THE Philippine Commission governed the country after the defeat of the Philippine Republic and proceeded to enact a series of repressive laws. On August 23, 1907, it passed the Flag Law prohibiting the public display of Philippine and revolutionary flags as well as the playing of the Philippine National Anthem. This law was repealed on October 30, 1919, following the United States Congress’ approval of the Jones Law of 1916 which gave full domestic autonomy for the Filipino people. Governor General Francis Burton Harrison issued an executive order lifting the prohibition and the public display and playing of the Philippine national flag and national anthem was officially proclaimed. Since then, these two historic and symbolic emblems of our people’s identity have been venerated.
In the Philippine Revolutionary Records, President Emilio F. Aguinaldo described the flag as follows: "The color red signifies that Filipino valor is second to none… The white signifies Filipino capacity for self-government… The three stars signify the islands Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and the five points in each star signify the islands surrounding them. The eight rays of the rising Sun signify the first eight provinces declared in a state of war by the Spanish government and the brightness of sun represents the significant strides that have been made by the sons of this country on the road to progress and civilization, including the Aetas, Igorot, Manuianes, and Moros who are our brothers…’’
Marcella Marella-Agoncillo, maker of the Philippine National Flag, added that the equilateral triangle represents the Katipunan ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. The color blue was first adapted from the American flag but after American became the enemy, Aguinaldo wanted to change it to black – that death awaits those who would invade the Philippines. Isabelo delos Reyes gave the light blue hue – sky blue to symbolize the loftiness of the Filipino struggle for freedom.
Our veneration of our national flag will be doubly meaningful if we know how it came to be and the role it played in history of our country.
