Flag of the Philippines

Pambansang Watawat ("National Flag") Tatlong bituin at isang araw (Three Stars and a Sun)
Adopted June 12, 1898

Design

A horizontal bicolor of blue over red, with a white equilateral triangle at the hoist containing three, 5-pointed gold stars at its vertices, and an 8-rayed gold sun at its center. Emilio Aguinaldo

Designed by

The national flag of the Philippines (Tagalog: Pambansang Watawat ng Pilipinas) is a horizontal flag bicolor

with equal bands of royal blue and scarlet red, and with a white equilateral triangle at the hoist; in the center of the triangle is a golden yellow sun with eight primary rays, each containing three individual rays, which represent the country's provinces

At each vertex of the triangle is a fivepointed golden yellow star,

Each of which, represent the country's 3 main islands, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

This flag can indicate a state of war if it is displayed with the red side on top

The eight-ray sun

The white triangle stands for equality and fraternity The blue field for peace, truth and justice; and red field for patriotism and valor. The sun for unity, freedom and People's Democracy. While the eight rays of the sun stand for eight provinces to revolt against the Spanish colonizers

The three stars symbolize Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The 8 rays represent the 8 provinces that took part in the initial revolution against the Spanish.

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, who wrote the Philippine Declaration of Independence and who read it on the occasion of its proclamation on June 12, 1898, has listed the eight provinces as

Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, and Batangas, saying that these eight were declared in a state of war almost from the start of the revolution.

Historian Ambeth Ocampo has supported this, as have other sources.

Ocampo has also included Tarlac among the eight listed instead of Bataan, as have other sources.

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 Visayan islands. The proclamation also declares that

the sun represents the gigantic steps made by the sons of the country along the path of Progress and Civilization, and lists Bataan among the eight provinces symbolized by the sun's rays

The first flag of the Katipunan It has been common since the 1960s to trace the development of the Philippine flag to

the various war standards of the individual leaders of the Katipunan, a pseudo-masonic revolutionary movement that opposed Spanish rule in the Philippines and led the Philippine Revolution. However, while some symbols common to the Katipunan flags would be adopted into the iconography of the Revolution, it is inconclusive whether these war standards can be considered precursors to the present Philippine flag

The first flag of the Katipunan was a red rectangular flag with

a horizontal alignment of three white Ks (an acronym for the Katipunan's full name,

Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan - Supreme and Venerable Society of the
Sons of the Nation).

The flag's red field symbolized blood, as members of the Katipunan signed their membership papers in their own blood

The various leaders of the Katipunan, such as Andrs Bonifacio, Mariano Llanera, and Pio del Pilar, also had individual war standards. The organization was represented in Cavite province by two factions:

the Magdiwang faction and the Magdalo faction, with each adopting a flag.

Both used a white sun. Instead of the letter K the flags bore the symbol for the syllable ka in the pre-Hispanic baybayin writing system.

The Katipunan adopted a new flag in 1897 during an assembly at Naic, Cavite.

This new flag was red and depicted a white sun with a face. The sun had eight rays, representing the eight provinces that Spain had placed under martial law

The modern design of the Philippine flag was conceptualized by President Emilio Aguinaldo during his exile in Hong Kong in 1897.

The first flag was sewn by

Marcela Marino de Agoncillo with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad (a niece of Propagandista Jos Rizal).

It was displayed in battle on May 28, 1898

The flag was formally unfurled during the proclamation of independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. However, a Manila Times article by Augusto de Viana, Chief History Researcher, National Historical Institute, mentions assertions in history textbooks and commemorative rites that

the flag was first raised in Alapan, Imus, Cavite, on May 28, 1898,
citing Presidential Proclamation No. 374, issued by then-President Diosdado Macapagal on March 6, 1965.

The article goes on to claim that historical records indicate that the first display of the Philippine flag

took place in Cavite City, when General Aguinaldo displayed it during the first fight of the Philippine Revolution

The original design of the flag adopted a mythical sun with a face, a symbol common to several former Spanish colonies. The particular shade of blue of the original flag has been a source of controversy.

Based on anecdotal evidence and the few surviving flags from the era, historians argue that the colors of the original flag were the same blue and red as found on the flag of Cuba. The flag of Cuba influenced the design of the flag of the Philippines as Cuba's revolution against Spain inspired, to some degree, the Philippine Revolution.

Hostilities broke out between the Philippines and the United States in 1899. The flag was first flown with the red field up on February 4, 1899 to show that a state of war existed. Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans two years later, and swore allegiance to the United States.

With the defeat of the Philippine Republic, the Philippines was placed under American colonial rule and the display of the Philippine flag was declared illegal by the Sedition Act of 1907. This law was repealed on October 30, 1919. With the legalization of the Philippine flag, the cloth available in most stores was the red and blue of the flag of the United States, so the flag from 1919 onwards adopted the navy blue color. The Philippine Legislature passed Act. No 2928 on March 26, 1920, which legally adopted the Philippine flag as the official flag of the Philippine Islands. Up until the eve of World War II, Flag Day was celebrated on annually on October 30, commemorating the date the ban on the flag was lifted

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated in 1935.

Among the provisions of the order was the definition of the triangle at the hoist as an equilateral triangle, the definition of the aspect ratio at 1:2,

On March 25, 1936, President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order No. 23 which provided for the technical description and specifications of the flag.

The exact shades of colors, however, were not precisely defined. These specifications have remained unchanged and in effect to the present.

the precise angles of the stars, the geometric and aesthetic design of the sun, and the formal elimination of the mythical face on the sun.

In 1941, Flag Day was officially moved to June 12, commemorating the date that Philippine independence was proclaimed in 1898

The flag was once again banned with the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines beginning December 1941, to be hoisted again with the establishment of the Japanese-sponsored Second Republic of the Philippines. In ceremonies held in October 1943, Emilio Aguinaldo hoisted the flag with the original Cuban blue and red colors restored. The flag was initially flown with the blue stripe up, until President Jose P. Laurel proclaimed the existence of a state of war with the Allied Powers in 1944. The Commonwealth government-in-exile in Washington DC continued to use the flag with the American colors, and had flown it with the red stripe up since the initial invasion of the Japanese. With the combined forces of the Filipino & American soldiers and the liberation of the Philippines in 1944 to 1945, the flag with the American colors was restored, and it was this flag that was hoisted upon the granting of Philippine independence from the United States on July 4, 1946

Color

The shade of blue used in the flag has varied over time, beginning with the original colour azul oscura.

Specifications for the flag's colours with shades matching those used in the American flag were adopted by the National Historical Institute in 1955. President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the colours restored to the original light blue and red of the Cuban flag in 1985, but this was immediately rescinded after the 1986 People Power Revolution that removed him from power. For the 1998 independence centennial celebrations, the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (RA 8491) was passed, designating royal blue as the official variant

The exact nature of this shade is uncertain, but a likely candidate is the blue of the Cuban flag, which a theory says influenced the flag's design.

Sun's rays

Prior to the 1998 independence centennial celebrations, the provincial government of Zambales lobbied that the sunburst design accommodate a ninth ray, reasoning that their province was also in a state of rebellion in 1896. The Centennial Commission however refuted this change, based on research by the National Historical Institute. In 2009, a senate bill was introduced to add an additional ray to represent the Moro, and as of September 24, 2009, it is in the process of bill reconciliation in Congress

The flag of the Philippines as conceived by Emilio Aguinaldo. Used from 1898 to 1901 (the shade of blue is still a matter of debate. 3 shades have sprung up and were used by the next administrations)

Flag used from 1919 to 1981. The shade of Blue used here is Navy Blue, following suit from the American Flag

The flag of the Philippines from 1943 to 1944 by the Second Philippine Republic

Flag used from 1981 to 1986. The shade of Blue used here is Light Blue, similar to the shade used in Cuban Flag at the time of the proclamation of the Philippine Declaration of Independence

Flag used from 1986 to 1998. This was used after the People Power Revolution

Flag used from 1998 to present. The shade of Blue used here is Royal, as a compromise. This was used for the Philippine Centennial Celebration

Section 10 of RA 8491 states that when the flag is displayed on a wall during peacetime, the blue field is to the observers' left, as shown here

The flag should be displayed in all government buildings, official residences, public plazas, and schools every day throughout the year. The days of the 28th of May (National Flag Day) and the 12th of June (Independence Day) are designated as flag days, during which

all offices, agencies and instrumentalities of government, business establishments, institutions of learning and private homes are enjoined to display the flag.

But in recent years, the flag days are now from May 28 to June 30 yearly

By law, the Philippine flag must be permanently hoisted and illuminated at night at the following locations:

Malacaang Palace, the Presidential Residence The Congress of the Philippines buildings:

Senate of the Philippines building House of Representatives of the Philippines building (Batasang Pambansa Complex)

Supreme Court of the Philippines building The Rizal Monument in Luneta, Manila

Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite Barasoain Shrine in Malolos, Bulacan Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucin All international ports of entry All other places as may be designated by the National Historical Institute

Half-mast

The flag may be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning.

Upon the official announcement of the death of the President or a former President, the flag should be flown at half-mast for ten days. The flag should be flown at half-mast for seven days following the death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice, the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives

The flag may also be required to fly at half-mast upon the death of other persons to be determined by the National Historical Institute, for a period less than seven days. The flag shall be flown at half-mast on all the buildings and places where the decedent was holding office, on the day of death until the day of interment of an incumbent member of the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, the Senate or the House of Representatives, and such other persons as may be determined by the National Historical Institute.

When flown at half-mast, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak for a moment then lowered to the half-mast position.

The flag may also be used to cover the caskets of the dead of the military, veterans of previous wars, national artists, and outstanding civilians as determined by the local government. In such cases, the flag must be placed such that the white triangle is at the head and the blue portion covers the right side of the casket. The flag should not be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground, but should be solemnly folded and handed to the heirs of the deceased

It should be raised to the peak again before it is lowered for the day.

Prohibited acts

According to Republic Act 8491 itself, the flag cannot be used in the following rationales:

Defacing or ridiculing the flag by dipping the flag as a salute, or adding additional marks on the flag, As a drapery, festoon, tablecloth, a covering, or as a part of a costume or a uniform

As a trademark or for commercial or agricultural labels or designs, As part of merchandise or in any advertisement or infomercial, As a pennant in the hood, side, back and top of motor vehicles

Moreover, the flag may not be displayed "horizontally face-up, or under any painting, picture or platform." It may also not be displayed in "discotheques, cockpits, night and day clubs, casinos, gambling joints and places of vice or where frivolity prevails."

Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine flag (distinct from the Patriotic Oath of Allegiance) should be recited while standing with the right hand with palm open raised shoulder high. Individuals whose faith or religious beliefs prohibit them from making such pledge are permitted to excuse themselves,

but are required by law to show full respect when the pledge is being rendered by standing at attention

Ako ay Pilipino Buong katapatang nanunumpa Sa watawat ng Pilipinas At sa bansang kanyang sinasagisag Na may dangal, katarungan at kalayaan Na pinakikilos ng sambayanang Maka-Diyos Maka-tao Makakalikasan at Makabansa.

The law makes no statement regarding the language in which the pledge must be recited, but the pledge is written (and therefore recited) in the Filipino language