It is an important duty for every citizen or even for a visitor in a certain country to know the meaning of the national flag, the meaning of every component, colour and its history.

The official adoption

It was on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite when General Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Republic of the Philippines officially unfurled the national flag in the balcony of the General’s residence.

Made in Hong Kong

The first flag was not made in the Philippines. The exiled Filipino resistance in Hong Kong conceptualized and stitched the first ever Philippine national flag.

The official colours

Republic Act 8491 mandated the official colour of the flag.

The official size

The Philippine flag does not have a strict official specific size, but its aspect ratio of 1:2 must be followed. If you design a flag with 2 feet height, the length must be 4 feet.

The meaning of each element and color in the flag

3 stars represent the three major island in the country: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Sun with 8 rays represent the eight provinces that initiated the revolution, and they are Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Morong, Nueva Ecija and Pampang.

Blue represents “peace”. The blue colour part of the flag shall be at the top during peacetime. If the flag is displayed on the wall, the blue shall be on the left.

Red represents “revolution” or “war”. The red maybe displayed on top during a time of war.

The first flag had texts embedded

The flag below is the design of the first Philippine Republic flag unfurled by General Emilio Aguinaldo.

There is a text Fuerzas Expedicionarias del Norte de Luzon or Expeditionary Forces of North Luzon. On the other side of the flag, also another text Libertad Justicia e Ygualdad or Liberty, Justice and Equality.