Philippine Flag

 During a press conference after this month's US-ASEAN summit, the United States committed a mistake in displaying the Philippine flag. Unique among flags, the flag as the ability to declare whether the Philippines is at peace or in a state of war. Blue field on top for peace, red field at war. Quite a blunder to commit by a country with such an intimate, if checkered relationship, with the island nation. It is uncertain whether AB-Noy (short for: Aquino, Benigno - "Noy") did not notice the error(quite unlikely given his proximity to the flag) or he was plain ignorant of the intricacies of the trappings of Philippine heraldry. Given the fact that we cannot ascertain whether the top leader of the country is knowledgeable with the nuances of the flag, let us take a closer look at the Philippine flag.

 

 The original flag was designed and sewn by revolutionaries while in exile in Hong Kong and unfurled on June 12, 1898 to signify the country's independence from Spain. 

Monument to ladies who sew the flag

Declaration of Independence from Spain

Current Flag (circa 1998)

Each part of the Philippine flag has a specific meaning. The Blue, White and Red fields stand for common unity and  noble desires, purity, and eagerness of the Filipino to shed blood for their country. The white triangle is symbolic of equality among men; the shape and symbolism forming part of the ethos of the Katipunan - the secret society responsible for fomenting revolution against Spain. The eight rays of the sun in the triangle represent the first eight united provinces that revolted for

Flag conveying state of war

independence. The three stars in the triangle stand for the three major geographical divisions of the country which are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Another feature unique to the Philippine flag is its ability to convey the status of the country. Peace is signified by a flag with the blue field on top, wartime with the red.

The current flag is the fourth manifestation of the original Philippine flag designed by the leaders of the Philippine revolution. Variations on the details of the flag, notably the presence of the mythical sun and the hues of the colors reflect the changing times in the country.

Philippine Flags(left to right) 1898 Revolution flag with the mythical sun; 1919 to 1981 American occupation flag with the American navy blue and red; 1981 to 1986; Reintroduction of the original colors (though only a paler blue was available); 1998 Centennial flag with the royal blue as compromise between light and dark.