Saturday, June 12, 2021

THE PHILIPPINE FLAG



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).

First flag of the Katipunan
(July 7, 1892)

         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.

Flags of the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan
(1896)

        What can be considered as the first official flag representing the Filipino nation was unfurled on August 26, 1896, at the first cry of the revolution against Spain in Pugadlawin (in present day Balintawak, Quezon City). It was a similar red flag with smaller three Ks below a blazing sun with 16 rays in the middle, aptly called  “Bukang-Liwayway ng Himagsikan” (Dawn of the Revolution).

First National Flag called Bukang-Liwayway ng Himagsikan
(August 26, 1896)

        At the Naic Assembly on March 17, 1897, the Katipunan leadership adopted a red flag showing a sun with a face and eight rays representing the first eight provinces that started hostilities against Spain and were placed under martial law by the Spanish colonial authorities. This same sun symbolism minus the face will later become part of the Philippine National Flag.

Flag of used in the Naic Assembly
(March 17, 1897)

        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.

Flags of Mariano Llanera, Pio de Pilar and Gregorio del Pilar
(1895-1897)

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.

The Flag of Philippine Independence
(First unfurled, May 28, 1898)

History of Philippine National Flag
(1899-Present)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 


How the Philippine Flag is displayed in times of war


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!

                                                o     O     o








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