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WATAWAT - FLAGS AND SYMBOLS OF THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEAS
 
WATAWAT AY ISANG WEB SITE NG WATAWAT AT SAGISAG, NAKARAAN AT KASALUKUYAN NG PILIPINAS BAWAT PAHINA AY PUPURI SA PERLAS NG SILANGANAN AT SA MAMAYAN.

WATAWAT (FLAG ) IS A WEB SITE ON FLAGS AND SYMBOLS, PAST AND PRESENT OF THE PHILIPPINES.
THESE PAGES ARE A TRIBUTE TO THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEAS AND ITS PEOPLE.
 
" Working on the flag "

Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza Agoncillo and Herbosa de Natividad, niece of Jose' Rizal working on: " The sun and stars", the first national flag of the Philippines.
 
CODE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG
Excepts from Executive Order No. 321, june 12, 1950, issued issued by President Elpidio Quirino.

THE NATIONAL FLAG

1 - The national flag shall be displayed in all public office buildings, official residences, public squares , and institutions of learning everyday throughout the year, and shall be raised at sunrise and lowered at sundown.
It should be on the mast at the break of the day, should remain flying through the day but shall not stay flying after the sun has set, exept when specially prescribed.
The flag-staff must be straight, slightly and generally tapering at the end.

2 - The flag should never be used to return the salute of any individual or organization.It should never be dipped by way of compliment or salute to or for any person, exept when used for exchanging courtesy as an official act between states.

3 - The only flag that may float above the National Flag is a church pennant to symbolize" God above Country ".

4 - The flag, if flown from a flagpole, should have its blue field on top in time of peace and the red fieldon the top in time of war; if in a hanging position, the blue field should be to the right ( left of the observer ) in time of peace or to the left ( right of the observer ) in time of war.

5 - In hoisting the flag , it should ' be raised clear to the end of the flagpole wich if planted on the ground, should be at a prominent place and higher than the roof of the principal building in the compound, or of such a height that would give the flag a commanding position within the compound.If the pole is attached to a building, it should be on top of its roof, and if placed at a window, it must project at an angle pointing upward.

6 - When the national flag is used together with the flag of the Armed Forces or civil organization or with that of another nation, it must always be above or on the right of the other flag. When the National flag is displayed in a parade with those of foreign nations, it shall always be i front of the center of the line of the other flags.

7 - When the flag is passing in a parade or in rewiew, the people, if walking, should halt, stand at attention, uncover (their heads ) and salute.

8 - The flagshall be displayed on Independence Day (june 12 ) on National heroes Day november 30 ) of each year, and on such other historic or special occasion as the President may designate, not only in all office buildings, official residences, public squares, and institutions of learning, but whenever practicable, also in all private buildings and homes, from sunrise to sunset.

9 - On national holidays of his country and other historic or special occasions, any alien whose country is at peace with the Philippines may display the flag of his nationon any building or property owned or rented by him without simultaneously displaying the flag of the Philippines.However, if the alien is located in a building or property owned by the Philippine Government, the flag of the Philippines shall be displayed when that of his own country is displayed. When so displayed, the flag of the alien's country should at least be placed of the same size as the flag of the Philippines wich shall be placed on the right of the former ( left of the observer facing the flags ).

10 - When lowering the flag, no part thereof should touch the ground. It should be handled and folded reverently.While the flag is being raised or lowered and while the National anthem is being played the people should face the flag, stand at attention, uncover (their heads ) and salute. Moving vehicles should stop, and the passengers should alight, stand at attention, uncover, and salute.

11 - The flag may be hoisted at half-mast in sign of mourning. To display the flag at hal-mast, it must first be hoisted to full-mast, allowing it to fly there for a moment before bringing it to half-mast.From this position it may be raised but not lowered. It must again be hoisted to full-mast before bringing it down.

12 - The flag shall never be festooned;and shall always hang with nothing to cover its surface. It shall always occupy the highest place of honor and shall not be placed under any picture, or below a person.

13 - The flag shall never be used as a staff or whip or for covering tables, or curtain for doorways.
However, the flag may be used by the Armed Forces to cover the casket of their honored dead, wich includes deceased civilians, who had rendered services in the Army,navy or civil office of great responsability.
the white triangle of the sun and stars shall cover the head end of the casket, the blue stripe to the right, the red to the left of the deceased, with both colors evenly divided on each side of the casket.The flag should not be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground. Wreaths of the flowers should not be placed on the top of a flag-shrouded casket. A small cross of flowers may be placed over the flag as a symbol of " God above Country ".

14 - No imprint shall be made on the flag nor shall it be marred by an advertisement, or in any manner desecrated. It shall not be worn as a whole or part of costume . It shall not be used as a pennant in the hood or any part of motor vehicles exept in celebration of the Independence day or on such other patriotic occasions as the President may designate.

15 - It is inappropriate to use the flag in a dancing pavillion or in any place where hilarity is prevaling.Its use inside or outside cockpits, clubs or other places where gambling or other vices are held is prohibited.

16 - When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it should not be allowed to fall to the ground but should be carried aloft to wawe out, forming a distinctive feature of the ceremony. The flag shall never be used as a covering for the statue.

17 - A National flag worn out through wear and tear should not be thrown on a garbage heap or used as a rag: it should be reverently burned to avoid misure or desecrated thereof.
 
THE PRESENT SEAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
     
FOR CONTACTS, SUGGESTIONS AND CORRECTIONS WRITE TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL ADRESSES :
watawat@virgilio.it paopadd@alice.it
 
NOTE: Reproduction of the flag images is allowed for everybody citing the source, but is
forbidden for commercial use