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THE PHILIPPINE FLAG
As early as the 12th century, the natives of the archipelago
that would become the Republic of the Philippines already had banners to
showcase the tribes and hierarchy they belong. The archipelago was divided into
balangays, and banwas, each having a chieftain called datu or lakan having his
own symbolic banner to represent him. Each region is ruled by a sultan or
rajah, also having his own banner which is unfurled wherever he goes.
During the earliest rebellion against Spain such as the Magalat Revolt (1596-1597), Itneg Revolt (1625-1627), Dagohoy Revolt (1744-1829), the Silang Uprising (1762-1763), the Palaris Revolt (1762-1764), banners were unfurled, but these were localized and represent only specific areas or entities.
The First Philippine Flags
After establishing the Katipunan on July 7, 1892, Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897) asked his wife Gregoria de Jesus (1875-1943) to conceptualize a flag to represent the Philippine revolutionary society. It was of rectangular form, red all throughout, bearing three letter Ks in white and arranged horizontally, which stood for “Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” (Supreme and Most Consecrated Society of the Children of the Nation).
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Other variations of this flag, such as showing the
three Ks in triangular formation or just a single K in the middle were also
used by Katipuneros. There were also
variations such as the flags of the Magdiwang and Magdalo faction of the Katipunan
bearing a sun with the baybayin
letter K in the middle, with the former having 16 rays and the latter eight
rays.
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| Flags of the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan (1896) |
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| First National Flag called Bukang-Liwayway ng Himagsikan (August 26, 1896) |
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Aside from these, there were other flags of historical significance like the one used by Mariano Llanera (1855-1942), which Bonifacio called “Bungo ni Llanera” (Llanera’s Skull); the “Watawat ng Matagumpay” (Flag of the Triumphants), which was first used by Pio del Pilar (1860-1931) on July 11, 1895; and the flag used by General Gregorio del Pilar (1875-1899) patterned after the flag of Cuba, which was also in an ongoing revolution against Spain.
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Flag of Independence
The Philippine flag undergone several evolutions. On its third phase and during the proclamation of independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, a tri-color flag – Bandera de Junta Patriotica – was officially unfurled by Ambrosio Rianzales Bautista (1830-1903). Except for the mythical face of the sun and the margins of the equilateral triangle with the edge of the flag, this bandera resembles our present-day flag. It was sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Marino de Agoncillo (1859-1946) with the help of his daughter Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad (a niece of Dr. Jose Rizal, 1879-1900). It was brought to the Philippines by General Emilio Aguinaldo (1869-1964) and first displayed in battle on May 28, 1898. This flag underwent several changes in specification and color, but the overall design remained the same.
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The National Flag’s Specification
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.
On March 25, 1936, President Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1944) issued Executive Order No. 23 which provided for the technical description and specifications of the Philippine flag. 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, 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. The exact shades of colors, however, were not precisely defined. These specifications have remained unchanged and in effect up to the present.
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| Dimensions and technical description of the Philippine Flag |
The Blue Debate
With the legalization of the Philippine
flag, the color of the cloth available in most stores was the navy blue of the
flag of the United States, so the flag from 1919 onwards adopted the navy blue
color (instead of sky blue or the lighter blue) for the Philippine flag.
In the initial phase of the flag’s
design, Apolinario Mabini (1864-1903) suggested the azul celeste (sky blue) color of the upper portion of the flag,
which was said to have been adopted. The first flag, however, no longer exist.
There was no physical evidence to show the real shade of blue that was used for
the first flag.
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| The Making of the Philippine Flag by Fernando Amorsolo |
Historically, the Cuban flag made in
1849 by Miguel Teurbe Tolon (1820-1857) and Narciso Lopez (1797-1851) was one
of the inspirations considered in the design of the Philippine flag. The lighter
blue color of the Cuban flag is much nearer to the sky blue variant proposed by
Mabini and far different from the navy blue of the American flag. Similarly,
Juan Luna (1857-1899) used the sky blue shades in his paintings of the
Philippine flag. And of course if you sing the Philippine National Anthem,
you’ll come across “... sa langit mong bughaw...” (your blue sky).
Specifications for the flag’s colors with shades matching those used in the American flag were adopted by the National Historical Institute in 1955. President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1917-1989) through Executive Order No. 1010 issued on February 25, 1985 instructed 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 declare that “the shade of the color blue was lighter than the dark blue color” at the time. The executive order did not specify a shade of blue to be adopted. The NHI in May 1985, adopted Cable No. 80176 or “Oriental Blue” for the new national flag. This was immediately overturned after the 1986 EDSA Revolt by the American-installed Cory Aquino (1933-2009) regime, and returned to the American navy blue variant. For the 1998 independence centennial celebrations, the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” (Republic Act 8491) was passed designating royal blue as the official color variant. This was sort of a compromise to settle earlier debates.
There is No Yellow
According to the accounts between Emilio Aquinaldo,
Apolinario Mabini, Marcela Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa, when the colors of
the Philippine flag were being discussed, the agreed upon colors were red,
white and blue, taken similarly from the tri-color of France, but symbolizing
“courage,” “death before slavery,” and “sovereignty,” with the color gold
added, to be the color of the three stars and the mythical sun to symbolize the
independence that will be declared to be firm and absolute. The color yellow
was never discussed. The four colors – red, white, blue, and gold – was
officially adopted on May 19, 1898.
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| World Atlas entry about the Philippine Flag |
It’s unsure how the color yellow got mixed up in our National
colors. The basis perhaps for the claim of yellow color was the faded photo
samplings of the original Philippine flag. To repeat “faded.” Republic Act 8491
(particularly Section 28) states that the color is “golden yellow.” Gold
coloring when it fades becomes yellowish. Former DECS Secretary Alejandro R. Roces
said they (the lawmakers that passed RA 8491) only got confused and misled, so
they added the word “yellow,” and the gold became “golden yellow.” It is,
however, clearer in the Filipino version of the law where the color is
indicated as “ginintuan” (golden). Pantone 80068 is much nearer to the color
gold than yellow.
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| Section 28 of Republic Act 8491 |
To be more blunt, only idiots and political sycophants would want the color yellow in the national emblems – the color of cowardice, jealousy, and treachery.
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| A page taken from Tagalog Klasiks #79 (June 12, 1952) |
Symbolism
The Philippine national flag had a
rectangular shape that consist of a white equilateral triangle on the hoist,
symbolizing equality and fraternity (and in memory of the Katipunan); an upper
horizontal blue field for peace and justice; and a lower horizontal red field
for patriotism and valor. In the center of the white triangle is an eight-ray
golden sun symbolizing unity and freedom. Each ray of the sun represents each
of the first eight provinces that started the 1896 Philippine Revolution
against Spain: Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna,
and Batangas. Three five-pointed stars, one for each of the triangle’s points,
stand for the three major geographical island groups that comprise the
Philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The Philippines does not utilize a separate war flag; instead, the national flag itself is used for this purpose. This flag is unique in the sense that it 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. Historical examples of this wartime reversal in orientation are during the Revolution of 1896, the Philippine-American War, World War II, and during the 1986 EDSA Revolt and the subsequent coup d’etat during President Aquino’s regime where the soldiers displayed inverted flags and shoulder bands.
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Use and Misuse
The flag may be flown at half-mast as a
sign of mourning. Upon the official announcement of the death of the President
or former President, the flag will be flown at half-mast for ten days. On the
other hand, following the death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice, the
Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the flag will
be flown at half-mast for seven days. When flown at half-mast, the flag should
be first hoisted to the peak for a moment then lowered to the half-mast
position. It should be raised to the peak again before it is lowered for the
day.
Aside from government officials, the
flag may also be used to cover the caskets of soldiers, 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.
Under Republic Act 8491, it is against the law to deface, tear or write anything on the flag. It cannot be used as a drapery, festoon, tablecloth, covering, upholstery or as a part of a costume or a uniform; as a tag, label, trademark or part of any merchandise or in any form of commercial advertisement; or as a pennant in the hood, side, back and top of motor vehicles. Moreover, the flag should not be displayed under any painting, picture or platform. It should not be displayed in leisure clubs, casinos, and other places of vice or frivolity.
MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!
MABUHAY ANG BAYANG MAHARLIKA!
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