Had there been no Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898, there would not have been an Independence Day celebrated every June 12th, and the Philippine flag sewn by Marcela de Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad in Hong Kong would not have been unfurled for the first time in Imus, Cavite. Perhaps this revered symbol of the Republic of the Philippines would have been kept hidden in General Emilio Aguinaldo’s luggage which he brought from his exile in Hong Kong, or unfurled and waved in victory somewhere else in Luzon.
And yet, few Filipinos know about the Battle of Alapan, the first real battle of the Philippine revolution against Spain which we won following five hours of skirmishes. It established and solidified Aguinaldo’s leadership of the revolution, and legitimized his claim as President of the war-time dictatorial government for the Philippines. It was later called the First Philippine Republic.
Since the official unfurling and introduction of the Philippine flag in Kawit, Cavite that first June 12 celebration, the flag has remained as the single most visual and important symbol of the nation.
‘… we have to reclaim our sense of nationhood especially now that it is being pounded and challenged from various corners of the globe.’
Congress passed a law years ago – Republic Act 8491, the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines – to serve as the official guideline on how to respect the flag, display it, and use it as the principal Philippine symbol. The law says “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.”
RA 8491 states that the flag shall be displayed in all public buildings, official residences, public plazas, and institutions of learning every day throughout the year. The flag ceremony shall be simple and dignified and shall include the playing or singing of the Philippine National Anthem, with the assembly standing in formation facing the flag.
The moment the first note of the anthem is heard, everyone in the premises shall come to attention and place their right palms over their chests; moving vehicles shall stop; those with hats shall uncover; while those in military, scouting, security guard, and citizens military training uniforms shall give salute prescribed by their regulations. Additionally, the law forbids any act or omission that mutilates, tramples, or casts dishonor or ridicule upon the flag.
It is sad that in these times of modernity and materialism, Filipinos no longer give respect to our flag. One can see this in big shopping malls which are required to play the national anthem and display the flag every opening hour. Shoppers and visitors still move around or tinker with their cellphones while the anthem is being played. Without a war or a political upheaval just like the 1986 People Power Revolution, concepts such as patriotism and love of country have taken the backseat among Filipinos’ order of priorities.
In a more viscerally visual context, we needed to see how the Philippine flag, displayed in our civilian vessels and floating assets of the Philippine Coast Guard, is being drenched wet by the water cannons of the Chinese Coast Guard while sailing in our part of the West Philippine Sea.
Because the flag symbolizes the Republic of the Philippines and it embodies all things Filipino – culture, history, government, language, race, economy and politics – this attack on the flag which has happened at sea in several instances, is most heartrending to see.
We need to celebrate the National Flag Days from May 28 to June 12, not only because it is mandated by law, but also because we have to reclaim our sense of nationhood especially now that it is being pounded and challenged from various corners of the globe.
Happy Independence Day!
