🇵🇭

Flag of Philippines

Asia

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Quick Facts

Capital
Manila
Flag adopted
1898
Population
114,123,600
Area
342,353 km²
Languages
English, Filipino
Currency
Philippine peso (₱) — PHP
Demonym
Filipino
Government
presidential republic
Subregion
South-Eastern Asia
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC+08:00
Independence
1946

Religions

  • Roman Catholic 78.8%
  • Other 8.2%
  • Muslim 6.4%
  • Protestant 3.9%
  • Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%
  • Unspecified 0.1%

About This Flag

The flag of the Philippines consists of two equal horizontal bands — blue on top and red on the bottom — with a white equilateral triangle at the hoist side containing a golden sun with eight primary rays and three five-pointed golden stars at each vertex of the triangle. The blue represents peace, truth, and justice, the red stands for patriotism and valor, and the white triangle symbolizes equality and fraternity.

The eight rays of the sun represent the first eight provinces that revolted against Spanish colonial rule, and the three stars represent the three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Uniquely, the flag is flown with the red stripe on top during wartime.

What the colors & design mean

Blue symbolizes peace, truth, and justice. Red represents patriotism and valor. White stands for equality and fraternity. The eight-rayed sun represents the eight provinces that first revolted against Spain. The three stars represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

blue red white yellow

Pattern: Horizontal Stripes

Fun Facts

  • The Philippines is the only country whose flag is displayed differently during wartime — the red stripe is flown on top to indicate a state of war, reversing the peacetime arrangement.
  • The flag was first unfurled on May 28, 1898, after the Battle of Alapan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain, making it one of the oldest flags in Asia.
  • The original flag was sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, using materials purchased from a local Chinese shop.
  • The flag has the most sun rays of any national flag — the eight primary rays each have three smaller rays between them, totaling 32 rays in the full design.

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