Lesson 4 - Flag Heraldic Code of the Philippines

• Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines - Salient Feature of RA No. 8491 of 2002
• Philippine Flag our national flag is the symbol of our country. It shows our unity as a people. It stands for our high ideals and noble heritage. It is said to be the primary symbol of the nation’s camaraderie, sovereignty, solidarity and unity
• History - the national flag of the Philippine is a horizontal bicolor with equal bands of blue and red, and white equilateral triangle based at the hoist side, at the center of the triangle is a golden yellow sun with eight primary rays
• the eight rays represent the first eight provinces (Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite) that revolt and fought for independence from the Spanish

  rule.
• the flag was conceptualized by Emilio Aguinaldo.
• the first flag was sewn in Hongkong by Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Dona Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, niece of Jose Rizal
• Flag Construction

  • flag’s length is twice its width, which translate into an aspect ratio of 1:2.
• Half-mast - flag may be flown at half-mast as a sign or mourning. The flag should be flown at half-mast for seven (7) days following the death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice, the president of the Senate or the speaker of the House of the Representatives.
• Prohibited Acts - In Section 34 of RA 8491, the flag cannot be used in the following rationales:

  1. Defacing or ridiculing the flag by dipping the flag as a salute, or adding additional marks on the flag;

  2. As a drapery, festoon, tablecloth, a covering, or as part of a costume or a uniform;

  3. As a trademark or for commercial or agricultural labels or designs;

  4. As part of merchandise or in any advertisement or infomercial; and

  5. As a pennant in the hood, side, back and top of motor vehicles