26/08/2026
By celebrating festivals on silver, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is also putting Mindanao’s culture, traditions, and indigenous heritage in the hands of collectors across the country.
From the vibrant streets of Davao to the ancestral traditions of Bukidnon and the intricate artistry of South Cotabato, three festivals from Mindanao have earned a place in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ “Pista sa Pilipinas” Philippine Festivals Commemorative Coin Series.
The three are Kaamulan Festival of Bukidnon, T’nalak Festival of South Cotabato, and Kadayawan Festival of Davao City.
While each festival has its own distinct identity, together they tell a bigger story about Mindanao — a land where indigenous traditions, cultural pride, faith, agriculture, artistry, and community continue to thrive.
The BSP’s 2026 series features 12 Philippine festivals, with one festival represented each month. Each commemorative coin has a denomination of ₱100, but is sold for ₱5,000. Made of 99.9 percent silver, each coin weighs 31.1 grams and measures 38.6 millimeters in diameter. The series is designed not simply as currency, but as a collectible tribute to the country’s cultural heritage.
KAAMULAN: A GATHERING OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES
Representing March, the Kaamulan Festival of Bukidnon is a celebration rooted in the traditions of the province’s Indigenous Peoples.
The word Kaamulan comes from amul, meaning “to gather.” True to its name, the festival brings together the seven Indigenous groups of Bukidnon - the Higaonon, Talaandig, Umayamnon, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tighawanon, and Bukidnon - in a celebration of their shared heritage through dances, rituals, music, and traditional practices.
The BSP coin captures this indigenous identity through the image of a festival performer in traditional attire, complemented by a headdress motif and ethnic patterns representing Bukidnon’s Indigenous culture.
More than a colorful spectacle, Kaamulan serves as a living expression of identity - a reminder that cultural traditions remain alive when communities continue to practice, teach, and celebrate them.
T’NALAK: THE DREAMS OF THE T’BOLI
For South Cotabato, the recognition is deeply personal.
The T’nalak Festival, represented in the series for July, draws its name from the traditional handwoven abaca cloth of the T’boli people of Lake Sebu.
The festival celebrates the province’s Indigenous culture and the artistry behind T’nalak, a textile whose distinctive patterns are traditionally revealed to T’boli women weavers through dreams.
The BSP commemorative coin features the T’nalak cloth and a performer in traditional T’boli attire, highlighting the cultural heritage that has become one of South Cotabato’s most recognizable symbols.
For the T’boli community, however, T’nalak is more than fabric.
It represents knowledge passed from one generation to another, patience, artistry, spirituality, and a deep connection to tradition. A single piece can take months to weave, making every finished textile a reflection of time, skill, and cultural memory.
The coin therefore becomes more than a collector’s item. It places a piece of South Cotabato’s Indigenous heritage into a national cultural showcase.
For a province celebrating its 60th foundation anniversary in 2026, the recognition carries an added significance.
KADAYAWAN: ABUNDANCE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Representing August, the Kadayawan Festival brings the story to Davao City.
Derived from dayaw, meaning something excellent or bringing good fortune, Kadayawan is a thanksgiving celebration of life, abundance, and Davao’s rich cultural diversity.
The festival is known for its colorful street dancing, floral floats, indigenous music and dances, and displays of agricultural products and local craftsmanship.
The BSP’s Kadayawan coin features a performer in traditional attire carrying a basket filled with durian, mangosteen, marang, and pomelo - products closely associated with Davao’s agricultural abundance.
The design also incorporates references to Davao’s 11 ethnolinguistic tribes, the waling-waling, Mount Apo, and the Philippine Eagle, weaving together the city’s cultural and natural identity in a single piece of silver.
THREE FESTIVALS, ONE MINDANAO STORY
Kaamulan, T’nalak, and Kadayawan may come from different provinces and communities, but their inclusion in the BSP series reflects a common story.
They show that Mindanao’s greatest treasures are not only found in its landscapes and natural resources, but also in the people who preserve its traditions.
Kaamulan speaks of Indigenous communities gathering to celebrate their identity.
T’nalak tells the story of ancestral knowledge, craftsmanship, and the enduring cultural traditions of the T’boli.
Kadayawan celebrates abundance, gratitude, and the cultural diversity of Davao.
Together, they offer a glimpse of Mindanao’s remarkable cultural wealth to a national audience.
And while the coins themselves may be small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, the stories they carry are anything but small.
They carry the dances of ancestors, the patterns of woven dreams, the bounty of the land, and the pride of communities determined to keep their heritage alive.
In the BSP’s “Pista sa Pilipinas” series, these three Mindanao festivals are not merely commemorated.
They are remembered, celebrated, and given a place in the nation’s cultural story - one silver coin at a time.
From the vibrant streets of Davao to the ancestral traditions of Bukidnon and the intricate artistry of South Cotabato, three festivals from Mindanao
