It’s National Flag Day

Do you know that today is National Flag Day?

In celebration of the Flag Reverence Day and for the benefit of blog buddies across the globe, please allow me to take this time to talk about the Philippine flag.

The Making:

During his exile in Hongkong in 1897, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo designed the Filipino flag as it looks today. The flag was sewn by Dona Marcela Marino de Agoncillo with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa de Natividad (niece of the Philippine National Hero - Dr. Jose P. Rizal). It was first raised during the declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. It was made of silk with a white triangle containing a sunburst of eight rays at the center, a five-pointed star at each angle of the triangle, a blue field and a red field. The white triangle stands for equality and fraternity; the blue field for peace, truth and justice; and red field for patriotism and valor. The eight rays of the sun stand for the first eight provinces that the colonizers have put under martial law. The three stars symbolize Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Proper Display And Use:

1. For household and office display, the flag must be displayed vertically, with the triangle on top. The blue field should be to the right (left of observer) and the red field to the left (right of the observer).
2. The flag should never be displayed horizontally except in flagpoles or hung fastened by its fly. The fly portion should always be free to move.
3. When flown from a flagpole, the flag should have its blue stripe on top in times of peace, and the red on top in times of war.
4. When displayed in the middle of the street, as between buildings or posts, the flag should be balanced vertically with the blue stripe pointing to north or east.
5. When a number of flags are grouped and displayed from stationary staffs, the Philippine flag should be in the center at the highest point, or at the right of the other flags. Also, it must always be in the peak, and not smaller than the other flags of pennants or organizations.
6. When displayed with another flag from crossed staffs, the Philippine flag should be on its right side, the left side of the observer. Its staff should be over the staff of the other flag. Two Philippine flags should never be displayed crossed staff.
7. When used on a speaker’s platform without the staff, it should hang vertically and placed above and behind the speaker. It should never be used to cover the speaker’s desk, or be draped over the front of the platform.
8. When mounted on a platform, the flag should be placed on the presiding officers’ right and a bit in front, as they face the congregation. Other flags should be on their left. However, when it is displayed on a level with the congregation, the flag is placed on the right of the congregation.
9. Torn, faded of worn-out flags should be replaced immediately. They should be disposed off or destroyed privately, if possible by burning.
10. There are exclusion on the use of the flag. The flag should not be used as part of, or as an entire costume. It should not be displayed in cockpits, dance halls, and centers of vice. It should not be used as presentation material in unveiling ceremonies.
11. Also, the flag should not be used as a curtain or a cover, although decorations of blue, white and red can be used. The blue color in the bunting should be at the top, or at the point of honor, and must be equal in width to the other colors.
12. The manufacture, sale, and purchase of all flags for government use and public displayed are regulated by Presidential directives. These processes require the earlier approval of the NHI.
13. The flag must be protected with careful consideration of its technical design, color, materials, and craftsmanship. Flag suppliers are obliged to register annually at the NHI, and are required to furnish the laboratory test results for every color of textile materials to be used in the flag’s manufacture.

Resources:

• Philippine Gov’t website
• http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippineflag.html
• Picture courtesy of Pinoy’s Best

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