Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.’

 

By: Myka Jen Llanera

Photo By: Joylene Batomalaki

May 28th is National Flag Day in the Philippines. triumph of the Filipino forces over the Spanish Army at the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite. It honors the first fly-by of the Philippine flag following the Filipino soldiers' triumph over the Spanish Army in the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite. Emilio Aguinaldo, a rebel from the Philippines, designed the country's present flag in 1897. It is a bicolor horizontal design with crimson red over royal blue. First flown after the Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898, the flag features a white equilateral triangle at the hoist with a golden sun with eight rays in the middle and a five-pointed gold star at each vertex.

Spanish forces and the Filipino revolutionaries under Aguinaldo's leadership engaged in combat. The rebels retook the province of Cavite after defeating the Spanish. The national flag is raised on Flag Day in the Philippines to commemorate Aguinaldo's arrival into Cavite City following the battle and his initial unveiling of the proposed national flag. From May 28 to June 12 (Independence Day), all government offices and agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and private homes fly the flag forever. Flag days have been extended to June 30 in recent years to commemorate the nation's independence and foster patriotism.

Executive Order No. 179 (s. 1994) encouraged the nation to fly the flag throughout this time and extended the date of Flag Day celebrations from May 28 to June 12.
Its commemoration demonstrates our dedication to maintaining national unity and fostering a sense of pride in our country.

Participate in National Flag Days and support our Flag!