THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL FLAG

The Filipino Flag

The Filipino flag has an interesting story. It was made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo, wife of
Don Felipe Agoncillo. During his exile in Hongkong, General Aguinaldo designed the flag as it looks today.
Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo sewed it with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Josefina Herbosa de
Natividad(niece of Dr. Jose Rizal). It was made of silk with a white triangle at the left containing a
sunburst of eight rays at the center, a five pointed star at each angle of the triangle, an upper stripe of
dark blue, and a lower stripe of red. The white triangle stands for equality; the upper blue stripe for
peace, truth and justice; and the lower red stripe for patriotism and valor. The sunburst of eight rays
inside the triangle represented the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spain. The three stars
symbolized Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The flag which Mrs. Agoncillo made in Hongkong was taken to the Philippines by General Aguinaldo. It
was hoisted officially at Kawit on June 12, 1898, in connection with the proclamation of Philippine
independence. From that date, it has served as the National Flag of the Filipinos.

The Philippines : A unique nation Dr. Zonia A. Zaide

http://filipino.biz.ph/history/flags.html

2Senator Richard Gordon, reportedly, proposed the inclusion of an additional ray in the rays of the sun
in the Philippine flag. The 9th ray, he claimed, will represent the Mindanao folks who among the first
Filipinos fought Spaniards, aside from the eight provinces we known 'til today.But did you know that it's
Lanao del Sur representative Sultan Omar Dianalan who first gave this idea of having a 9th ray?He
actually filed a bill for this during 1970s.Debate heated up because some argued that Mindanao has
represented already by one of the three stars in our flag.Through the years, there were others tried to
proposed new insertions in our flag.Some insists for the inclusion of a crescent to symbolize Moslems in
the Philippines.There are even others questioned the shade of blue in the flag... should it be China blue,
sky blue, azure, navy blue or dark blue?

According to an article which I've obtained from the National Historical Institute's website, as of the
opinion of the daughter of Marcela Agoncillo, one of the flag-makers, is concerned... if there's really an
error in the color of the flag, why did Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo [who made the sketch of the flag] never
question it?

1985 when then President Ferdinand Marcos created an executive order stating that the shade of the
color blue in the flag should be lighter than navy blue BUT DARKER than sky blue or azure.
True enough, there are numerous controversies hound RP flag!The Flag Law of 1907 which was enacted
during the takeover of the Americans in the Philippines, prompted the Filipinos not to use a flag and
even display it inside their homes!

The said law was made amid the so-called mutual distrust among Pinoys and American rulers... not until
October 1919, the Flag Law of 1907 was repealed, as approved and signed by Governor General Francis
Harrison.Even these days, many of us puzzled about the look and whereabouts of the original Philippine
flag sewn in Hong Kong and delivered here in the country in 1898.

ner.

Besides, it's our flag.

2. According to Gilbert Felongco, "Gulf News", 18 February 2009, the independent Senator Richard
Gordon proposed [again] on 17 February 2009 to add a ninth ray to the sun featured on the national flag
of Philippines. While the eight rays of the sun represent the eight original provinces that rose against the
Spanish colonial rule, the ninth ray would "Filipino Muslims' contribution to national freedom" and
"acknowledge the bravery of Muslim Filipinos".

3.The original flag, allegedly, was lost somewhere in Tayug, Pangasinan.

But others believe that the flag is the one placed in the Aguinaldo Museum in Baguio City while some
says the Americans have it.Fine, fine, fine... should we really waste our time on this kind of debate?
Maybe... at least. Just we hope, some of these issues will be resolved so

alt

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National Flag Days in the philippines

What's National Flag Days? & Where's the Original Flag?

Jun 10, 2022

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The Philippine flag has been a symbol of freedom and independence for more than a century. It also
represents the aspirations and sentiments of Filipinos as they strive for independence from foreign
powers. It means the country's love of its homeland and its citizens' unceasing quest for independence.
It also reminds us how much the Filipino people value unity, which binds them together.

History of the Philippine flag

Our nation's first flag was a red piece of cloth with the letters "K.K.K." arranged in a row in the center of
the rectangular field, unfurled during the "First Cry of the Revolution" in August 1896. An earlier version
of this flag had three K's arranged in an equilateral triangle, while later versions featured either one or
two K's within an eight-rayed sun.

Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionary leaders designed the Philippine flag during the second phase
of the Philippine Revolution against Spain. It was Marcela Mariño Agoncillo, wife of the first diplomat
Felipe Agoncillo, who hand-sewed the new flag, with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Delfina
Herbosa de Natividad.

What does the Philippine flag symbolize?

The Philippine flag holds a fascinating history and representation. The sun symbolizes liberty, with its
eight rays representing the first eight regions to revolt against Spain. The three stars represent the
Philippines' three largest islands: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The blue stripe denotes peace, truth,
and justice, while the white represents the aspiration for equality. Finally, the red stripe represents
heroism and patriotism. If the two stripes are switched, the country is at war.

National Flag Days Philippines

To commemorate the Philippine flag, Republic Act No. 8491 Section 26 declares May 28 to June 12
yearly National Flag Days. The Philippine flag days are meant to celebrate the Philippines' flag and all
that it stands for unity, freedom, and democracy. During the Philippine flag days, all offices, agencies,
and instrumentalities of government, business establishments, learning institutions, and private homes
are enjoined to display the flag.

Right now, the question is: Where is the original flag of the Philippines?

The flag flying over Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898, is still flying.
It's not just a metaphor. The first Philippine flag is still in the care of the Aguinaldo Museum in Baguio
City, where Emilio Aguinaldo himself unfurled it. He was then president of the Republic.

The Philippine flag is in danger of losing its battle with time. The Philippine flag is a relic of our history
and heritage, but the elements slowly destroy it.

But if a descendant of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo has his way, the country's first flag would be restored and
preserved.

This preservation method utilizes new technology to preserve the original state original Philippine flag
and to avoid any damage. The original Philippines flag has been held in a "dimly lit, temperature-
controlled room" at the General Emilio Aguinaldo Museum in Baguio's Happy Glen Loop. In this way,
there is an assurance that the flag will last longer and will be preserved.

The flag has been kept at the National Museum in Manila for decades, but recently it was moved to a
glass case so that people could see it. But even that hasn't been enough to keep it safe: it needs to be
preserved before it becomes too degraded by time.

The descendants of Aguinaldo say that this flag was the most upfront about its ideals because the words
"Libertad" and "Justicia" are stitched with gold silk thread on one side of the flag, while the phrase
"Fuerzas Expedicionarias del Norte de Luzón," runs across the other side.

The 119-year-old flag is placed in a dark room where the air temperature and humidity are carefully
controlled—and we're not talking about just any old dark room: It's dimly lit, too. This way, the original
Philippine flag will be preserved.

That's why the museum is asking Filipinos to visit their summer capital Baguio City and see the relic
while it remains intact. The flag is not just a symbol of our country, but this has been a testament to how
we fought for our freedom and how our ancestors fought the battle for the next generation.
If you are planning to visit Baguio City, you might consider visiting the General Emilio Aguinaldo Museum
in Aguinaldo Park, Happy Glen Loop. This Baguio tourist spot will not just feed your eyes but also ignite
the fire you have within as a Filipino.

If you want to stay in a condo in Baguio near this place or other Baguio tourist spots, Vista Residences
has an apartment in Baguio where you can visit. Take a look at Canyon Hill, Pinehill, and Brenthill Baguio.

Brenthill Baguio is where investors and tenants can enjoy a snug and colorful condominium living in a
spot where break and hustle collide at this pre-selling apartment for sale in Baguio City. It has the
standard unit kinds for residences, such as studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms with balconies.

Meanwhile, Pinehill will be a collection of studio and 1-bedroom apartments with a spectacular view
and surrounded by a dense pine forest, excellent for students or families that want to live in the
Summer Capital or visit. The 12-story vertical town will be a luxurious getaway set on a winding
mountainside with a spectacular view of lush pine forests that fade away into valleys and quaint
communities.

And for Canyon Hill this is a development of 2-bedroom condos with a fitness facility, multipurpose
function rooms, game room, and commercial spaces in each building. It will be on Pacdal Road, among
well-known academic institutions and attractions, including Wright Park and The Mansion.

These condo in Baguio will offer you an extra exciting Baguio experience. Try to add this to your bucket
list and make your Baguio stay worth the experience.