31. A NEW PESO COIN FOR ASEAN YEAR 50

A NEW PESO COIN FOR ASEAN YEAR 50

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

29 April 2017

Being a numismatist for over three decades, I regularly surf the net for new coins issued by nations around the globe. This year, a round reed-edged one peso nickel plated steel weighing 5.35 grams with 24 millimeter diameter coin is issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to commemorate the country’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEANS) Summit held in Manila from April 28 to 29. Seen in the observe is the ASEAN emblem at the center with the images of the sun and dove symbolizing prosperity and peace while the Filipino ancient alphabet baybayin in mintmark of the BSP Mint appears at the bottom. The letterings are: “PARTNERING FOR CHANGE, ENGAGING THE WORLD”; “ASEAN 50”; “PHILIPPINES 2017”; 10 stars representing the ten member states with their names engraved in micro text on the right side. In the reverse: it depicts Jose Rizal’s monument, the Filipino symbol of courage and patriotism and the seal of the BSP appears on the right side with the micro text “ASEAN 2017” filling the background. The letterings are: “REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS”; “1 PISO”; “BRUNEI DARUSSALAM. CAMBODIA. INDONESIA. LAO PDR. MALAYSIA. MYANMAR. PHILIPPINES. SINGAPORE. THAILAND. VIETNAM”. Ten million commemorative coins will be circulated to the public.  

Numerous preparations were made for the historic hosting of the ASEAN. I even attended a multi-sectoral forum at the regional government center of Cagayan Valley last April 24 at Hotel Roma in Tuguegarao City spearheaded by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) entitled “ASEAN 50. Philippines 2017. Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”. The official launching of was held on January 15 in Davao City with no less than the President gracing the commencement. ASEAN leaders who attended this year’s summit are  Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, and Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak.

This year, more specifically on August 8, the ASEAN is celebrating its fiftieth year of existence. The ASEAN is a regional organization comprising ten Southeast Asian states which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic integration amongst its members. Since its formation in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the organisation's membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its principal aims include accelerating economic  growth, social progress, and socio-cultural evolution among its members, alongside the protection of regional stability and the provision of a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully. 

ASEAN covers a land area of 4.4 million square kilometers, 3% of the total land area of Earth. ASEAN territorial waters cover an area about three times larger than its land counterpart. Member countries have a combined population of approximately 625 million people, 8.8% of the world's population. In 2015, the organisation's combined nominal GDP had grown to more than US$2.8 trillion. ASEAN shares land borders with India, China, Bangladesh, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea, and maritime borders with India, China, Palau, and Australia.

Today, was the busiest day of the 30th ASEAN Summit with all the ten leaders involved in the event. The schedule started with the Opening Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Plenary, Leaders' Family Photo, Lunch, Leaders' Retreat at the Coconut Palace, Signing of Outcome Documents, ASEAN Leaders' Interface with representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN Leaders' Interface with representatives of ASEAN Youth, Closing Session, BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area) Summit, IMT-GT (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand - Growth Triangle) Summit, Press Conference, and was concluded awhile ago by a Gala Dinner at Sofitel.

This is the country’s third hosting of the ASEAN Summit. The first was the 3rd Summit held from December 14 to 15, 1987 also in Manila during the administration of President Corazon Aquino. It was followed, after twenty years, by the 12th Summit from January 11 to 14, 2007 in Cebu City during the tenure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.    

During my elementary days, we were taught in school the other intergovernmental organizations which the Philippines is a member. The foremost is the United Nations (UN), a founding member in 1945 and an elected member of the Security Council. The Philippines is a participant in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Health Organization (WHO), and a signatory of Interpol. Declaring itself as independent of any major power block of nations, the country is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Economically, our country is a participant in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Colombo Plan, Group of 24, G-20, G-77, the World Bank (WB), Next Eleven and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Philippines was formerly a member of the now-defunct Latin Union (1954-2012), Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or SEATO (1955-1977), and the proposed Greater Malayan Confederation or MAPHILINDO (1963).

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the heads of state and leaders of the 10-member regional bloc. In his speech during the 14^th ASEAN Leadership Forum at the Manila Hotel yesterday Friday, April 28, Duterte underscored the need for ASEAN regional integration in the face of cultural differences and amid the threats of terrorism, violent extremism and criminality such as the illegal drug trade. “We need to cultivate the sense of ownership by putting ASEAN in their consciousness… Let them feel they are a part of efforts to achieve common aspiration”.

The theme “Partnering for Change Engaging the World”, which is engraved in the commemorative one peso, reflects the Philippine government’s advocacy to promote unity with and among ASEAN member states and its global partners. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang ASEAN!