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Published February 27, 2025 9:33pm
Did you know that Philippine passports have UV-reactive designs on its pages? And it features cultural images from the country!
A social media user went viral after posting a video putting the passport under ultraviolet light, revealing the images to amazed netizens.
As seen in Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, among the symbols featured are the Manunggul jar on page 18, a tamaraw on page 19, mangoes from Guimaras on page 44, butanding on page 28, and Tinikling dancers along the San Juanico Bridge on page 31.
Aside from its design functions, the hidden symbols made using UV fluorescent ink and threads serve as identification against fake passports.
"Ginagamitan 'yan ng UV light para tingnan niya 'yung mga security features," Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Consular Affairs Acting Passport Director Charlie Florian Prenicolas said, adding that it started sometime between 2017 and 2018.
"Kahit sa'n ka pumunta, anywhere in the world, you carry those symbols of being a Filipino," he said.
—Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News
