Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Philippine Peso (PHP) Notes

How to Identify Counterfeit PHP (₱)Currency Notes

Mabuhay! As you get ready to travel from India to the Philippines, familiarising yourself with the local currency, the Philippine Peso (PHP), is a great way to start your adventure. The Philippines currently has two series of banknotes in circulation: the paper-based New Generation Currency (NGC) Series and the newer Polymer Banknote Series. While the new polymer notes (starting with the 1000-Piso) are being introduced, the NGC paper notes remain the most widespread. This guide focuses on the NGC series as it is the currency you will most likely handle.

Key Security Features of Philippine Peso Bank Notes

Motif:

Each banknote is a tribute to the Philippines, featuring a prominent Filipino hero or leader on the front, and an iconic natural wonder and native species on the back.

Raised Printing (Intaglio):

Key elements like the text "REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS," the portraits, signatures, and value panels have an embossed texture that you can feel by running your fingers over them.

Optically Variable Device/Patch:

On higher denominations (500 and 1000-Piso), a reflective foil patch is present. When tilted, it changes colour and reveals a hidden image.

Colour-Shifting Ink (OVI):

The 1000-Piso note features Optically Variable Ink where the large "1000" numeral on the front changes colour from green to blue when tilted.

Watermark & Embedded Security Thread:

When held to the light, a watermark (a shadow image of the main portrait) appears on the blank space. You will also see a dark security thread running vertically through the note.

UV Features:

Under ultraviolet light, security fibres embedded in the paper glow, and certain parts of the design, like the denomination number, become fluorescent.

Microprinting:

You can find extremely small text, such as "BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS" or "BSP", in various parts of the design, visible only with a magnifying glass.

Tactile Marks for the Visually Impaired:

Pairs of raised horizontal lines are printed on the far left and right edges of the note. The number of pairs increases with the denomination's value.

See-Through Register:

A partial image of the ancient Filipino script, Baybayin, is printed on the front and back. When held to the light, the parts align perfectly to form the complete character, which translates to "Pilipino".

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit PHP Currency by Denomination

The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) issued its Fourth Issue of banknotes in 2008, followed by upgraded versions of the 10 and 20 Dinar notes in 2016 with enhanced security features. All notes from the 2008 series (and its subsequent upgrades) remain legal tender.

Denomination	Motif (Front & Back)	Raised Printing (Intaglio)	Holographic/ OVI Features	Watermark & Security Thread	UV Features	Microprinting	Tactile Marks (For Visually Impaired)	See-Through Register
₱50	Sergio Osmena / Taal Lake & Maliputo	Yes – Portrait, Signatures, Value Panels	No hologram or OVI	Watermark of Osmena; simple embedded thread	Glowing red & blue fibres	Yes	1 pair	Baybayin character aligns
₱100	Manuel A. Roxas / Mayon Volcano & Whale Shark	Yes – Portrait, Text, Value Panels	Colour-shifting security thread (red to green)	Watermark of Roxas; windowed colour-shifting thread	Fluorescent thread & design elements	Yes	2 pairs	Baybayin character aligns
₱200	Diosdado Macapagal / Chocolate Hills & Tarsier	Yes – Portrait, Signatures, Value Panels	Colour-shifting security thread (red to green)	Watermark of Macapagal; windowed colour-shifting thread	Glowing thread & elements	Yes	3 pairs	Baybayin character aligns
₱500	Ninoy & Cory Aquino / Subterranean River & Blue-naped Parrot	Yes – Portraits, Text, Key Elements	Reflective patch shows parrot (red to green); “Rolling bar” on value	Watermark of Aquino couple; windowed thread (gold to jade)	Fluorescent thread & design elements	Yes	4 pairs	Baybayin character aligns
₱1000	Abad Santos, Lim, Escoda / Tubbataha Reefs & South Sea Pearl	Yes – Portraits, Text, Value Panels	Reflective patch (clam with pearl, red to green); OVI on "1000" (green to blue)	Watermark of 3 heroes; advanced wide thread with 3D effect	Fluorescent patterns & fibres	Yes	5 pairs	Baybayin character aligns

1. ₱50 (Fifty Pesos)

Motif: The front features Sergio Osmena, the 4th President. The back showcases Taal Lake in Batangas and the Giant Trevally fish (Maliputo).
Raised Printing (Intaglio): You can feel the texture on President Osmeña's portrait, the signatures, and the large value panels.
Holographic/Optically Variable Features: This note does not have a holographic patch or advanced optically variable ink.
Colour-Shifting Ink (OVI): This feature is not present on the 50-Piso note.
Watermark & Embedded Security Thread: A watermark of President Osmena's portrait is visible when held to light, along with a simple, dark embedded security thread.
UV Features: Under UV light, red and blue security fibres embedded in the paper will glow.
Microprinting: Micro-text is present in the design elements and is visible under magnification.
Tactile Marks for the Visually Impaired: There is one pair of raised horizontal lines on the left and right edges.
See-Through Register: The Baybayin character for "Pilipino" on the front and back aligns perfectly when the note is held to light.

2. ₱100 (One Hundred Pesos)

Motif: The front features Manuel A. Roxas, the 5th President. The back showcases the Mayon Volcano and the magnificent Whale Shark (Butanding).
Raised Printing (Intaglio): The portrait of President Roxas, key text like "SANDAANG PISO," and the value panels have a noticeable raised feel.
Holographic/Optically Variable Features: The security thread on this note is "stitch-like" (windowed) and changes colour from red to green when tilted.
Colour-Shifting Ink (OVI): This feature is not present on the 100-Piso note.
Watermark & Embedded Security Thread: A watermark of President Roxas's portrait and the windowed, colour-shifting security thread are visible when held to light.
UV Features: Under UV light, the security thread fluoresces, and other elements of the design will glow.
Microprinting: Using a magnifier, you can find micro-text integrated within the design.
Tactile Marks for the Visually Impaired: There are two pairs of raised horizontal lines on the left and right edges.
See-Through Register: The Baybayin character for "Pilipino" aligns perfectly when the note is held to light.

3. ₱200 (Two Hundred Pesos)

Motif: The front features Diosdado P. Macapagal, the 9th President. The back showcases the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol and the Philippine Tarsier.
Raised Printing (Intaglio): The portrait of President Macapagal, signatures, and value panels all have a distinct tactile texture.
Holographic/Optically Variable Features: The windowed security thread changes colour from red to green when the note is tilted.
Colour-Shifting Ink (OVI): This feature is not present on the 200-Piso note.
Watermark & Embedded Security Thread: A watermark of President Macapagal and the colour-shifting security thread are clearly visible against a light source.
UV Features: The security thread and other design elements will fluoresce under UV light.
Microprinting: Micro-text is embedded within the note's design and requires magnification to be read.
Tactile Marks for the Visually Impaired: There are three pairs of raised horizontal lines on the left and right edges.
See-Through Register: The Baybayin script on the front and back will form a complete character when viewed against light.

4. ₱500 (Five Hundred Pesos)

Motif: The front features Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and President Corazon "Cory" Aquino. The back displays the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Blue-naped Parrot.
Raised Printing (Intaglio): The portraits of the Aquinos, the text "LIMANDAANG PISO," and other key elements are printed with raised ink.
Holographic/Optically Variable Features: This note has a reflective patch on the front. When tilted, this patch changes colour from red to green and reveals a small image of the Blue-naped Parrot.
Colour-Shifting Ink (OVI): On enhanced versions of this note, a "rolling bar" effect has been added to the large "500" value panel on the front, where a bar of light moves across the number when tilted. This is a form of advanced optically variable ink.
Watermark & Embedded Security Thread: A watermark of the Aquino couple's portraits and a windowed security thread (which changes from gold to jade in newer versions) are visible.
UV Features: Under UV light, the security thread and various design elements will glow brightly.
Microprinting: Micro-text is located around the portraits and within other design elements.
Tactile Marks for the Visually Impaired: There are four pairs of raised horizontal lines on the left and right edges.
See-Through Register: The Baybayin character aligns perfectly when the note is held to light.

5. ₱1000 (One Thousand Pesos)

Motif: The front features three World War II heroes: Jose Abad Santos, Vicente Lim, and Josefa Llanes Escoda. The back showcases the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and the South Sea Pearl.
Raised Printing (Intaglio): The portraits of the three heroes, the text "ISANG LIBONG PISO," and the value panels all have a very distinct tactile feel.
Holographic/Optically Variable Features: A reflective foil patch on the front changes colour from red to green and shows an image of a clam with a pearl inside when tilted.
Colour-Shifting Ink (OVI): The large "1000" numeral on the bottom right of the note is printed with Optically Variable Ink that changes colour from green to blue when the note is tilted.
Watermark & Embedded Security Thread: A watermark of the three heroes' portraits is visible. The note also features an advanced, wider security thread with a 3D "moving" effect.
UV Features: The note has intricate fluorescent patterns and fibres that glow vividly under UV light.
Microprinting: Detailed micro-text is integrated throughout the design, visible only under high magnification.
Tactile Marks for the Visually Impaired: There are five pairs of raised horizontal lines on the left and right edges.
See-Through Register: he Baybayin script for "Pilipino" on the front and back aligns perfectly when held to light.

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