FIRST PHILIPPINE FLAG



Here's some Philippine History 101 for us first-generation Filipino-Americans who seem a little disconnected from our roots (at least I feel this way sometimes)...the Philippine flag.

Here's some background. I've been studying the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902. This war was named the Philippine Insurgence by the U.S. because it was more of an uprising than a "real" war to the U.S. government (lately, however, it's been getting more attention as America's First Vietnam). This is a VERY significant event for the Filipino because it was the first Philippine attempt at establishing true independence apart from Spain or any other Western or European government. It began after the Spanish-American War of 1898 when Spain finally seceded the Philippines (along with Cuba and Puerto Rico) to the Americans. General Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of the Philippine military forces supporting the U.S. at this time. He declared war on the Americans in 1899 when it became clear to him and to the Filipinos that the U.S. never intended to give the Philippines her independence after defeating Spain. This was the start of the Philippine-American War. Aguinaldo was eventually captured in 1901 and was persuaded to support the American regime. The insurgence officially ended in 1902 beginning the long American occupation lasting through several puppet Philippine republic governments ending in 1946 when the U.S. finally gave the Philippines her independence.

Back to the flag. The Philippine flag as we see it today was hand sewn at 535 Morrison Hill, Hong Kong, China out of satin with a painted yellow sun and 8 sunrays and 3 stars set inside a white triangle. It had an upper dark blue stripe and a lower red stripe. The 8 sunrays represented the 8 provinces supporting the cessation from Spain and the 3 stars represented the 3 primary sections of the Philippine archipelago Luzon, Mindanao and Visayas. The white triangle represented equality, blue stripe for peace, truth and justice and red stripe for patriotism and valor. The flag was designed by General Emilio Aguinaldo while exiled in Hong Kong. It was sewed by Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo, wife of Don Felipe Agoncillo with help from her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Josefina Herbosa de Natividad (niece of Dr. Jose Rizal). It was carried by boat by Aguinaldo when he returned to the Philippines. It was unfurled officially by Aguinaldo himself at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898, with the Philippine independence proclamation. From that date, it's been the National Flag of the Philippines.



But where is it today? Officially, it's encased in a wooden and glass case at the Emilio Aguinaldo Museum in Baguio City. But many historians as well as the Philippine National History Institute does not recognize this flag as authentic claiming that the flag has "missing" history and cannot be accounted for throughout its entire span. During the American occupation, the display of the Philippine flag was banned. It was during this time (1907-1919) that this flag was said to be lost. Lately, some say that the original flag was captured by the Americans when Aguinaldo himself was captured in 1901 and was sent to the United States along with other trophies of the war.