Philippines Flag is unique in its own way.
Here are some of the facts associated with the flag.

• The flag of the Philippines comprises of two equal horizontal bands of blue and red. The left end of the flag consist of a white triangle with a golden star, eight radiating rays and three five pointed stars at the three corners.
• The greatest and most popular symbol of the Philippines is the National Flag of the country.
• Philippines Flag involves immense pride for the country.
• Philippines Flag is the only flag in the world that is displayed upside down during war.
• During peace, flag of the Philippines is flown with the blue panel at the top.
• During war, flag is flown upside down with the red panel above.
• Philippines national flag is flown on is flown a separate pole when flown with other countries flags.
• The flag is hoisted first and lowered last when flown with any other country’s national flag.
• Flag that is worn out and scratched should be destroyed immediately.
• In case of storm and rain, the flag is not raised and if it is raised must remain raised.
• The flag of the Philippines is displayed in a manner that it stays away from all objects below it.
• The Philippines flag at half pole indicate grief. It is displayed at half mast only in case of official announcement of the death of President or former President for a period of ten days and Vice President, Chief Justice, President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for a period of seven days.

Based on RA8491, the Department of Education has issued certain guiding principle on the usage and display of the Philippine flag. The guidelines include various aspects including hosting the flag, singing of the national anthem and the proscribed acts on its use.

As per Section 12 of the Philippine flag law, when the Philippine flag is flown with any other nation flag, both the flags must be flown on are national flags, must be flown on different batons of the same size and height. The same section also dictates that in such cases the Philippine flag must be hoisted first and lowered last.

While hoisting the flag on any platform, whether it is school, college or office, the flag must always be placed on the left hand side of the entrance. Also, it needs to be ensured that in the hanging position the blue field should be to the right.
There are certain prohibitions in the use Philippine flag. Some of the most significant prohibitions are as follows.

• The flag should not be lowered to salute or accolade any person or object.
• The flag should not be used as a household linen, example table cloth, drapery, covering for various objects and other interior embellishments.
• The flag should not be worn as a uniform or costume.
• The Philippine flag should not be displayed under any picture or painting, below any platform facing up horizontally, or in cockpits, night clubs, pubs, discotheques, casinos, or any other places of vice or places where frivolity prevails”
• There should not be any sought of untidiness in the form of drawing, design, imprint or any such marks on the flag.
• The flag should not be printed on any articles of merchandise such as napkins, handkerchiefs, cushions.
• The flag should not be displayed as a part of any advertisement.
• The flag should not be displayed in front of offices or buildings that are occupied by non Filipino citizens”.

The Philippines flag is characterized by mainly three colors, red, blue and white. All these colors are symbolic and hold significance in the country’s state of war and peace. White color of the equilateral triangle on the hoist side symbolizes equality, fraternity and peace. Blue and red panels are equally divided horizontally where the blue symbolizes noble ideals, political purposes, truth and justice whereas the red is embodied with patriotism, bravery, heroism, courage and willingness of the Filipino patriots to sacrifice life for cause of independence.

The white equilateral triangle is mainly dedicated to the rebels who were fighting against Spain in Cuba to attain a complete state of independence. Some even believe that the triangle signifies a souvenir of the Katipunan war because the three Ks of Katipunan were always arranged in a triangular manner.

The white triangle is centered with a golden sun, eight primary rays and three golden stars. The sun at the center signifies a new era of self determination, will power and a keen desire to shed blood for attaining independence. Eight golden rays represent the first eight provinces that stood up against the might of Spanish to overpower them and gain independence. These eight powerful provinces are Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna and Nueva Ecija. The three golden stars are five pointed and placed at three corners of the equilateral triangle. These three stars represent the three geographic regions or island groups of the Philippines, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Interestingly, the ability of displaying the country’s state of war and peace is characterized by the blue and red stripes or panels. In state of peace blue stripe is displayed upwards and in case of war, the red stripe is displayed upwards.

Philippines flag history is traced back to 1892 when the first flag was found. The revolution in the evolution of the Philippines flag was brought with Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, Highest and Most Honorable Society of the Sons of the Nation or Katipunan, a pseudo-Masonic revolutionary movement.

Later, Andres Boniface, head of the Katipunan, declared the end of Spanish dominion. This declaration made the Spanish Governor-General put eight provinces under martial law. The Katipunan’s flag is equipped with three white “K’s” arranged on red panel. These three K’s represent the initials of the Katipunan and the red panel symbolizes the blood of the Katipunan members who signed their oaths for a noble cause. This flag was further re-designed to form the first Philippine flag.

The first flag evolved by Andres Bonifacio in 1892 comprised of the same three K’s arranged as three corners of an equilateral triangle. Between the time gap of 1892 and 1896, the flag came up with various versions.

After several months, just before the revolution that began in 1896, Bonifacio designed another flag with a red panel comprising of white-rayed sun in the middle and three white K’s below it. This again served the ideals and principles of the Katipunan.

Again a new version came up in October 1896 by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. He fashioned out a new piece banner with a rectangular field comprising of a white sun in the center radiating eight rays. The eight rays were fashioned to represent eight provinces that were with head and heart ready to fight against the Spaniards. The center of the sun had a white K.

On March 17, 1897 Aguinaldo again designed and displayed a new banner at the Naic Assembly. This was once again a rectangular piece of red cloth equipped with a white mythological sun in the middle festooned with eyes, nose, and mouth. Similar to the old version, radiating from the sun were eight rays, each ray further consisting of three rays. On December 14-15, 1897, the flag was used in the Truce of Biak-na-Bato.

During Aguinaldo’s exile in Hongkong, Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo was requested to design a new flag. This flag designed by her in assistance by her eldest daughter Lorenza and Rizal’s niece Miss Delfina Herbosa became the Philippine National Flag.

Philippine National Flag has two stripes or panel of red and blue, divided equally. The left side of the flag has a white equilateral triangle with a central sun radiating eight rays. Each angle of the white equilateral triangle consists of a five-pointed star.

The sun symbolizes freedom; the eight radiating rays represent the eight provinces that fought against Spainiards and the three pointed stars represent three major islands of Luzon, Visayas,and Mindanao.