"Not many know that the first Philippine Flag exists & survive today. Furthermore, only a handful realize how uniquely beautiful and inspiring this Flag was when it was first unfurled.’’

The foreword is from the Position Paper of the General Emilio Aguinaldo Foundation Inc. on the authenticity of the Philippine Flag at the Suntay Museum in Baguio City. In ‘Kasaysayan,’ a journal of the National Historical Institute March of 2001 (p. 91), briefly, under several subheadings that: 1) the Old Philippine Flag… is the first. Philippine Flag sewn by Marcela Agoncillo in Hong Kong and unfurled in Kawit, Cavite in 1898; 2) the Old Philippine Flag is the most historic among other emblems or flags at present… 3) the Old Philippine Flag is the oldest surviving flag of the Philippine Independence & symbol having figured in several historic battles; 4) the First Philippine Flag… is not expected to last for another hundred years or the next “Bicentennial…’’

Such long introduction, punctuated by the last and disturbing statement – succeeding generations of Filipinos, (next centennial) will never have the great privilege to gaze and experience the emblem that moved and evoked our feelings of nationhood, and our rallying to the banner to struggle, to war, for our right to exist as a people, and an independent republic. This begs the question, why are we not taking steps to insure the survival of this treasured national relic, no matter the cost in appropriations?

Why are our lawmakers, instead, focused on legislating a great travesty by creating a 9th ray in the sun of the flag! And while the original flag is extant. Pardon the dockyard example, this is corollary to a husband taking on a paramour resembling his wife, whilst the latter is still alive albeit in the intensive care unit. There is no polite language for such unforgivable action. The paramour and the legal/legitimate wife side by side! Yes, the Congress and the Senate may pass altering the present flag, but such action attempts to hail a historical redundancy (politics?) in representing the struggles of Filipino Muslims under Senate Bill 3307 with a 9th ray. In ‘Mabini’s Ghost penned by Ambeth Ocampo, in 1899 Mariano Ponce said the 3 stars in the flag represented “Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao’’; President Emilio Aguinaldo in his description of the flag (in Tagalog), “… sun and rays brighten every spot in the Philippine Islands. Itas, Igorots, Mangyans, Moros came down from the mountains to join us’’; The ‘Philippine Revolution’ spreading to Mindanao is evidenced by 3 claimants on the controversy of the “first and official raising’’ of the flag in Mindanao with Butuan in January 17, 1899; “officially displayed’’ in Surigao in December 26, 1898 to include Cagayan de Misamis January 10, 1899; the Report of Surigao Rev’l. Governor Wenceslao Gonzalez to President Aguinaldo (February 2/1899), “leaders of infidel races who lived there, submitting… to the revolutionary government, and offering to contribute so that infidels in other towns would do the same, making them understand the lofty aims of such government in respecting their customs and religions.’’ If the 9th ray is religious/people accommodation – then how about the Philippine Independent Church? Lumads? Lapu-Lapu and Francisco Dagohoy etc. from the Visayas!