BSP, QCP launch commemorative Lapu-Lapu banknote, medal

MANILA – The 500th anniversary of victory of Mactan and the Philippines’ role in the circumnavigation of the world marks the issuance of the PHP5,000 Lapu-Lapu commemorative banknote and medal.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno, whose message was read by BSP Deputy Governor and officer-in-charge Francisco Dakila Jr., said the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (QCP) “could not have been celebrated at a more opportune time”.

“Now, more than ever, with the global crisis brought about by the pandemic, we need a stark reminder of our glorious past. Now, more than ever, we need our heroes to remind us of our heritage and inspire us to overcome whatever challenge comes our way as a nation,” he said during the banknote and medal’s launch Monday.

Diokno said the heroism of Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan who led Visayan warriors, known as the pintados (the painted ones) in conquering the Spaniards, “gained the respect and admiration of succeeding generations of Filipinos.”

“The BSP and the NQC (National Quincentennial Committee) have collaborated to produce this commemorative banknote and medal to celebrate the heroism of Lapu-Lapu and his warriors and to retell their story to the present generation,” he said.

The obverse side of the banknote shows a young Lapu-Lapu, the image of the Battle of Mactan, the QCP logo, and a large outrigger warship used by native Filipinos, which is known as Karaoka.

The reverse side of the commemorative paper bill depicts a Philippine eagle, or the Manaol, which, he said, “embodies the ancient Visayan belief that all living creatures originated from an eagle.”

A coconut tree can also be seen on the reserve side since this is well-known in the Magellan-Elcano expedition; and a photo of the highest mountain in the country that can be found in Mindanao, Mt. Apo.

Diokno said just like the other legal tenders in the country, the PHP5,000 commemorative bill has security features like micro prints; fluorescent, magnetic, and optically variable inks; see-through images; intaglio prints; and a latent image with a concealed numerical value.

On the other hand, the observer side of the commemorative medal has “Lapu-Lapu” markings placed on the image of the Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Cebu and the logos of the BSP and QCP.

The reverse side, in turn, has the markings of “Battle of Mactan” above the rendition of the said battle and an engraved “27 April 1521” at the bottom.

“The 5000-Piso commemorative banknote paints for us a vivid picture of part of our country’s story complete with that we can only read about in history books,” he added.