Philippine National Flag Regulations Quiz

RA 8491 - Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines

• Act prescribes the code for the national flag, anthem, motto, coat-of-arms, and heraldic items/devices
• Short Title: Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines
• Policy Statement: Reverence and respect for the flag, anthem, and other national symbols
• Promoting national pride, respect, and proper use of national symbols

Section 3 - Definition of Terms

• Military: All branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection
• Festoon: To hang in a curved shape between two points as decoration
• Flag: The Philippine National Flag, unless otherwise stated
• Fly: The part of the flag outside the hoist
• Symbol: Any conventional sign revealing man's achievement and heroism, identification, authority, or dignity (for coat-of-arms, logo, and insignia)
• Half-Mast: Lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff
• Hoist: The part of the flag nearest the staff or the canvas to which the halyard is attached
• Inclement Weather: A typhoon signal is raised in the locality
• National Anthem: The Philippine National Anthem
• Official Residences: Malacañang, and other government-owned structures where the President resides, and other structures occupied by the Philippine Consulate or Embassies abroad
• Places of Frivolity: places of hilarity marked by or providing boisterous merriment or recreation
• Institute: National Historical Institute

Section 4 - Design of the Flag

• Composition: Blue, white, and red
• Symbolism: An eight-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed stars
• Significance: Consecrated and honored by the people
• Stars: Represent Luzon, Visayas (Panay), and Mindanao
• Sun's Rays: Represent Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, and Tarlac

Section 5 - Hoisting and Display of the National Flag

• Displayed in all public buildings, official residences, public plazas, and institutions of learning
• Everyday display throughout the year

Section 6 - Permanent Hoisting

• Permanently hoisted, day and night, throughout the year
• Locations for permanent display: Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine, Congress of the Philippines, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Barasoain Church, Rizal House, and International Ports of Entry (properly illuminated at night)

Section 7 - Additional Display Locations

• Displayed in private buildings and residences, or raised in the open flag-staffs throughout the year
• Specific Days for Flags: April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan); May 1 (Labor Day); May 28 (National Flag Day) to June 12 (Independence Day); last Sunday of August (National Heroes Day); November 30 (Bonifacio Day); December 30 (Rizal Day); and other days declared by the President and/or local chief executives

Section 8 - Flag Day Observance

• All government agencies and instrumentalities, local government offices, government-owned corporations, and local government units are obligated to observe Flag Day

Section 9 - Naval and Aircraft Display

• National Flag flown on all naval vessels and merchant ships of Philippine registry (more than 1,000 gross tons)
• National Flag prominently displayed horizontally on aircraft of Philippine registry, with the hoist side pointing forward

Section 10 - Flag Position

• When flown from a flagpole: Blue field on top in peace, red field on top in war
• When hanging: Blue field to the right, red field to the right (left of the observer) in time of war

Section 11 - Flagpole Placement

• Flagpole at a prominent place, positioned to give the flag a commanding position relative to nearby buildings
• Limitation: No flagpole can be equal to or taller than the Independence Flagpole (107 ft) at Rizal Park, Manila

Section 12 - Flag Display with Other Flags

• When flown with flags of other countries: Must be equal size and on separate staffs at the same height
• National Flag is hoisted first and lowered last
• When displayed in a semi-circle/circle of flags with other countries/house flags: National Flag is at the center / flown in front of a monument or main entrance

Section 13 – Flag Placement in Lines

• When displayed with another flag, the Philippine flag is on the right.
• In a line of flags, the Philippine flag shall be placed in the middle.
• In a parade, the Philippine flag should be in front of the center of the line

Section 14 - Worn-out Flags

• Worn-out flags must be solemnly burned to prevent misuse or desecration.
• Replacement is required when the flag shows signs of wear and tear

Section 15 - Flag Hoisting/Lowering Times

• National Flag raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset
• It should be on the mast during official school and office hours and remain flying throughout the day

Section 16 - Flag Display Locations

• Inside/outside a building on a stationary/movable flagpole.
• Indoors: Place the flag at the left of the observer when entering the room.
• Top of a flagpole; from a staff projecting upward from a window sill, roof, canopy, balcony, or facade.
• Rope suspended from a wall to a pole; flat against a wall with the sun and stars on top.
• Vertically in the middle of a two-way traffic road; on the side or middle of a one-way traffic road

Section 16 - Flag Display Restrictions During Inclement Weather

• National Flag should not be raised in inclement weather.
• If already raised, it should not be lowered for the entire day

Section 18 - Flag-Raising/Lowering Ceremonies

• All government offices (national, local units, and institutions) observe the flag-raising ceremony every Monday morning, and the flag-lowering ceremony every Friday afternoon.

Section 23 - Flag at Half-Mast for Mourning

• National Flag flown at half-mast for the death of specific officials: President/Former President (10 days); Vice President, CJ, Senate President, House Speaker (7 days); Cabinet Secretaries, Justices, Representatives, Chiefs of Staff, Philippine National Police Director-General (5 days); Heads of National Government Agencies (3 days); Commanding Generals (3 days); Governors, Vice Governors, City Mayors, Municipal Vice Mayors (3 days); Members of the Sanggunian (on the day of interment); former officials, Regional Directors, Superintendents, Principals, Teachers (day of interment and by proper school authorities); and recipients of national orders and decorations (by order of President/Congress)
• The National Flag flown at half-mast during calamities/tragedies of national or international significance as ordered by the Office of the President
• Permanent half-mast display at: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Makati; Mausoleo de Los Veteranos de la Revolución, North Cemetery, Manila; and memorial cemeteries

Section 24 - Use of Flag for Caskets

• Use of the flag to cover caskets of honored dead of the military, veterans of previous wars, National Artists, and distinguished civilians.
• Specific procedures for placing and handling the flag over the casket

Section 25 - Pledge to the Flag

• Pledge of Allegiance text: Ako ay Pilipino ... Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa.

Section 26 - Flag Days

• Period from May 28 to June 12 each year is declared as National Flag Days
• All offices, agencies, instrumentalities of the government, business establishments, learning institutions, private buildings, and homes are required to display the National Flag

Section 34 - Prohibited Acts

• Prohibited actions regarding the National Flag:
• Mutilating, defacing, defiling, trampling on, showing contempt, or casting dishonor/ridicule
• Dipping the flag as a compliment/salute
• Using the flag as drapery, festoon, tablecloth, covering for ceilings/walls/statues, pennant on vehicles, staff/whip, unveiling monuments, trademarks, etc
• Displaying under paintings/pictures, horizontally, below platforms, in places of frivolity
• Wearing the flag as a costume/uniform
• Adding words/figures/marks/pictures/designs/drawings/advertisements/imprints on the flag
• Printing/painting/attaching a representation on handkerchiefs, napkins, cushions, or articles of merchandise
• Displaying foreign flags (except in embassies, etc.) or using for advertisements/infomercials
• Displaying the flag in front of buildings/offices occupied by aliens

Section 40 - National Motto

• National motto: Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa

Section 41 - Coat of Arms

• The coat of arms (Sagisag ng Pilipinas) includes: eight-rayed sun, three five-pointed stars (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao).
• Blue field side: North American bald eagle of the United States.
• Red field side: lion rampant of the coat of arms of the Kingdom of León of Spain
• Scroll with the words "Republic of the Philippines"

Section 41 - The Great Seal

• The Great Seal (Dakilang Sagisag ng Pilipinas) authenticates Philippine government documents.
• Can refer to the physical seal or the design impressed on it.
• President of Philippines is custodian of the seal

Section 48 - Penalties

• Failure to observe the provisions of the Act or violatations of corresponding rules/regulations results in public censure published in a newspaper

Section 50 - Penalties

• Penalties for violations: Fines (5,000-20,000 pesos), imprisonment (no more than 1 year), or both, at the discretion of the court
• For repeated violations (additional offenses), both fine and imprisonment is imposed.
• For violations by juridical persons (corporations), their President or Chief Executive Officer is liable.

Flag Folding

• There is no detailed information on flag folding provided in these sections.