It has been said that an easy way to know a country better is by looking at the meaning of its flag. Having said that let's take a look at some of the many influences that were at play in the design process of the Philippine flag.
If placed side by side, one would see the similarities between the Philippine, Cuban, and Puerto Rican national flags. This is no coincidence, as all three countries were once territories of the Spanish Crown and all three fought for their independence at the turn of the 19th Century. In effect, the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico are brother nations with years of interaction and a shared history of ups and downs. In a similar way, the inspiration and influences that inspired the Filipinos in their pursuit of self-rule and in the design elements of their flag came from Cuba and Puerto Rico. This explains the similarities between the Philippine, Cuban, and Puerto Rican national flags exist.
Starting with the sun and three stars. The eight-rayed sun symbolizes the first eight provinces that revolted against the Spanish government. Specifically, they are Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. The Sun in the Filipino flag was influenced by Hispanic countries Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay. It was first adopted in the Katipunan flags and later carried over to the present design of the flag. The Sun in the Filipino flag also once had a human face which was a recurring symbol in masonic rites. Over time, however, the human face in the sun was dropped on the Philippine flag. In contrast, the flags of Argentina and Uruguay retained the human face in the sun of their respective flags. The three five-pointed stars represent the three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas (originally Panay), and Mindanao. The usage of stars as symbols was drawn from the flags of Texas, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Where in Puerto Rico the star symbolizes the island of Puerto Rico while in Cuba it symbolizes the new state. The white equilateral triangle stands for equality and fraternity which is also seen in various Katipunan flags and has Freemasonic origins. The blue stripe means peace, truth, and justice while the red stripe represents Filipino patriotism and valor. When at war, the Philippine flag is inverted emphasizing the red strip on top denoting that patriotism and valor are paramount at these times. Otherwise when at peace, the blue strip on top emphasizes peace, truth, and justice. In general, the Philippine flag has changed through the years and there were propositions to change it to add more meaning or to adapt to the changing realities of the times. Regardless of the motivations behind the proposed changes in the national flag, none of it ever materialized.
Ever wondered what proposed changes were made to the Philippine national flag? Check out this video to find out.
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