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Only 300,000 of these 215mm x 132mm (8 1/5 x 5 1/4 inches) notes were issued.

Front: Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1937-), 13th President of the Philippines 1998-2001, taking his oath of office on June 30, 1998 in the historic Barasoain Church, the seat of the first democratic republic in Asia.

Back: Re-enactment of the declaration of Philippine Independence at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1998 by Fidel V. Ramos (1928-), 12th President of the Philippines 1992-1998.

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This note is not in my collection

The 100,000 Piso note, measuring 355.6 mm by 215.9 mm (14 x 8 1/2 inches), is accredited by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest legal tender note in terms of size.

Front: The "Cry of Pugadlawin", when about 1,000 Filipino patriots led by Andres Bonifacio gathered in Pugadlawin, on August 23, 1896. They tore up their Spanish-issued residence certificates and yelled "Long live the Philippines", signalling the start of a revolt against Spain.

Back: From the balcony of his house in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo displays the Philippine flag to the crowd below and proclaims independence from Spain.

Only 1,000 of these notes were issued. Originally offered to collectors at a pre-issue price of 180,000 Piso ($4175), its current catalog value is $3500.

Philippines, an archipelago in the western Pacific 500 miles from the southeast coast of Asia, was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1521.

The first permanent Spanish settlement was establish in 1565. Spain held the Philippines amid a growing movement of Filipino nationalism until 1898 when they were ceded to the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War.

The Filipinos then fought unsuccessfully against the United States to maintain their independent republic proclaimed by Emilio Aguinaldo. The country became a self-governing Commonwealth of the United States in 1935, occupied by Japan during WWII, and attained full independence in 1946.

For a more detailed country profile, see CIA World Factbook on Philippines.