| THE NATIONAL FLAG OF THE PHILIPPINES |
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The flag is horizontally divided into two fundamental colors, blue and red, with a white equilateral triangle based at the hoist side. At the center of the triangle is a golden yellow sun with eight primary rays, each containing three individual rays, and at each corner of the triangle is a five-pointed golden yellow star. The flag is displayed with the blue field on top in time of peace, and with the red field on top in time of war.
The flag's length is twice its width, which translates into an aspect ratio of 1:2. The sides of the white triangle are equal to the width of the flag. Each star is oriented such that it points towards the tip of the vertex at which it is located.
The Philippine flag can indicate a state of war when the red field is displayed on top, or on the observer's left when the flag is displayed vertically, with the white equilateral triangle at the top end.
DETALS OF THE SUN :
According to official sources, the white triangle stands for equality and fraternity; the blue field for peace, truth and justice; and the red field for patriotism and valor.[4] The eight primary rays of the sun represent the first eight provinces: Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Morong (now Nueva Ecija ), Pampanga, and Tarlac) that sought independence from Spain and were placed under martial law by the Spaniards at the start of the Philippine Revolution in 1896. The three stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
However, the symbolism given in the 1898 Proclamation of Philippine Independence differs from the current official explanation. It says that the white triangle signifies the emblem of the Katipunan, the secret society that opposed Spanish rule. It says the flag's colors commemorate the flag of the United States as a manifestation of gratitude for American protection against the Spanish during the Philippine Revolution. It also says that one of the three stars represents the island of Panay, rather than the entire Visayas.. |
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| The flag's colors are specified by Republic Act 8491 in terms of their cable number in the system developed by the Color Association of the United States. The official colors and their approximations in other color spaces are :
Scheme Blue Red White Yellow
Cable No. 80173 80108 80001 80068
Pantone 286 186 n.a. 116
RGB 0-56-168 206-17-38 255-255-255 252-209-22
CMYK C100-M60-Y0-K5 C0-M90-Y65-K10 n.a. C0-M18-Y85-K0 |
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Philippines Free Press
HOW OUR FLAG FLEW AGAIN
June 9, 1956
The flag was prohibited for 12 years. Tears of joy were shed when flag law was repealed
By Jose A. Quirino
ONE of the saddest events in Philippine history occurred on September 6, 1907, the day the Filipino flag was proscribed. The incidents which led to the first proscription of the Sun and Stars (the public display of the flag was also prohibited during the early part of the Japanese occupation) and the subsequent lifting of such a proscription bear recalling.
By the time the first Philippine republic was proclaimed and by the time the flag was proclaimed as the republic's political symbol on June 12, 1898, almost all Filipinos realized the importance of a national standard in united them in the fight for independence. Even with the establishment of a civil government by the American authorities of the turn of the century, Filipinos still kept their own versions of the national standard. Long before the Flag Act was approved, the public display of the Filipino flag was banned. Any person who used any button, pin, watch chain, or trinket with the colors or design of the Philippine flag could be prosecuted and incarcerated by the Constabulary. The ban was an unwritten one, though according to international customs and usage, the ruling power could formally proscribe the display of the flag. But still, during the military occupation, the display or possession of the flag was considered an act of disloyalty, if not hostility, to the United States and its constituted government in the islands.
Although the unwritten ban on the public use of the national colors was relaxed after the establishment of a civil government, many Filipinos hid or destroyed their national standard because they did not want to be questioned by the authorities. The bolder ones, however, began publicly displaying the national colors, occasionally even during parades. This resulted in several incidents which, finally, led to the formal proscription of the flag. For example, during the campaign for the election of deputies to the Philippine Assembly on July 30, 1907, political supporters organized parades in which were displayed Filipino flags. In several instances, the local banners were bigger than the American flags and were displayed at the right side of the latter. Then, during a public celebration in Caloocan, Rizal, a group of patriots, shouted: "Down with the Americans! Out with the Americanistas." This caused an uproar which embarrassed the American community.
Such patriotic and revolutionary outbursts on the part of the Filipinos prompted the newspapers to editorialize on the matter. Members of the American community, on the other hand, held public meetings demanding the formal proscription of the Filipino flag. The Manila Times, then an American newspaper, plugged for tolerance on the part of the Americans. In its editorial of August 12, 1907, it observed: "The Filipino flag and the Filipino anthem may not be to our liking and may cause us a wry face in the swallowing, but Washington apparently thinks they are not improper and it is Washington which is running things in the Philippines: THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE FILIPINOS." El Renacimiento, the fighting periodical, took up the cudgels for the Filipinos and their flag. In its August 21, 1907 editorial, the paper declared: "The prohibition of the flag is an offense to the people, we repeat. The flag is the symbol of our ideal of liberty. To prohibit it, is it not tantamount to an attempt against the most sacred of our aspirations?"
Governor General James. F. Smith's reaction to all of this was one of understanding when he stated: "I am interested in the welfare of the Filipino people, but I love and am interested in my mother country, the United States. I wish to be tolerant, and when the army authorities told me that such tolerance would be of evil results in the future, I answered that we should not be very exacting because the Filipino flag symbolized an ideal bathed in blood and tears."
On August 23, 1907, members of the American community held a meeting at the Manila Grand Opera House and passed a resolution urging the proscription of the Filipino flag. On September 6, 1907, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 1696, common known as the Flag Law, entitled: "An act to prohibit the display of flags, banners, emblems, or devices used in the Philippine islands for the purpose of rebellion or insurrection against the authorities of the United States and the display of Katipunan flags, banners, emblems, or devices and for other purposes."
According to the late Major Emmanuel A. Baja, one of our most noted authorities on the Filipino flag, 13 bills and one resolution were drafted from 1908 to 1914 to repeal the Flag Law. Five of these were passed by the Philippine Assembly while the rest were pigeonholed. The Philippine Commission, however, did not act on the five bills passed by the Assembly.
Ban Scrapped
After the creation of a Philippine legislature consisting of an upper and lower house, attempts to abrogate the Flag Law fizzled out. On October 6, 1919, after the first World War, Speaker Sergio Osmeņa, then vacationing in Japan, wrote Senate President Manuel L. Quezon and said, among other things: "In view of the fact that circumstances have totally changed, I believe that the occasion has come to submit again to the governor-general the question of our flag, that he may be persuaded this time to withdraw his objection to the repeal of the law which prohibits its use."
Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison, a man who was sympathetic toward the Filipino cause, urged the repeal of the Flag Law in his 17th annual message to the Legislature. That same day, October 16, 1919, Senator Rafael Palma, taking a cue from Harrison's message, sponsored House Senate Bill No. 1 scrapping the ban on the flag. The senators crossed party lines and the bill was passed. The following day, October 17, the bill was sent to the House of Representatives. The fiery solon from Batangas, Rep. Claro Mayo Recto, delivered a speech on the floor in behalf of the Democrats and declared: "The ancient people used to mark with a white or black stone the lucky or unlucky events that came to alter the placidness of their primitive and simple life...This day should certainly be marked with a white stone in the annals of our country, privileged quarry in the world; because on this day, gentlemen, the representatives of the people, in the exercise of their high attributes and prerogatives, will resolve unanimously that there be hoisted, never again to lower down, very high in space, where it may be kissed by the sun or caressed by the storms, and where it may not be reached by the mud splatter of our journey or the noise of our petty grudges, that immortal banner, blessed among all."
The bill repealing the Flag Law was approved in both houses and became Act No. 2871 on October 22, 1919. On October 24, 1919, Harrison issued Proclamation No. 18 setting aside October 30, 1919 as a public holiday to be known as "Flag Day." (Since then there have been other flag days such as May 28 and June 12. Latest, however, is the observance of Flag Day on June 12 of every year in accordance with a proclamation issued by the late President Quirino.)
Filipinos all over the country rejoiced over the repeal of the Flag Law and expressed their joy by holding parades and programs. Every house "blossomed" with replicas of the national standard. Even the trees were decorated with small flags. Center of the celebration was Manila where people shouted with joy and the children waved the national colors. Jose P. Bautista, Manila Times editor, told this writer that there was one incident which marred the festivities when one American tried to haul down a Filipino flag at the Luneta. The culprit was arrested by the police.
On October 27, 1919, Gen. Aguinaldo, who was then sick and confined in the Philippine General Hospital, wrote Senate President Quezon for the honor of bearing the flag during the main program to be held on the occasion of Flag Day, October 30. But Quezon denied the request of the Grand Old Man of the revolution and was severely criticized by the newspapers for refusing to grant what one paper termed "a very reasonable request and which the old general deserves."
The Cablenews-American, in its issue of November 1, 1919, reported: "The presence of a delegation of marines and sailors (in Cavite) together with a band from the Naval Base contributed much to make the occasion more impressive. The American and Filipino flags were hoisted simultaneously by the Provincial Governor and the Commandant of the Naval Base respectively, while the Marine Band played. The celebration was made still more impressive by the fact that the Filipino Flag which was hoisted was a historic one, it being the second Filipino Flag made, the one used by the battalion of General Trias during the revolution."
It is said that many people shed tears of joy when the Filipino flag was publicly displayed after 12 long years (1907 to 1919) of proscription. |
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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. |
For more details on the Heraldic Code on the flag of the Philippines see the following book :
THE FLAG AND HERALDIC CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
( Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act. No.
8491) by
The NATIONAL HISTORICAL INSTITUTE |
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