September 1, 2026 — Following a design competition among artists to design a commemorative coin celebrating Filipino heritage in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) commissioned Vancouver-based artist and art educator Bert Monterona.
The coin, produced in both silver and gold, shows the “living legacy with a symbolic design that blends traditional artistry with a modern touch.”
Monterona’s design on the coin’s reverse incorporates the okir (geometric art motifs common among the Moro and Lumad peoples of southern Philippines) and the mythical Sarimanok, the legendary bird of the Maranao people from Mindanao in the Philippines. It features concentric rings of symbolic motifs representing the unique facets of Filipino culture and values.
A rope motif forms the outermost ring symbolizing interconnected strength and diversity while a row of triangular patterns reflect the country’s mountain ranges and festive banderitas (buntings) calling to mind Filipino fiestas and spirit of celebration. Interwoven heart motifs are included which express “love, compassion and the deep sense of community that unites Filipinos.”
The engraved symbols on the reverse side of the Filipino heritage coin pay tribute to the Philippines’ lasting cultural legacy..
At the centre of the gold coin is a genuine mother of pearl on an engraved sun motif representing freedom, unity and cultural treasures. The mother of pearl is “long cherished in Filipino craftsmanship for its iridescent beauty and its association with nature’s gifts” and represents the Philippines’ rich biodiversity and national treasures. The silver coin holds an imitation mother of pearl.
Canadian sugar maple leaves and okir motifs adorn the coin, symbolizing unity between the two cultures. The obverse features His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.
Of the design, Monterona said, “I began with a vision of a wheel in motion—a circular movement symbolizing development and progress. I wanted a motif that could encircle the entire concept, so I chose a rope: something that binds, connects, and unites all cultures.”
He adds, “I’ve been weaving okir and Sarimanok motifs into my work since 1984, and they appear here. But the heart, alternating upright and inverted, is something special: it is the universal symbol of love and humanity—you can’t build a nation or community without heart.”
The Filipino-Canadian heritage gold coin is the seventh of the RCM’s annual series highlighting the cultural and historical diversity of Canadian society. The coin comes with a serialized RCM certificate and a separate certificate for the gold coin’s mother of pearl for its quality and authenticity. Mintage is limited to just 275 gold coins worldwide.
The silver coin is the third silver coin in the annual series and comes with a serialized certificate. It is a limited collectible coin with mintage limited to 5,500 coins worldwide.
To purchase the commemorative coin:
https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2026/celebrating-canadas-diversity-resilience-and-unity.
About the Author
Rachel Ramos-Reid started writing for magazines and newspapers when she was still a junior at the University of the Philippines’ Communication degree program majoring in Journalism. She continued to write in a public relations/corporate communications capacity in various private and government offices until moving out of the country in 1997 to work as Programme Officer for the arts and culture branch of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. At the end of her term, Rachel found herself immigrating to Canada in the year 2000 and again searching for new beginnings.
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