Tuesday 15 March 2016

Philippine Flag History

By Brian Colins


The Negritos are believed to have migrated to the Philippines some 30,000 years ago from Borneo, Sumatra, and Malaya. The Malayans followed in successive waves. These people belonged to a primitive epoch of Malayan culture, which has apparently survived to this day among certain groups such as the Igorots. The Malayan tribes that came later had more highly developed material cultures.

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European recorded to have landed in the Philippines*. He arrived in March 1521 during his circumnavigation of the globe. He claimed land for the king of Spain but was killed by a local chief. Following several more Spanish expeditions, the first permanent settlement was established in Cebu in 1565.

The Malay Muslims remained dominant in these parts until the 16th century. In the early 16th century, the Philippines began receiving visitors who would have far more long-lasting consequences. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed at Samar at dawn on 16 March 1521. He claimed the islands for Spain and named them the Islas del Poniente (Western Islands).

The USA regained control of the islands in 1945 and granted the Philippines independence on July 4, 1946. The flag underwent minor alterations in 1997. The Philippine flag was first designed by General Aguinaldo in 1897 during his exile in Hong Kong. The flag of the Philippines consists of two horizontal stripes and a white horizontal triangle on the left side of the flag facing the middle. The top stripe is blue and the bottom is red. In each corner of the triangle is a five-pointed gold/yellow star. In the center of the triangle, there is a large gold/yellow sun.

The present Philippine banner was embraced on September 16, 1997. The banner was initially received in 1898 after the Philippines picked up freedom from Spain however it was banned in 1907 after the USA took control of the nation. Japan attacked the Philippines in 1942 and the banner was again banned until 1943.

The blue stripe symbolizes patriotism and equity. The red speaks of valor and the bloodshed for opportunity and freedom and the white stands for peace. The white triangle reflects uniformity and the Katipunan patriot association. The three stars reflect the three fundamental geological locales of the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, and the Visayas. The sun speaks of the freedom and its eight beams reflect the eight areas that drove the Philippine uprising against Spanish standard. The national banner of the Philippines is the nation's war ensign, when the Philippines are at war it is flown upside down, with the red stripe on top of the blue. The Flag Company Inc represented considerable authority in banner plans offered an uncommon version of decals and banners to retain the historical backdrop of Philippine Flag for future generations.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment