The Philippine Flag

An excerpt from the Declaration of Independence as read from the window of the Aguinaldo house in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898:

It was resolved unanimously that this Nation, already free and independent as of this day, must use the same flag which up to now is being used, whose design and colors are [as follows]...the colors Blue, Red, and White commemorating the flag of the United States of North America, as a manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and is continuing to lend us.

-101 Stories on the Philippine Revolution
By: Ambeth R. Ocampo

This was contrary to anything I was taught in my schooling years. There I was, grasping to terms with the fact that the flag, which we so reverently respect, was designed and conceptualized to express our gratitude and trust towards a country which inevitably wasn't worthy of either. Lest you forget, Ambeth Ocampo began the article by refreshing us on the "traditional" symbolism of the Philippine flag:

We were also taught the symbolism in our flag: the three golden stars representing the three geographic units Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the eight rays in the sun, the eight Luzon provinces that answered the call of the Philippine revolution; the white triangle standing for purity, the blue for peace, and the red for bravery in war.

This only goes to show that we, as a nation, have much to learn about history and, as I'm reading Ocampo's book on the centennial celebration of Philippine independence, I just have to express my gratitude for the effort and time this historian has invested in correcting and redefining the annals of our history.

Now, let me just finish this book.