Sinulog commemorative coin launched

In time for the Feast of the Santo Niño last Sunday, 18 January, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) launched the Sinulog 2026 Commemorative Coin.

First made officially available last Sunday at the BSP Store booth inside the Cebu City Sports Center Gym, the limited-edition coin “celebrates the faith, culture and vibrant spirit of Sinulog, perfect for collectors and devotees alike,” BSP said in its Facebook page.

Sinulog Festival is the first featured coin under the 100-Peso Philippine Festivals Commemorative Coin Series, which features a Philippine festival for every coin to be released every month, including Pahiyas and Moriones Festivals.

BSP partners with the Department of Tourism the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to ensure proper information and the cultural integrity of each coin design.

As the featured festival for January, designs related to the Sinulog Festival can be seen on the silver coin, including the dancing of the festival queen holding an image of the Santo Niño de Cebu, a dance that is actually a prayer offering for the Child Jesus.

At the colored side of the coin image is the Santo Niño de Cebu, depicting the image of the Child Jesus that Ferdinand Magellan gave to the wife of Rajah Humabon at her baptism in 1521, symbolizing the start of Christianity in the country.

Engraved at the top of the coin is a diamond representing January, surrounded by crowns mimicking the crowns of the Santo Niño. Other features include gold accents and ethnic patterns symbolizing the festival.

Each coin is available for P5,000 and will also be available at BSP Store on 26 January.

The commemorative coin series, said BSP, is a way to own a piece of the festivals’ history.

“Ang bawat barya ay pamana ng ating kultura (Every coin is an heirloom of our culture),” the country’s central bank said.

The Sinulog Festival coin, for one, is a pocketable reminder of the deep faith and devotion behind every chanting of “Viva Pit Señor!”