With more and more new banknotes coming into circulation, it is about time the public is informed about the new banknotes. I saw a bulletin in Trinoma Mall the other day and decided this is information worth sharing. I take no credit for the content below.

Embossed Prints
Raised prints that feel rough to touch, i.e. the words “REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINA” and “LIMANDAANG PISO”, portraits, signatures, value panels on the face of the note.

Serial Number
Composed of  1 or 2 prefix letters and 6 or 7 asymmetric (increasing in size) digits located at the lower left and upper right corners of the face of the note.

Security Fibers
Red and blue visible fibers embedded on the paper at random and glow in two colors under ultraviolet light.

Watermark
A shadow image of the portrait and the numeral (i.e. 500) seen at the blank space of the note when viewed against the light from either side of the note.

See-through Mark
The word “PILIPINO” written in baybayin (pre-Spanish Philippine writing system) is seen in complete form when the note is viewed against the light.

Concealed Value
The denominational value superimposed on the smaller version portrait at the upper left side of the note becomes obvious when the note is rotated 45 degrees and tilted down.

Security Thread (for P100, P200, P500, and P1000)
A stitch-like metallic thread running vertically across the note changes color from red to green. The front of the thread bears the alphanumeric code (i.e. BSP500) in clear text while the back is imprinted with “BSP”, both in repeated series.

Optically Variable Device (for P500 and P1000 only)
A reflective foil that bears an image (Blue-naped Parrot for P500 and South China Sea Pearl inside a clam for P1000) and a small BSP logo. The color of the image changes from red to green when the note is rotated at 90 degrees.

Optically Variable Ink (for P1000 only)
Embossed ’1000′ denominational value at the lower right corner of the face of the note changes color from green to blue wen viewed at different angles.

For more information, here is a Primer on the New Generation Philippine Currency.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Alright, it has been 196 days since I last posted to this blog. I think that’s a wee bit too long and it is high time for a reboot. There will be changes to the site in the upcoming days, watch out for:

1. A New Blog Theme (done)
2. Updated Pages (done)
3. More Postings

What to expect

Instead of just posting interesting articles and news I find in the web, this time around, I will try to post more personal opinions, original topics, and my own takes in the topics of interest. I will make this blog a bit more personal this time and see how it goes. Of course, I’d like to encourage any readers to give comments and feedback so I can know how this is received.

Does anyone even read this out there? Anyone?

A New Interest — Photography with my Panasonic Lumix LX5

I’ve recently acquired a new interest in photography but I am limiting myself at the moment to taking great photos without a DSLR yet. I’m not that keen at the moment in both lugging around bulky cameras and lenses as well as investing too much in equipment. I am more on learning the proper composition, colors, lighting, and basic post processing of my photos.

So expect alot more photos to be present in my new blog.

Reviews

I will also post reviews from time to time on new gadgets, toys, and maybe restaurants. We will see.

Stay posted!

So if anyone is still following this or at least will plan to, thanks very much in advance and keep in touch with comments.

All the best,

Selwyn

I am in Singapore right now at National University Hospital (NUH) and as government-university hospital, they are amazing! I will post more about the experience later when I have time.

(picture by adballah)