that you can afford less thus in a lesser class. The only advantage is it’s better to use when commuting. Holding something higher than that and it puts you to a level in which you can afford most products. Just make sure you have that spare change. Can’t go out the house with only a 500 or a 1000 Peso Bill.

The 100 Peso Bill wasn’t around until the Hyperinflation in the Japanese Invasion era which is explained below.

*Japanese government-issued Philippine fiat peso

            -Date of issue was from 1944 - 1945; it’s a result of Hyperinflation forcing the Japanese to issue them. Its main color is brown.

*English Series

            -It was issued from 1951 – 1974; it had TandangSora on the Obverse side and Regimental flags and the Katipunan veterans on the Reverse Side. Main Color was Yellow.

*Pilipino Series

            -It was issued from 1967 to 1974 with Violet as its main color. Manuel A. Roxas was shown in Obverse while the Former BangkoSentralngPilipinas Building was shown in the Reverse side.

*Ang Bagong 

Lipunan Series

            -Issued from 1973 to 1993 almost the same features as Pilipino Series only the Reverse side shows the BSP Complex.

*New Design Series

            -The front side of the 100-Peso banknote features Manuel Roxas, the first president of the independent Philippine Republic. This independence is shown at the right side where the Philippine flag was raised while that of the United States was lowered on July 4, 1946.

The banknote is predominantly colored violet.

            -The reverse side of the banknote depicts the Manila compound of the BangkoSentral.

            -The 100-Peso banknote is the smallest-valued banknote to have the new security feature implemented in recent years. But before the advent of the new security features, the 100-Peso banknote is interesting for having other security features. On the front side is a barely visible"100" logo above the signatures of the president and the Central Bank governor. This logo is best            seen on crisp new 100-Peso banknotes. On the reverse side, the top row of windows of the main building has the words "BangkoSentralngPilipinas" ("Central Bank of the Philippines") running the whole length.

            -The 100-Peso banknote became the subject of controversy after banknotes printed in France in   time for the Christmas season were printed with the President's name misspelled, the first in Philippine history. The banknotes, of which a small amount are still in circulation and are still legal       tender, spelled the President's name as "Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo" versus the correct Gloria  Macapagal-Arroyo. The incident was subsequently the subject of public humor as soon as the        issue made national headlines. The BSP probed the mistake and corrected the error afterwards.

*New Generation Banknote Series

            -Issued Recently last 2010, it has now become Bluish Violet. Seen in its Obverse Side is Manuel A. Roxas, Old BSP building in Intramuros, Manila, and the Inauguration of the Third Philippine Republicwhile in its Reverse Side shows Mayon Volcano in Albay,Rhincodontypus, whale shark, and the Bicol textile design.

And yeah there you have it, the history the 100 Peso Bill. It’s come a long way but still in -more than the value it holds- it still will be an important symbol of Filipino money wherever you go. Indeed, it is a symbolism that may represent courage, hope and yes, a warning at the same time.

Posted by: Sergio Miguel A. Villena