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Flags of the Katipunan

With the Katipunan now well organized, Bonifacio turned his attention to the symbol of its authority.Upon his request, Benita Rodriquez with the help of Gregoria de Jesus, Bonifacio's wife, made a flag.It consisted of a red rectangular piece of cloth with three white K's arranged horizontally at the center.This was the first official flag of the society. But some members of the Katipunan has their flag withthe three K's arranged in the form of a triangle. Bonifacio himself has a personal flag which consistedof a red rectangular piece of cloth at the center of which was a white sun with an indefinite number ofrays. Below the sun were the three white K's arranged horizontally.

Owing to the lack of uniformity in the design and use of the flag, some generals of the revolution

adopted their own designs. Thus General Mariano Llanera used a black banner with a skull above twocross bones and the letterK, all in white. So different was this banner that Bonifacio humorouslycalled it "Llanera's skull." Still another flag was that of General Pio del Pilar which consisted of anequilateral triangle with a Kat each angle. Inside the triangle was a mountain with the sun risingbehind it.

When the revolution flared up, the Magdalo faction of the Katipunan in Cavite adopted a flagconsisting of a red rectangular banner with a white K in the ancient Tagalog script in the center of asun, represented by a white circle, with an indefinite number of rays. Later on, the rays of the sunwere limited to eight to represent the eight provinces which first took up arms against the Spaniards.This flag became the first official banner of the revolutionary forces and was blessed in a mass

celebrated at Imus.

In the Naik Assembly of March 17, 1897, the Katipunan military leaders decided to adopt a flag with

a new design. It consisted of a red rectangular cloth with a white sun and rays in the middle. The sunwas the mythological sun with eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. This flag superseded the flag of the

Magdalo faction and became the first official flag of the Filipinos. It became the symbol of the

Filipino nationality until the signing of the Truce of Biyak-na-bato on December 14-15, 1897, when it

was hauled down from the pole of the revolutionary headquarters at Biyak-na-bato.

History of the Filipino People. Teodoro A. Agoncillo

The Filipino Flag

The Filipino flag has an interesting story. It was made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela de Agoncillo,

wife of Don Felipe Agoncillo.

During his exile in Hongkong, General Aguinaldo designed the flag as it looks today. Mrs. Marcela deAgoncillo sewed it with the help of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Josefina Herbosa de

Natividad(niece ofD

r. Jose Rizal). It was made of silk with a white triangle at the left containing asunburst of eight rays at the center, a five pointed star at each angle of the triangle, an upper stripe ofdark blue, and a lower stripe of red. The white triangle stands for equality; the upper blue stripe forpeace, truth and justice; and the lower red stripe for patriotism and valor. The sunburst of eight raysinside the triangle represented the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spain. The three

stars symbolized Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The flag which Mrs. Agoncillo made in Hongkong was taken to the Philippines by General Aguinaldo.

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It was hoisted officially at Kawit on June 12, 1898, in connection with the proclamation of Philippineindependence. From that date, it has served as the National Flag of the Filipinos.

Emilio Aguinaldo , January 23, 1899-April 1, 1901President of the First Philippine Republic (1898 -1902)Kawit, Cavite

Filipino leader who fought first against Spain and later against the United States for theIndependence of the Philippines.He proclaimed Philippine independence at Kawit on June 12, 1898. His capture

foreshadowed the end of large -scale armed resistance to American rule

Manuel L. Quezon November 15, 1935 August 1, 1944President of the First Philippine Senate (1916) President of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935 44)Baler, Tayabas (now Quezon)For advocating Filipino-language amendments to the 1935 Constitution, he is known as

the "Father of the National Language."

Jos P. Laurel October 14, 1943 August 17, 1945President of the Second Philippine Republic (1943 1945)Tanauan, Batangas

Sergio Osmea August 1, 1944 May 28, 1946Speaker of the First Philippine Assembly (1907)Vice President of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935 44)President of the Philippine Commonwealth (1944 46)San Carlos, Cebu CityThe first Filipino national leader under the American regime as speaker ofthe Philippine assembly and the second president of the Philippines

Manuel Roxas May 28, 1946 April 15, 1948

Capiz, Capiz now named Roxas City, CapizIn 1948, Roxas declared amnesty for those arrested for collaboratingwith the Japanese during World War II, except for those who hadcommitted violent crimes.

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Elpidio Quirino April 17 1948 Dece

er 30,

1953

Caoayan, Ilocos Sur although born

in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Ramon Magsaysay December 30, 1953 March

17, 1957

Iba, Zambales

Carlos P. Garcia March 18, 1957 December 30,

1961

Talibon, Bohol,

Diosdado Macapagal December 30, 1961

December 30, 1965

San Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga

Ferdinand Marcos December 30, 1965

February 25, 1986

Sarrat, Ilocos Norte

Corazon Aquino February 25, 1986 June 30,1992

Tarlac, Philippines

Fidel V. Ramos June 30, 1992 June 30, 1998

Lingayen, Pangasinan

Joseph Estrada June 30, 1998 January 20,

2001

Manila, Philippines

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo January 20, 2001

June 30, 2010

Lubao, Pampanga

Benigno Aquino III June 30, 2010

Concepcion, Tarlac, Philippines