Читать книгу All About the Philippines - Gidget Roceles Jimenez - Страница 8

The Philippine Flag

A Story of Philippine

Independence

It all started with a young man named Andres Bonifacio, who formed a secret society known as the Katipunan, which worked for the day that the Philippines would break free of Spanish rule. He created a banner for the society, a simple red flag bearing a KKK that stood for the society’s full name: Ang Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, which means “the highest and most venerable society of the children of the country.” The red background stood for the blood they were willing to shed and to lose in order to win their freedom.

As the society grew, each of its military leaders created their own red and white flags to carry into battle. Two factions used a sun, and in its center they daringly used a letter that is part of a language that was spoken in pre-Spanish times. Eventually, the letter became the face of the sun.

Andres Bonifacio

June 12, 1898 Kawit, Cavite

The flag we use today was designed by General Emilio Aguinaldo, who became leader of the KKK society after Andres Bonifacio’s death. It was raised on June 12, 1898, when General Aguinaldo, along with the American allies, defeated Spanish forces to finally claim freedom from Spanish rule.

When the country is at war, we raise the flag upside down, so that the red is on top.

Together all these symbols honor the early Filipinos who fought the Spanish colonizers, gaining the independence the Philippines enjoys today.