You might be wondering, what does the new banknote look like? How do I take care of it? Does it require a little bit more care than the old banknotes that we have had? Well, taking care of the new banknote and keeping your new 1000 peso polymer bill clean is as easy as 1 2 3.
First, let us introduce the new 1000 peso polymer bill:
It still has the same shade of blue as the old 1000 peso banknote, however, instead of the usual characters on the front, it is replaced by our very own Philippine Eagle, which is in fact, endangered and should be cared for, just as you should care for and clean your new 1000 polymer bill. The steps on how to keep your new polymer bill clean will be introduced in this article also.
This new imagery presented in the banknote promotes awareness about the endangered species and keeping conscious of the environment as Filipinos (Lansang, 2022). We, as Filipinos need to honor not only our heroes and prominent figures of history, but also the animals that symbolize our freedom and integrity, our strength and collectiveness. So, in turn, this symbolic animal is our nation’s pride and wonder. This, in turn, makes us treasure this banknote more, and how to keep your new 1000 polymer bill clean will surely be one of the ways we can honor our nation’s culture and symbols. At the back, it shows our Philippine pearl. However, the most notable change perhaps is the transparent Jasmine sambac seen through both sides of the bill. It represents purity and simplicity. The back of the note would feature the Tubbataha Reefs recognized by UNESCO World Heritage.
Putting Care into the Picture
According to the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas or the BSP under the article written by Cudis (2022), this banknote needs more thought and care put into it. Keeping this banknote clean, prevents wear and tear and keeps it clean looking and presentable.
The need to take care of the banknote more is because of its material but also because of the raging COVID-19 virus, keeping your 1000 Polymer bill clean prevents the further transfer of the virus (Lansang, 2022). Moreover, this ultimately means safety for the Filipino People. Furthermore, this new material promotes sustainability since its production has fewer materials needed (Keesing Platform, 2022). Another good thing about having these new features in the bill is that it safeguards against forgery and theft, and the production of counterfeit bills. So with all these said, why do we need to care and take care of this new banknote? Well, Dorothy Joy Diaz, BSP Mindanao Regional Office bank officer said that violators who will mutilate this new banknote will fall under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Decree 247 (Cudis, 2022).
How to Keep Your New 1000 Polymer Bill Clean?
Keeping your new 1000 polymer bill clean is not much of a hassle, and requires a few steps and effort to maintain its appearance. It’s a good feeling to respect what the imagery symbolizes and a good mental effort to know that by keeping your new 1000 polymer bill clean, you mitigate the spread of diseases and viruses, especially the COVID-19 virus. This is also a way to keep yourself organized and clean looking with your belongings. A method of keeping money safe and unwrinkled is also introduced in this part, as opposed to the traditional and outdated way of keeping money together, ie., stapling.
1. Your money don’t Jiggle, don’t Fold
We know we grew up folding our banknotes and other bills to fit into our pockets, pouches, purses, and wallets. However, isn’t it most satisfying when you still hear the crinkle and the crunch of a new flat-out crispy 1000 bill?
When putting them into storage, always lay them straight and unfolded so that it does not create a crease when pulling them out. A recommended storage is actually a long wallet that doesn’t fold.
Rosales (2022) mentioned that if ever it does crease just flatten them with your hand and apply pressure on it. For example, you can put it between pages of a book and apply a heavy object on top to keep it flat for a while.
2. Warning: Keep Away From Staples
As mentioned by the Officials of the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas Mindanao Regional Office (Cudis, 2022), intentional damage to the bill can get you infractions with the law. This intentional damage can be tearing it, or even stapling it together with other banknotes.
For some, it’s common practice to staple their money together, especially when setting it aside for paying some bills. Some people staple their money in terms of organizing them for a certain trip or just for storage. This is a big no-no and is even emphasized now that there is a new polymer 1000 peso bill.
Allow yourself to set new traditions when it comes to keeping and organizing your new bills, especially this new 1000 polymer bill. It can be putting paper around it or setting up a new storage place like a new purse or a safe for it. Some people would even use binders to store their budget for the week or month, by also using a ziplock that is attached to the binders. This is called cash stuffing. See more info for cash stuffing here.
3. Greet your Doodles “toodles”!
I know many of us have a habit of doodling on any piece of scrap paper that we find, be it on old receipts, tissue papers, and some even on a banknote itself! You would see your cash ridden with ink on the faces of Manuel L. Quezon and the likes, with mustaches and beards, or even drawn to look like Itachi from the popular anime, Naruto.
So, we just stray away from this habit and keep our inky fingers and pens away from the polymer bill to keep it clean. Say goodbye to doodling on money, to now graffiti on legal spaces! Hey, it’s more fun on bigger canvasses!
4. The Jasmines are the windows to the soul— and anti-counterfeit!
Since this is a new feature for Philippine money, you might be fascinated and fidget with the transparent Jasmine window on the upper side of the bill. However, this is sort of a delicate part and should not be ripped off. This is actually a security feature that keeps it from having counterfeits. Make sure not to play with it and make sure to keep it clean by wiping it with a cloth, or tissue if you see dirt or stains on it.
5. The trends are not your friends
Tiktok trends would often tell you that it’s safe and legal to do this, to do that however, nice try tiktok. You’re not foolin’ the law. This is How not to keep your new 1000 polymer bill clean. Even if it’s just for the video, do NOT try to set it on fire. Yes, it could cause disagreements with the law, as mentioned by the Presidential Decree 247. It’s fun to do science experiments with it, but it’s highly discouraged and illegal to mutilate it through the elements.
Another popular video surfacing on TikTok in laundering the money. LITERALLY.
Do not wash your money, or intentionally put it for laundry and dry clean. Or even through a dryer. It may cause intentional damage to your new polymer bill.
6. It’s not a fan of Iron, man
Whatever you do, do NOT iron it. It can melt the window or intentionally damage the polymer. If it does crease, as advised just lay it flat and put pressure on top. Or leave inside a heavy book. Just don’t forget where you put it!
Ironing bills could violate also the law because of the possible damages you inflict on the bill through doing this action.
7. No, no. Not the bleach, please
Say you do get some dirt on it. Please, do not use bleach or other harsh chemicals to clean it. Just let it be and wipe with a cloth if it’s not a huge stain. Otherwise, you’ll damage it even further by using heavy chemicals on it. This is not a hair that you just bleach if something goes wrong. Remember strong chemicals will always cause a reaction. Moreover, in this case, the reaction is unwarranted.
8. Sanitation is a must!
To simplify, yes you can sanitize this new bill (Rosales, 2022)! This great feature allows you to keep yourself safe from bacteria since money is passed down to the next user and the next. Additionally, this passing down of money allows bacteria and viruses to be contracted and linger on for days on the new 1000 peso polymer bill. Now, you can use alcohol or light rays that cleanse these bills. They can look good as new afterwards! This feature, in addition, is a great way to help stop the spread of the Corona Virus; a hope to stop the pandemic from continuing on.
9. Do not intentionally put dirt on it
According to Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas as cited by Cudis (2022), polymer bills have longer lives than paper bills since it’s not susceptible to dirt, water and oil. However, this does not warrant you into intentionally putting dirt, water, or oil on it. Trust the facts!
10. Trick or treat?
Similar to other tips on how to store your new 1000 polymer bill, you mustn’t use it for tricks! We know it’s fun to fold your money into origamis or use it for magic tricks, but this ruins how nice the crinkle of this new bill is. Using it for origami could result to permanent folding lines that could make it easier for wear and tear, no matter how robust this new material is. With the old bills in mind that used cotton and abaca, the permanent fold lines are where the rips usually form and start from.
So, stick to it being a treat for your retail therapy or for paying your BRIA homes investments or Bria house and lot. The feeling of paying your PAG-IBIG home loan with your crisp 1000 polymer bill is so satisfying!
Keep Your Money Clean
With these steps and tips in mind, we honor our Filipino culture and honor the symbols of our nation. Additionally, by doing these tips and keeping them in mind, we honor those people who receive our money because we give them a sanitized bill, crisp and clean, ready to be utilized by the whole nation. Moreover, we give appreciation to the value of money and the effort given into the redesigning of the 1000 peso bill. We give chance for the users to enjoy the symbolism added in the designs and give importance to its imagery. Plus, just like our grandmothers and grandfathers tell us, don’t fold the bill! It gives respect to it but culturally, it adequates itself to the narrative of “good luck” when you take care of your physical money.
Furthermore, according to the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the new 1000 peso polymer bill will not be demonetized and will still have a value of 1000 pesos (Villanueva, 2022). With this, it’s important to keep it clean so that it will be accepted into stores and outlets where you need to pay. This banknote has been released on April 18, 2022, with President Rodrigo Duterte bestowed 50 uncut pieces of 1000 peso uncut polymer bills (Villanueva, 2022). Another reminder is that money is not meant to be kept and stored for a long period of time, and it is meant to be used and passed down to be circulated across the nation (Rosales, 2022). It is not meant to be “hoarded” or stockpiled forever and also according to the article of Keesing Platform (2022), the current 1000 peso bill is still in circulation and being utilized through when you pay someone, a business, or an entity, through different transactions.
Written by Adrianne Jane B. Patinio
