From our elementary and high school days up until now that we are already employed in the government, it has been a daily morning practice and mandate to attend the flag raising ceremony – to give honor to the flag of the Philippines. Our revered flag shall be the topic of this week’s edition.
The Philippine flag is composed of horizontal blue and red with white in the hoist. It has an eight-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed stars. The stars represent our country’s main island groups – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, while the eight rays of the golden sun represents the eight original province that took arms against the Spaniards during the 1896 Philippine Revolution, namely: Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Pampanga and Batangas.
The design of our Philippine national flag was made by General Emilio Aguinaldo. The first official flag of the Philippines was sewn by Dona Marcela Marino Agoncillo, gaining her the monicker, “the Mother of Philippine National Flag”. The flag was first displayed during the Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898, but it was first formally unfurled during the proclamation of our indepence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.
On February 12, 1998, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. It was a declared policy therein that reverence and respect shall at all times be accorded the flag, the anthem, and other national symbols which embody the national ideals and traditions and which express the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity.
Section 5 of said law states that the Philippine national flag shall be displayed in all public buildings, official residences, public plazas, and institutions of learning every day throughout the year. Section 6, on the other hand provides that the flag shall be permanently hoisted, day and night throughout the year, in front of the following: at Malacañang Palace; the Congress of the Philippines building; Supreme Court building; the Rizal Monument in Luneta, Manila; Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite; Barasoain Shrine in Malolos, Bulacan; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani; Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion; all International Ports of Entry and all other places as may be designated by the Institute. The flag shall be properly illuminated at night.
The every Monday morning flag ceremony was mandated by Section 18 of RA 8941, to wit: All government offices and educational institutions shall henceforth observe the flag-raising ceremony every Monday morning and the flag lowering ceremony every Friday afternoon. The ceremony shall be simple and dignified and shall include the playing or singing of the Philippine National Anthem.
During the flag-raising ceremony, the assembly shall stand in formation facing the flag. At the moment the first note of the anthem is heard, everyone in the premises shall come to attention; moving vehicles shall stop. All persons present shall place their right palms over their chests, those with hats shall uncover; while those in military, scouting, security guard, and citizens military training uniforms shall give the salute prescribed by their regulations, which salute shall be completed upon the last note of the anthem. (Section 21) During the flag lowering, the flag shall be lowered solemnly and slowly so that the flag shall be down the mast at the sound of the last note of the anthem. Those in the assembly shall observe the same deportment or shall observe the same behavior as for the flag-raising ceremony. (Section 22)
Section 34 thereof enumerates several prohibited acts, to wit: a) To mutilate, deface, defile, trample on or cast contempt or commit any act or omission casting dishonor or ridicule upon the flag or over its surface; b) To dip the flag to any person or object by way of compliment or salute; c) To use the flag: 1) As a drapery, festoon, tablecloth; 2) As covering for ceilings, walls, statues or other objects; 3) As a pennant in the hood, side, back and top of motor vehicles; 4) As a staff or whip; 5) For unveiling monuments or statues; and 6) As trademarks, or for industrial, commercial or agricultural labels or designs. d) To display the flag: 1) Under any painting or picture; 2) Horizontally face-up. It shall always be hoisted aloft and be allowed to fall freely; 3) Below any platform; or 4) In discotheques, cockpits, night and day clubs, casinos, gambling joints and places of vice or where frivolity prevails. e) To wear the flag in whole or in part as a costume or uniform; f) To add any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawings, advertisement, or imprint of any nature on the flag; g) To print, paint or attach representation of the flag on handkerchiefs, napkins, cushions, and other articles of merchandise; h) To display in public any foreign flag, except in embassies and other diplomatic establishments, and in offices of international organizations; i) To use, display or be part of any advertisement or infomercial; and j) To display the flag in front of buildings or offices occupied by aliens.
Any person or juridical entity which violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) nor more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000), or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. Provided, That for any second and additional offenses, both fine and imprisonment shall always be imposed.[1]
[1] Section 50 of Republic No. 8491