You’ve probably seen them by now. Those shiny, plastic-feeling bills that don't quite fold like the ones we’re used to. It's been a few years since the first 1000-Piso polymer note landed in our wallets back in 2022, but things just got a whole lot more interesting.
As of early 2026, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has moved full steam ahead. We aren't just looking at the "blue bill" anymore. The 500, 100, and 50-Piso denominations have joined the polymer family. It’s a massive change. Honestly, it's the biggest shift in how money in the philippines new looks and feels since the New Generation Currency (NGC) series dropped back in 2010.
But with new money comes new headaches. Can you fold them? Are the old ones "dead"? Why did the heroes disappear from the front?
Why the Philippines Swapped Heroes for Birds and Cats
The biggest shock for most people wasn't the texture. It was the faces—or the lack of them. If you’re looking at the money in the philippines new polymer series, you’ll notice the iconic portraits of Ninoy and Cory Aquino, Manuel Roxas, and Sergio Osmeña are gone from the obverse (front) side.
Instead, we’ve got a mini-zoo.
- 1000-Piso: The Philippine Eagle (the OG polymer note).
- 500-Piso: The critically endangered Visayan Spotted Deer.
- 100-Piso: The Palawan Peacock-pheasant.
- 50-Piso: The Visayan Leopard Cat (locally known as the maral).
BSP Governor Eli Remolona, Jr. has been pretty vocal about this. The idea is to highlight our "rich biodiversity." While it's cool to see a leopard cat on a bill, it sparked a bit of a national debate. Some people felt like we were erasing history.
The reality? The heroes aren't actually gone. The BSP clarified that the paper versions of these bills—the ones with the presidents—are still legal tender. They are co-circulating. That means your "old" paper 500 with the Aquinos is still perfectly good for buying Jollibee or paying your Grab driver. The polymer versions are just the "new" siblings in the wallet.
The "Plastic" Advantage: Is It Actually Better?
The BSP calls these notes "Smarter, Cleaner, and Stronger."
Let’s talk about "Stronger" first. Paper bills in the Philippines usually last about a year or maybe 18 months if people are careful. Polymer? It’s expected to last up to 7.5 years. That’s five times longer. When you’re a country that has to print billions of notes, that’s a lot of saved tax money.
Then there’s the "Cleaner" bit. We’ve all handled a bill that felt... greasy. Or worse. Polymer is non-porous. Bacteria and viruses—including COVID-19 or the flu—don’t hang around on plastic as long as they do on cotton-abaca paper. You can literally wipe these bills down with a damp cloth if they get dirty.
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Can You Fold the New Polymer Bills?
This is the question that caused a mini-panic on Filipino social media.
Basically, yes, you can fold them. But you shouldn't crease them. If you fold a polymer bill in half to fit it into a small coin purse, it’ll usually spring back or keep a soft bend. That’s fine. What the BSP warns against is "excessive folding" or "crumpling" that creates a permanent white line or a tear.
If you’ve got a 1000-Piso polymer bill with a fold, it is still legal tender. Retailers are required to accept it. The BSP, DTI, and even the LTFRB had to release joint advisories because so many stores were refusing folded bills. If a store refuses your folded polymer money, they’re technically in the wrong.
Security Features: How to Spot a Fake in 2026
Counterfeiting is the main reason central banks change designs every decade or so. The money in the philippines new security suite is actually pretty high-tech. Because these are printed on specialized polymer substrate (mostly by Note Printing Australia), they are incredibly hard to replicate with a standard home printer.
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The "Feel, Look, Tilt" Method
The BSP wants you to do three things when you get a bill:
- Feel: The text "REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS" and the large numbers should feel raised. There are also tactile dots on the far edges (look for the little bumps) specifically designed to help the elderly and visually impaired identify the value by touch.
- Look: Check the "Clear Window." On the 1000 and 500 notes, there’s a vertical transparent strip. You should see a small image of the BSP logo and the denomination inside that window. It’s not just printed on; it’s part of the plastic.
- Tilt: On the higher denominations, look for the "SPARK®" feature. It’s a color-shifting ink. When you tilt the bill, the color of the denomination should change (like from green to blue).
What’s Happening to the 20-Piso and 200-Piso?
You might have noticed the 20-Piso bill is getting rarer.
That’s intentional. The BSP is "retiring" the 20-Piso paper note through natural attrition. They want us using the bi-color 20-Piso coin instead. Coins last way longer than bills, and since the 20 is the most-used denomination, it makes sense for the government's wallet, even if we hate how heavy our pockets get.
As for the 200-Piso? It’s the "middle child" nobody uses. Production of the 200-Piso NGC paper bill was actually paused a while back because of low demand. You’ll still see them occasionally, and they are still valid, but don't expect a polymer version of the 200 anytime soon.
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Practical Tips for Handling New Philippine Money
If you’re living in or visiting the Philippines in 2026, here is the "no-nonsense" way to handle your cash:
- Get a Long Wallet: If you can, use a wallet where the bills can lie flat. Polymer loves to stay flat.
- Don't Staple: This is a big one. Filipinos love stapling bundles of cash. Do not do this with polymer. Once you poke a hole in plastic, it’s much easier for it to tear. Use paper clips or rubber bands instead.
- Watch the Heat: Don't iron your money. It sounds stupid, but people try to "flatten" bills with an iron. Polymer is plastic. It will melt.
- Don't Worry About "Old" Paper: If you have a stash of paper 100s or 500s, there is no rush to "exchange" them. They are not demonetized. You can spend them normally.
The transition to money in the philippines new styles is all about durability. While we might miss seeing our historical figures on every bill, the shift to polymer is saving the country millions in printing costs while making life harder for counterfeiters.
Next Steps for You:
Check your wallet. If you have a polymer note, try the "Feel, Look, Tilt" method yourself. Look for those tactile dots—it's a great way to verify your cash in low light. If you’re still carrying the older paper bills, just use them as usual, but maybe keep a few for the memories, as the polymer versions will eventually become the dominant "plastic" standard across the islands.