Long before banknotes or Spanish coins arrived in the archipelago, Filipinos used gold in dozens of practical and symbolic ways: ornament, status, dowry — and currency. Among the most striking pieces of that pre-colonial monetary world are the barter rings (often called panika): ring-shaped gold ingots, sometimes as chunky as a small doughnut, that circulated alongside tiny conical “piloncitos” as a medium of exchange across the islands.  What were barter rings? Barter rings are penannular gold pieces — a circular band with a small gap — that archaeological finds and museum displays show were used in trade, dowries and as visible markers of rank among the kadatuan (the nobility). They vary enormously in size and weight: some are tiny and light, others are truly massive (examples recorded in museum and exhibition notes weigh well over 100 grams). Barter rings and piloncitos functioned in a precious-metal economy where value was determined largely by weight and purity rather than an ...

The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), known locally as Haring Ibon or “King of Birds,” is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. Found only in the Philippines, this magnificent raptor has become a symbol of the country’s rich biodiversity. Yet today, the Philippine eagle is also a stark reminder of how fragile nature can be. Classified as Critically Endangered, the species faces an uncertain future, with estimates suggesting that fewer than 400 breeding pairs remain in the wild. Habitat loss, hunting, and slow reproduction continue to push the species toward extinction. Why the Philippine Eagle Is Endangered The greatest threat to the Philippine eagle is deforestation. Large areas of lowland and rainforest habitats have been cleared for agriculture, logging, mining, and urban development. Eagles depend on vast tracts of forest to hunt and nest. A single breeding pair may require up to 100 square kilometers of territory to survive. As forests shrink and become...

Philippine banknotes are more than paper money — they are tiny time capsules. Between Spanish-era treasury notes, wartime emergency issues, and modern commemoratives printed in tiny numbers, several Filipino bills have left circulation and found new life at specialist auctions, sometimes selling for sums that surprise even experienced collectors. Below I’ll walk through why particular Philippine bills attract high prices at auction, and give real-world examples of auction results and estimates so you can see how much these notes can be worth. What makes a Philippine banknote valuable? Collectors price notes according to a mix of factors: Rarity — limited print runs, discovery notes, misprints, or notes from short-lived issuing authorities. Historical importance — notes issued during major transitions (Spanish colonial period, First Philippine Republic, U.S. territorial issues, WWII emergency currency). Condition (grade) — notes graded as Extremely Fine (EF), About Uncirculated (AU), or...

The coconut tree, often called the “Tree of Life,” holds a unique and irreplaceable place in tropical regions around the world. For centuries, communities have relied on it not only as a primary source of food and livelihood but also as a vital component of local culture, tradition, and economy. Every part of the coconut tree serves a purpose, making it one of the most versatile and useful plants known to humankind. Beyond its cultural and economic value, the coconut fruit itself is highly celebrated for its remarkable nutritional and medicinal benefits. From coconut water to coconut oil, each component offers natural health-boosting properties that continue to gain global recognition. A Tree of Countless Uses The significance of the coconut tree starts with its exceptional versatility. Its wood, known for its durability, is used for building houses, furniture, and handicrafts. Coconut leaves are woven into roofing materials, baskets, and traditional decorations. Even the husk and shel...

When we talk about how it is to commute in the Philippines, you’ll always hear a lot of negative remarks and complaints as it is that hard to commute in the Metro. There’s always a need which is really long overdue to improve how we travel from one location to the other. The flow of traffic is so heavy, there’s not enough utility vehicles, and probably the worst is, there’s not enough facilities for the commuting public to use.   Thankfully, some of those problems if not all, is now being solved with a promising solutions. There are now a lot of infrastructure projects to aid the commuting public making their travels more convenient. New roads are being built, additional lines of trains are now under construction, there’s even a subway which will make travel from Quezon City to Makati or even Taguig a lot faster than ever, and of course, the renovation of the ever reliable Philippine National Railways. The PNR Metro Commuter Line was a commuter rail line operated by the Phili...

 The Philippine Eagle was said to be near extinction, yet, as sad as it may seem, people are not that eager to save them. The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the monkey-eating eagle or great Philippine eagle, is a critically endangered species of eagle of the family Accipitridae which is endemic to forests in the Philippines. It has brown and white-colored plumage, a shaggy crest, and generally measures 86 to 102 cm (2.82 to 3.35 ft) in length and weighs 4.04 to 8.0 kg (8.9 to 17.6 lb). The Philippine eagle is considered the largest of the extant eagles in the world in terms of length and wing surface area. The Philippine eagle is endemic to the Philippines and can be found on four major islands: eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. The largest numbers of eagles reside on Mindanao, with between 82 and 233 breeding pairs. Only six pairs are found on Samar, two on Leyte, and a few on Luzon. It can be found in Northern Sierra Madre National Park on L...

Considering reports that a few neighborhood gatherers or collectors sell probably interesting coins at a cost higher than the first sum or its original amount, general society is prompted not to succumb to such tricks or scam. As per Kuya Kim's (Kim Atienza, one of the Journalist here in the Philippines) Friday report (April 22, 2022) on "24 Oras" be that as it may, there is a peso coin esteemed at nearly Php 1 million. This is the 1906 US-Philippine peso coin, which is otherwise called the ruler of Philippine peso. According to Wiki, from 1903 to 1906, the silver coins had a silver content of 90%, while those struck after 1906 had a reduced silver content of 75% for 10 through 50 centavos and 80% for the peso. In both cases the silver was alloyed with copper. Made of 90% silver, the coin is supposed to be uncommon with only under 200 pieces in presence. Since these are profoundly pursued, purchasers are cautioned against copies on the lookout. In the mean time, the Bangk...

When we talk about a typical Filipino family, it always consists of parents with 4 kids and a Yaya. Some may not agree with us but, this is the reason why car manufacturers released AUV type of vehicles or simply put, the Asian Utility Vehicles. AUVs are marketed as cheap and simple transporter, not as rugged as a fully-committed SUV. The body design is close to that of the SUV’s but with smaller dimensions and simpler exterior design. If you’re in the market for a 7-seater vehicle, you may want to explore all three kinds, AUVs, SUVs and MPVs.  Hence, Toyota unveils one of their fair share of 7-seater vehicle, the all new Veloz. Toyota Veloz is classified as a Sub Compact Sports Utility Vehicle or Sub-Com SUV.  MPV stands for Multi-Purpose Vehicle. MPVs are sometimes called ‘people carriers’, too, which is perhaps a more accurate name. They have tall, box-like bodies designed to create as much interior space as possible and often have more seats than a comparable hatchback or ...

As we try to come up with things to do to make our days productive this Pandemic, a lot of people are leaning towards Gardening. Here in the Philippines, people are becoming crazy with a certain plant. It has large leaves which resembles an Elephant’s ear. Badjang, as we call it here in the Philippines, scientifically called Alocasia macrorrhizos, is a species of flowering plant in the arum family that it is native to rainforests of Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Queensland and has long been cultivated here in the Philippines, many Pacific islands, and elsewhere in the tropics. It is also famous as Giant Taro. The giant taro was originally domesticated in the Philippines, but are known from wild specimens to early Austronesians in Taiwan. From the Philippines, they spread outwards to the rest of Island Southeast Asia and eastward to Oceania where it became one of the staple crops of Pacific Islanders. They are one of the four main species of aroids (taros) cultivated by Austron...

While the world is on a standstill due to CoViD Pandemic, Toyota announces the release of its All New Vios 1.5 GRS. GR-S, which stands for Gazoo Racing Sport, is a guarantee that a car was developed guided by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing which specializes in developing Toyota's lineup of products built with racing DNA. The Toyota Vios is a subcompact car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota, primarily for markets in the Asia-Pacific region since 2002. The Vios name is currently only used in Philippines, China, Taiwan, and South East Asian regions. The "Vios" name is derived from the Latin word "vio", meaning "go or travel (forward)". Finally, March of 2021, price starts at PHP 1,020,000.00, the Toyota Vios 1.5 GR-S is now in the Philippines. Many car enthusiasts sees the Toyota as provider of basic automobile and wishes that the company will soon release a more flashier car model, a sports type sedan, if it is not much to ask. Well, here it is, specs as...

After more than a year, we're still at the Pandemic... Here in the Philippines, people are starting to accept that wearing facemask and faceshield, having an ample amount of rubbing alcohol and observing social distancing is the new "Normal". People are starting to adapt with the situation and yet, going to work, if so happen that you're unfortunate enough to work from home, you have to find an alternative from commuting to work. A lot are embracing the more environmental approach, riding a traditional Bicycle, and there are some, the can-afford some, decided to invest in a more fashionable manner, a brand new car. Car manufacturers like Mitsubishi, Toyota and Honda, to name a few, are on a race to provide a compact yet stylish variance of Sedan. The Mirage G4 of Mitsubishi, Wigo and Vios of Toyota and for this article, Honda will try to impress us with their brand new City Hatchback 1.5 RS. You have read it right folks, introducing the latest from Honda, The City Hat...

In Numismatic world, we are very particular with who will be the featured “Hero” in a certain coin especially here in the Philippines. History as it dictates, the most popular is Jose Rizal, our national hero. However, there is another hero who creates his own name and is way ancient than Jose Rizal. Lapulapu or Lapu-Lapu, whose name was first recorded as Çilapulapu, was a datu of Mactan in the Visayas. Modern Philippine society regards him as the first Filipino hero because of his resistance to imperial Spanish colonization. He is best known for the Battle of Mactan that happened at dawn on April 27, 1521, where he and his warriors defeated the forces of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his native allies Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula. Magellan's death ended his voyage of circumnavigation and delayed the Spanish occupation of the islands by over forty years until the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564. Legazpi continued the expeditions of Magellan, leading to the...

Here we are again, still trying to cope up with CoViD-19 Pandemic, and it is really driving many of us crazy!!! We need to find a way to make use of our time productively as lot of us nowadays have plenty of time to burn. One way to do this as we have discussed on a previous post, is make ourselves a self proclaimed Backyard Gardener. Its not as hard as you think to become one, and being a plant lover provides a lot of benefits as an individual. We have planted Coleus or Mayana , we don't have to collect all 43 varieties of them but well, it's always up to you to take the challenge, either way, this is a very enjoyable task to venture ;-) So much for that, let's start with what we should be discussing on the first place here, let's talk about The Rubber Tree. Variegated Rubber Plant When I started to plant something, there was a time that I decided to visit one place where there are a lot of Plant Stores catering different kinds of Plants. From decorative to air plants,...