Pilipinas Eagle Philippines Exclusive

Released July 2014, this is the first Starbucks Card made exclusively for the Philippines. Now you might ask, why is the lettering on the front of the Card "Pilipinas"? It's somewhat complicated, but we'll try to explain further below.

As far as the design, it's quite unique with a basket weave background and the eagle outlined in yellow, blue and red (the colors of the Philippines flag). This card was inspired by the colors of the  national flag of the Philippines and the Philippine Eagle. This Philippine edition card celebrates the Starbucks Card's 1st year in the country.

The subject is the Philippine Eagle - one of the largest, rarest and most powerful birds in the world. It is also known as the monkey-eating eagle, the great Philippine eagle, the haribon or Haring Ibon (king of birds). Other local names have been given to this species that can grow up to 1.021 meters from the tip of its bill to its tail and its eyes are a dusky blue color. This species' nests can be found in trees 120 feet from the ground. Philippine eagle eggs are typically little smaller than a fist. Courting starts as early as July and the building of nests typically lasts from September to December. The female eagle becomes lethargic and refuses to eat eight to ten days before laying an egg. It will then lay an egg between the afternoon and twilight. Incubating the egg takes 58 to 68 days and both parents participate. After hatching, the chick remains in the nest for five months.

WHY PILIPINAS?

Mostly it's the history. There are now three forms of the name of this country.

"Filipinas" (with an "F"), the name given by Ruy López de Villalobos in 1548 and used officially by Miguel López de Legazpi when he established the Spanish colony beginning 1565, which was used continuously for 300 years until the time of Rizal and Bonifacio, and again used as the name of the first Asian republic—the “Republica Filipinas” established in Malolos in 1898.

“Philippines,” the name used by the Americans when they entered the country in 1898 and officially used by the Constitution of 1936 and up to the current Constitution of 1987.

“Pilipinas” (with a "P"), used starting around 1941 when the abakada without the F was promoted for general usage and continued as the translation of Filipinas and Philippines in works and documents written in the Pilipino language (which was the name given in 1959 to the national language using the abakada).

Glad you asked....

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