Flags of our fathers and children 'Sa manlulupig, 'di ka pasisiil'

It's no coincidence that our flag saw its birth with the very same document as our Declaration of Independence.

- LISA GUERRERO NAKPIL and PAUL QUIAMBAO Photography by PAUL QUIAMBAO

On June 12, 1898, that Declaration was read out loud for the very first time in Kawit, Cavite and so was a description of the Filipino flag.

It told of a white triangle "to symbolize the Katipunan that by means of a blood pact inspired the people to revolution;" and of the three stars "representing the main islands of this archipelago, Luzon, Mindanao (and in the document), Panay where the Revolution spread;" and the eight rays of the sun symbolizing the eight provinces, Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas, "who declared a state of war as soon as the Revolution began."

The founding fathers also intoned that "the colors blue, res and white, those of th flag of the United States America" would be adopté "as a manifestation of our deep gratitude to this Gre Nation for the disinterestegi protection it renders and w continue to render to us." (Then as now, as we see in today's headlines, there was more than a little flattery in t air and jockeying for position.) The Declaration Independence quickly resumed its noble intent and swore that "wielding the sar flag, we thus present it to t assembled gentlemen, whe solemnly swore to recogni and defend it to the last dre of our blood." Two stories illumina the power and beauty the Philippine flag in the travels by photographer Pa Quiambao, who travele to the farthest point of our country to help honor it.