Flag of Philippines

The national flag of the Philippines is a two-color flag with two horizontal stripes of blue and red and a white triangle in the center of which is a yellow sun with eight rays and three five-pointed stars.

What does the flag of the Philippines mean?

• The sun symbolizes freedom;
• the eight rays symbolize the eight provinces that rebelled against Spain; 
• three stars represent the three islands: Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao; 
• white symbolizes hope for equality, purity and honesty;
• blue stripe - peace, truth and justice; 
• the red stripe symbolizes patriotism and valor. 

However, when the blue and red stripes are reversed, it signals that the country is at war.

History of the Philippine flag

The Philippine flag was created during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. The women - Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Herbosa de Natividad - were tasked with creating a flag imbued with revolutionary ideals of freedom and independence. The flag depicts an eight-rayed golden sun, three stars representing different regions of the Philippines, blue, red and white colors symbolizing peace and truth, patriotism and valor, purity and honesty, respectively. The flag was first raised in battle on May 28, 1898, and on June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo announced the birth of a sovereign nation by displaying the Philippine flag on the balcony of his house. This flag became a symbol of national pride and the struggle for Philippine independence.

May 28 to June 12 has been declared as Philippine Flag Days, when Filipinos are encouraged to display the flag in their homes and public places. However, in the past, flag display has been restricted or banned. Under American colonial rule, particularly during the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1902, the use and display of the Philippine flag was extremely restricted. This was due to the fact that the flag was perceived as a symbol of resistance to the American authorities, a threat to their control. The ban was intended to suppress any form of opposition or demand for Philippine independence. The declaration of Philippine Flag Days is a kind of restoration of the right to fly the flag and symbolizes respect for the Philippine national heritage.

The Philippine flag, which had been hidden for decades, became a symbol of the national struggle for independence and a flag of victory when the Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946. Today, the Philippine flag is a testament to the nation's resilience and indomitable spirit, serving as a reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight for freedom. The high-flying flag symbolizes the triumph of the Filipino people in their quest for self-government and independence. It also embodies the collective victory over colonial oppression and supports the national dignity of the Filipinos. The Philippine flag is a constant reminder of the country's national history and culture, as well as the importance of independence and self-identity.