SafekipediaFlag of the Philippines
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The national flag of the Philippines is called the Three Stars and a Sun. It has two equal horizontal bands, one royal blue and one crimson red, with a white triangle on the left side.
Inside this triangle is a golden-yellow sun with eight rays. The sun stands for the eight provinces that rebelled Against the Spanish long ago.
At each corner of the white triangle are five-pointed golden stars. These stars represent the three main island groups of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The white triangle stands for liberty, equality, and fraternity.
One special feature of the flag is that it can show a time of danger. If the red part is at the top, it means the country is in danger. This is done by turning the flag upside-down.
Design
The flag of the Philippines has two equal horizontal stripes. The top stripe is royal blue, and the bottom stripe is crimson red. In the left corner, there is a white triangle with a golden-yellow sun in the middle. The sun has eight rays and represents the eight provinces that fought for independence from Spain in 1896. At each corner of the white triangle is a five-pointed star. These stars stand for the three main island groups of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The flag’s length is twice its width. The white triangle’s sides are the same length as the flag’s width. The blue stripe stands for peace, truth, and justice, while the red stripe stands for patriotism and bravery. The white triangle means liberty, equality, and unity.
History
See also: Flags of the Philippine Revolution and Evolution of the Philippine Flag
The Philippine flag was designed by Emilio Aguinaldo. It was first used in battle on May 28, 1898, after the Spanish army lost. The flag was raised when the country declared independence on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite.
The flag shows a white triangle with a yellow sun and three stars. The sun has eight rays, and each star stands for one of the main island groups of the Philippines. The blue stripe means loyalty, and the red stripe means bravery. These colors and symbols show the spirit and story of the Filipino people.
Chronology
See also: List of flags of the Philippines
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Spanish East Indies (1565–1898) | |||
| 1565–1762, 1764–1821 | Flag used when the Philippine Islands were a Colony of New Spain. | The Cross of Burgundy: a red saltire resembling two crossed, roughly-pruned branches, on a white field. | |
| 1762–1764 | Flag during the brief British occupation of Manila, as used in occupied Manila and Cavite. | The flag of the British East India Company before 1801: A flag with red and white stripes with the Kingdom of Great Britain's Union Flag as a canton. The Union flag bears red cross on a white field, commonly called St George's Cross, superimposed on a white saltire on a blue field, known as St Andrew's Cross. Also known as the "King's Colours". | |
| 1821–1873 | Used during Spanish East Indies period. | Three horizontal stripes of red, weld-yellow and red, the centre stripe being twice as wide as each red stripe with arms in the first third of the weld-yellow stripe. The arms are crowned and vertically divided, the left red field with a tower representing Castille, the right white field with a lion representing León. | |
| 1873–1874 | Used by the Spanish East Indies under the First Spanish Republic. | Three horizontal stripes: red, weld-yellow and red, the yellow strip being twice as wide as each red stripe with arms in the first third of the yellow stripe. Royal crown removed from arms. | |
| 1874–1898 | Used during Spanish East Indies after the restoration of the Spanish monarchy. | The flag of the Kingdom of Spain used prior to the First Spanish Republic was reinstated. | |
| Philippine Revolution – First Philippine Republic | |||
| 1898–1901 | The flag design was conceived by President Emilio Aguinaldo. The exact shade of blue is debated; many variants were used by subsequent governments. | Sewn by Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad in Hong Kong and first flown in battle on May 28, 1898. It was formally unfurled during the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the flag of the First Philippine Republic, on June 12, 1898, by President Aguinaldo. It contains a mythical sun (with a face) similar to the Sun of May in other former Spanish colonies; the triangle of Freemasonry; the eight rays representing eight rebellious provinces of the Philippines first placed under martial law by the Governor-General. Some flags carry the Spanish texts: Fuerzas Expedicionarias del Norte de Luzon on its obverse and Libertad Justicia e Ygualdad on its reverse, which means "Northern Luzon Expeditionary Forces" and "Liberty, Justice, and Equality" respectively. | |
| American and Commonwealth Period (1898–1946) | |||
| 1898–1908 | Used while under direct administration from the United States. | The Philippine Commission, passed Act No. 1697 or the Flag Law of 1907, that outlawed the display of Katipunan flags, banners, emblems, or devices in the American-controlled Philippine Islands. The same law prohibited the playing of the national anthem. Thirteen horizontal stripes of alternating red and white representing the original Thirteen Colonies; in the canton, white stars on a blue field, the number of stars increased as the United States expanded its territory. | |
| 1908–1912 | Variant after Oklahoma became a state | ||
| 1912–1919 | Variant after Arizona and New Mexico achieved statehood | ||
| 1919–1936 | From October 30, 1919, two flags were flown in the Philippines: the U.S. flag and the flag conceived by Emilio Aguinaldo which was made the national flag of the Philippines with the repealing of Act No. 1696. | The American flag remained unchanged since 1919. The Philippine flag was officially adopted on March 26, 1920. The design conceived by Emilio Aguinaldo remained but the shades of blue and red were adopted from the American flag. The sun's face was removed, but its stylized rays were retained. Many versions of the flag existed as no official design had been codified. | |
| 1936–1946 | Specifications standardized; Defined under Executive Order No. 23, s. 1936 which was signed on March 25, 1936. The de facto shade of blue used was Cable No. 70077 or "National Flag Blue" by the Reference Guide of the Textile Color Card Association of the United States. The triangle was made equilateral and the sun's rays were also further simplified, achieving its present form. Also used by the Commonwealth government-in-exile from 1942 to 1945. | ||
| Japanese Period (1942–1945) | |||
| 1942–1943 | Used during the Japanese Occupation. | The Japanese flag as it appeared until 1999: a red sun-disc, shifted 1% left of centre, on a white field. | |
| 1943–1945 | Used during the Second Republic. | Emilio Aguinaldo's flag which featured an anthropomorphic sun, hoisted upon proclamation of the Second Republic. | |
| 13 December 1943 | Used during the inauguration of the Second Republic. | The original specifications of the flag as used by the Commonwealth government was readopted pursuant to Executive Order 17 issued on December 13, 1943. | |
| Sovereignty (1946–present) | |||
| 1946–1985 | Following independence, the 1936 design specifications standardized by President Manuel L. Quezon sported a shade of blue currently called National Flag Blue. Initially having de facto standing, it was officially adopted in 1955. In 1985, the shade of blue was updated to Oriental Blue, this change would later be rescinded in favor of pre-1985 National Flag Blue. In 1998, the flag gained its present definitive shade of blue currently called Royal Blue. | Defined under Executive Order No. 23, s. 1936 dated March 25, 1936. The shade of blue used here is Cable No. 70077 or "National Flag Blue" by the Reference Guide of the Textile Color Card Association of the United States. The particular shade of blue had de facto standing until January 24, 1955, when President Ramón Magsaysay upon the recommendation of the Philippine Heraldry Committee (PHC) officially adopted Cable No. 70077 or "National Flag Blue" as the official shade of blue to be used. | |
| 1985–1986 | Executive Order No. 1010, s. 1985 was issued by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on February 25, 1985, instructing the National Historical Institute (NHI) "to restore the original color of the First Philippine Flag" amidst debate on the shade used in the original flag. The executive order declared that "the shade of the color blue was lighter than the present dark blue". The executive order did not specify a shade of blue to be adopted. A de facto version of the flag which featured a light blue was used in April 1985 despite NHI not having announced its recommendation. The NHI in May 1985, adopted Cable No. 80176 or "Oriental Blue" for the new national flag. | ||
| 1986–1998 | 1936 version of the flag restored after the 1986 People Power Revolution. President Corazon C. Aquino restored the pre-1985 National Flag Blue specifications of the flag through Executive Order No. 292, s. 1987 which was signed on July 25, 1987. | ||
| 1998–present | The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (Republic Act. 8491, s. 1998) specifies the colors for the blue field Cable No. 80173; the white field, Cable No. 80001; the red field, Cable No. 80108; and the golden-yellow Stars and Sun, Cable No. 80068. The colors were introduced in the same year that the Centennial celebrations were to take place. | ||
Proposals
Skull and crossbones
In 1901, writer Mark Twain wrote about his views on some conflicts, including the Philippine-American War. He jokingly described what the flag might look like if controlled by America, with different colors and symbols.
Ninth ray for the flag's sun
In 1969, ideas started at the University of the Philippines to add a ninth ray to the sun on the Philippine flag. Some think it should stand for a ninth province that rebelled in 1896. Others believe it should represent the Muslim and indigenous groups of the country.
Fourth star
One idea was to add not just a ninth ray, but also a fourth star to the flag. This star would stand for North Borneo, a place claimed by the Philippines but now part of Malaysia.
Crescent moon
In the 1990s, some suggested adding a crescent moon to the flag to represent the Moro community.
Usage
Display
The Philippine flag is shown in government buildings, official homes, public squares, and schools every day. It is especially displayed on May 28 (National Flag Day) and June 12 (Independence Day). People can also display the flag on their properties, during sports events, and other times during the year.
It is not allowed to display the flag in certain places such as cockfights, casinos, nightclubs, and other places where fun activities happen. When showing the Philippine flag with another flag crossed, the Philippine flag should be on the left side. The flag should never be shown crossed with another Philippine flag. On a stage, the flag’s staff should be on the right side in front of the speaker.
Permanent display
Original named sites
By law, the Philippine flag must always be raised and lit up at night in certain important places.
Additional sites
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines can choose more places where the flag should always be displayed.
Half-mast
The flag can be flown at half-mast to show sorrow. If the president or a former president passes away, the flag should be at half-mast for ten days. For the vice president, chief justice, Senate president, or House speaker, it should be at half-mast for seven days. The flag is first raised to the top, then lowered to half-mast, and raised again before being lowered for the day.
In wakes and burials
The flag can be used to cover the coffin of a public official, government worker, or special civilians recognized by the country. The white triangle should be at the head, and the blue part should cover the right side of the coffin. The flag should never be put in the grave or touched the ground, but should be folded and given to the family.
As a war ensign
The Philippines does not have a separate war flag; the national flag is used for this purpose. In times of war, the red part is shown upwards and placed on the right when hung vertically. In peace times, the blue part is shown upwards.
Subdivision insignia
Using the Philippine flag in local government seals is not encouraged, except in special cases like Kawit, Cavite, where the flag is part of the town's history.
In intellectual property
The Philippine flag cannot be trademarked because it belongs to everyone. However, businesses can use parts of the flag as long as it is not a full copy or a change that disrespects the flag.
Prohibited acts
It is against the law to damage, disrespect, or use the flag in wrong ways, such as using it as clothing, decorations, or for advertising. People who break these rules can be fined or put in jail. However, some uses are allowed, like putting small flag designs on sports uniforms or wearing flag pins.
| Site | Location | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Malacañang Palace | Manila | |
| Congress of the Philippines Building (Batasang Pambansa Complex) | Quezon City | |
| Supreme Court Building | Manila | |
| Rizal Monument | Manila | |
| Aguinaldo Shrine | Kawit, Cavite | |
| Barasoain Shrine | Malolos, Bulacan | |
| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | Taguig | |
| Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución (Mausoleum of the Veterans of the Revolution) | Manila | |
| All international ports of entry | Various (List of seaports / airports) | |
| Site | Location | Photo | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate of the Philippines Building (GSIS Building) | Pasay | NHI Board Resolution No. 2 (2004) | |
| Bonifacio Monument | Caloocan | ||
| Marcela Agoncillo Historical Landmark | Taal, Batangas | ||
| Battle of Alapan | Imus, Cavite | NHCP Board Resolution No. 17 (2015) | |
| Santa Barbara Plaza | Santa Barbara, Iloilo | ||
| Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority | Olongapo | NHCP Board Resolution No. 8 (2017) | |
| Old Legislative Building | Manila | ||
| Angeles Heritage District | Angeles City | ||
| Liberty Shrine | Lapu-Lapu City | NHCP Board Resolution No. 10 (2020) |
Relevant customs
Pledge
Main article: Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine flag is said while standing with the right hand raised, palm open, at shoulder height. People who cannot say the pledge can still show respect by standing.
The law does not say which language the pledge must be said in, but it is in the Filipino language.
Flag anthem
Main article: Lupang Hinirang
There are different versions of the national anthem, but only the Filipino version is officially recognized. The Flag and Heraldic Code says Lupang Hinirang must always be sung in Filipino.
National Flag Day
The National Flag Day in the Philippines is celebrated every May 28, the day of the 1898 Battle of Alapan. The official time for flying the national flag starts on May 28 and ends on June 12 each year. Homes, businesses, and public places can fly the flag from a day in May until June 30.
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Flag of the Philippines, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.