History and fun facts behind the Philippine flag, according to historian

National Flag Day is celebrated on May 28 every year, as declared in the Presidential Proclamation 374 under then-president Diosdado Macapagal in 1965.
Historian Professor Xiao Chua shared with GMA News Online the history of the occasion as well as a few fun facts about the Philippine flag.
According to Chua, the Philippine flag was designed by General Emilio Aguinaldo and was sewn by three women in Hong Kong including Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, as well as Delfina Herbosa de Natividad.
'Ito ay tinahi ng tatlong babae sa Hong Kong: Si Marcela Agoncillo yung isa, Delfina Herbosa, at anak ni Marcela si Lorenza,' he said.
(It was sewn by three women in Hong Kong: Marcela Agoncillo, Delfina Herbosa, and Marcela's daughter Lorenza.)
'Sa Hong Kong after i-design ito ng Hong Kong Junta sa pamumuno ni Emilio Aguinaldo. So dala-dala ni Aguinaldo yung flag na yan noong muli tayong lumaban para sa ating kasarinlan noong nanalo tayo after 300 years of Spanish colonialism, napalaya natin ang Pilipinas, June 12, 1898,' he added.
(In Hong Kong after it was designed by the Hong Kong Junta led by Emilio Aguinaldo. So Aguinaldo carried that flag when we fought again for our independence when we won after 300 years of Spanish colonialism, we liberated the Philippines, June 12, 1898.)
The Philippine flag was first raised on May 28, 1898, Chua said.
'Noong May 28, sa araw na tinatawag natin ngayong Flag Day, nanalo ang mga puwersa ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo sa Battle of Alapan dito sa Imus, Cavite,' he said.
(On May 28, the day we now call National Flag Day, the forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo won the Battle of Alapan here in Imus, Cavite.)
'Sa battle na yan na nanalo tayo laban sa Espanyol, sinelebrate yan sa isang teatro sa Cavite City noong gabi na yun. Doon unang inilabas ang watawat ng Pilipinas,' he added.
(In that battle that we won against the Spanish, it was celebrated in a theater in Cavite City that night. That is where the Philippine flag was first raised.)
According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Philippine flag was banned in 1907 when Americans took over the Philippines.
The NHCP adds that the Philippine Commission enacted the Flag Law of 1907 that prohibited Filipinos from displaying the Philippine flag even inside their homes.
Senator Rafael Palma in 1919 sponsored Senate Bill No. 1 after Gov. Gen. Francis Harrison recommended that the law should be repealed since the distrust between the Filipinos and the Americans no longer exists.
In the same year, the new law was approved and repealed the ban of the Philippine flag.
Chua reminded Filipinos that the Philippine flag is a product of the Philippine revolution. He said that the Philippine flag also symbolizes the oneness of the Filipino people despite differences.
'Tandaan natin na yung watawat ng Pilipinas ay produkto ng kasaysayan ng himagsikang Pilipino. Ibig sabihin, nabuo yan dahil sa struggle natin to independence,' he said.
(Let us remember that the Philippine flag is a product of the history of the Philippine revolution. It was created because of our struggle for independence.)
'Iyan yung mahalagang simbolo na kapag tumingala tayo, iisa yung watawat natin, iisa yung awit natin. It reminds us that, yes, we are different, iba-iba tayo, pero iisa din tayo,' he added.
(That is the important symbol that when we look up, our flag is one, our anthem is one. It reminds us that, yes, we are different, but we are also one.) — LA, GMA Integrated News

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