THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL FLAG
(Ang Watawat Ng Pilipinas)

General Emilio Aguinaldo, a prominent leader in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule, designed what was to become the Philippine flag during his exile in Hongkong in 1897. It was hand-sewn by three Filipino women by the name of Dona Marcela Marino de Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa de Natividad. Delfina is a niece of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

The following year, on June 12, 1898, the Philippine flag was first unfurled during the Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite. General Emilio Aguinaldo became the first President of the first Philippine republic.

The Philippine flag is made of three fields; a blue band at the top, a red band at the bottom, and a white equilateral triangle on the hoist side. At the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight rays and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star.

• BLUE FIELD - stands for peace, truth, and justice
• RED FIELD - stands for patriotism and valor
• WHITE TRIANGLE - stands for equality and fraternity
• EIGHT RAYS OF THE YELLOW SUN - represents the original eight provinces that started the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule
• THREE YELLOW STAR - represents Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three geographical division of the country

The flags shown above were also used by different factions during the Philippine revolution. The letters KKK prominent on most of the flags stands for "Kataastaasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan".