New Generation Notes cause New Controversies

The already controversial note may become even more controversial as new criticism on the notes slogan “PINAGPALA ANG BAYAN NA ANG DIYOS AY ANG PANGINOON.” (Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.)

In the February 03 episode of the 700 Club Asia, “IKAW, PERA AT AKO!” where Lito Bunag, the designer of the New Generation currency explained how the new notes differ from the previous issues. He cited that instead of the usual I.O.U.'s phrase “ANG SALAPING ITO AY UMIIRAL SA PILIPINAS AT PAMBAYAD SA LAHAT NG URI NG PAGKAKAUTANG.” the new notes now carry the phrase “PINAGPALA ANG BAYAN NA ANG DIYOS ANG PANGINOON” which is according to the program was derived from the bible itself.

Makulay, madetalye at maganda na ang bagong bihis ng ating pera. Pinabatang larawan ng mga presidente, may burdang tela galing sa iba’t-ibang sulok ng ating bansa, bagong larawan ng mga kasaysayan, bagong hayop at may anti-bacterial pa. May bago rin itong security features para maiwasan ang counterfeiting. Nakasaad din ang katagang galing ng Bibliya: “Pinagpala ang bayan na Diyos ang Panginoon.” Isang paalala ito na kapag ang Diyos ang inuna, pagpapala at himala ay susunod na. Bukod sa kulay ay marami na ang nagbago isa-isa nating busisiin.

The Philippines as a democratic country and as a nation that recognize the rights of its citizen and a country that has not openly adopted any religion to its system and who is a state separate from the church should have scrutinized the new notes prior to its release.

The current design of the New Generation notes may cause outrage from other cultural and religious groups because of the country's religious diversity. Other radical groups may otherwise fuel their ideologies capitalizing on this single phrase.

The phrase itself already undermine the separation of the Church and the State since it already violated specific provisions in our Contitution.

The 1987 Constitution states that:

Section 6: The Separation of the Church and the State shall be inviolable