Ilocos norte: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has launched a commemorative coin to honor Ilocos Norte's "Tan-ok ni Ilocano" festival, aligning the release with the province's 208th founding anniversary. The PHP5,000 silver coin, unveiled by Gov. Cecilia Araneta Marcos and Vice Gov. Matthew Joseph Manotoc, possesses a face value of PHP100. This coin is the second in a series of 12 festival-themed coins that the BSP plans to issue this year, aiming to promote cultural heritage and tourism.
According to Philippines News Agency, the central bank stated that the coin series is designed to celebrate Filipino culture and enhance public awareness. It also seeks to foster greater interest in the country's role as the ASEAN Chair in 2026, along with ASEAN cooperation. The Tan-ok coin's design incorporates elements from the 2025 Basi Festival of Piddig town, showcasing 23 icons representing the province's towns and cities.
Senior tourism operations officer Xavier Ruiz mentioned that 500 pieces of the commemorative coin will be available for purchase at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium during the festival on February 28.
