Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
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Drawing based on E.O. 310 (2004); by Zachary Harden, 20 May 2020
1. The Flag of the President of the Philippines shall consist of the Coat-of-Arms of the President in proper colors, with a rectangular blue background (instead of the circular blue shield). The shade of the blue background shall conform to the blue color of the National Flag enumerated in Republic Act No. 8491, the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. The fringe shall be of knotted yellow silk. The ratio of the Flag shall be 1:2.Executive Order 310 (2004) - Prescribing the Design and Use of the Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag of the President and Vice President of the Philippines, and For Other Purposes.
Album des Pavillons; 26:33 by
Željko Heimer, 8 November 2002
The Philippines' Presidential Flag is a blue 2:3 (I assume; it did not
seem as long as the national Philippines flag), with the President's Emblem
centered inside it. This emblem consists of a ring of white stars, and
within it the sun from the national flag, together with a red, equilateral triangle, the
corners of which bear each a golden star (similar to the arrangement on the flag).
Inside the triangle, we see a sea lion, in a different version to that on
the Manila flag.
Guillermo Tell, 19 August 2000
Album des Pavillons shows the presidential flag with a light blue
field, and a proportion of 26:33. There are also minor differences in
the emblem: the sea lion has no sword, and all of the three stars are
pointing upwards.
Ivan Sache, 23 August 2000
As the last freed Jolo French hostages were holding a conference with
President Estrada last Tuesday, I noticed that the Presidential Standard
was on a light blue field and that the sea-lion did not have the sword.
So I suppose that many variants exist of that standard.
Armand du Payrat, 21 September 2000
The color of blue has not been officially specified; generally, at present, its follows the "royal blue" used in the national flag and/or the American navy blue used in the old Philippine flag (in the presidential palace both are used!). Please note also that in current practice the same proportions as the national flag are used 1:2. Neither is there an official construction sheet for the presidential flag which has a presidential seal erroneously portrayed since the 1950's. But this is a complicated issue. Simply, at present, the Philippine presidential flag is 1:2, containing the presidential seal as follows:
A red triangle at whose points is a five pointed yellow star; at the center of the triangle, a sealion with a sword, all in yellow. The triangle placed upon an eight-rayed Philippine sun, also in yellow, the whole surrounded by a ring of 81 stars (the number of Philippine provinces), the stars being white, although the original Executive Order specified that the ring of stars be yellow.Please note I did not count the stars in the circle. They should number 81 or so (the current number of provinces [in 2002]).
There are only 79 provinces at
present, not 81. Consequently, the Presidential flag should therefore only have
79 stars.
Christian Darklight, 18 March 2005
I am involved in the process of
trying to put some order into the symbols used in the office of the president of
the Philippines, and I was discussing with the head of protocol why the flags in
the presidential palace do not conform to the 1998 law on the colors of the
flag. According to the officer, the protocol office is insistent that the flags
used in the presidential palace should be of cloth but the only flags that can
be produced according to the specifications laid down in law are the nylon
flags. She told me it was impossible for current flag manufacturers to make the
flags in silk or other natural cloth according to the cable colors laid down in
law. The other problem is that the cable colors laid down in law do not have any
official corresponding shades in Pantone, etc. color schemes, which means
government forms, brochures and books all have varying shades which do not
conform to law.
Manuel Quezon III, 11 December 2002
image by Zoltan Horvath, 11 November 2013
Today during a news broadcast of Colombian TV news outlet Caracol Noticias (http://www.noticiascaracol.com),
the Presidential flag of the Philiopines is seen. The image broadcasted
however, is different from the one shown at the top of this page. It is darker
blue and is a rectangular flag (maybe 2:3).
Esteban Rivera, 11
November 2013
The
current presidential flag was defined in Executive Order 310 issued on April 20,
2004:
"The Flag of the President of the Philippines shall consist of the
Coat-of-Arms of the President in proper colors, with a rectangular blue
background (instead of the circular blue shield). The shade of the blue
background shall conform to the blue color of the National Flag enumerated in
Republic Act No. 8491, the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. The fringe
shall be of knotted yellow silk. The ratio of the Flag shall be 1:2."
Source:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Philippine_Executive_Order_310_(Arroyo)
Zoltan Horvath, 11 November 2013
Drawing based on E.O. 310 (2004); by Zachary Harden, 20 May 2020
The Philippine presidential seal is described in the relevant executive orders.The current design of the seal was adopted in 2004 by this following executive order.
1. The Coat-Of-Arms of the President of the Philippines shall be of the following design: A circular blue shield with an eight-rayed golden-yellow Philippine sun at the center. Overlapping the Philippine sun is a red equilateral triangle. Inside and at the center of the equilateral triangle is the traditional golden-yellow sea lion (Utramar) of the Coat-Of-Arms granted to the City of Manila in 1596, on guard with a sword on its right paw, at hilt. Inside and at the corner of each of the three (3) angles of the equilateral triangle, a five-pointed golden-yellow star to represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively. The elements enumerated above are encircled at the outer edge of the blue shield by five-pointed golden-yellow stars, with one point of each star pointing outward on the imaginary radiating center lines, the number of stars conforming to the number of provinces of the Republic of the Philippines at any given time.Executive Order 310 (2004) - Prescribing the Design and Use of the Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag of the President and Vice President of the Philippines, and For Other Purposes.
The Spanish Governors and Captains-General of the Philippines had a swallow-tailed rank flag.
3:5
by José Carlos Alegría
Filipinas Provincial Ensign 1845-1886, Manila Provincial Ensign
1886-1898
The head of the Katipunan Revolutionary movement, Andres Bonifacio had his personal standard, as did General Emilio Aguinaldo, head of the various Philippine revolutionary governments. However, there is no recorded presidential flag per se for General Aguinaldo, although the Philippine flag was originally used by him as his personal standard.
As far as is known, there was no flag for the American governors-general of the Philippines (1903-1935), although I keep encountering anecdotal evidence there was an official flag for the governors-general of the Philippines, in this time period.
In 1935, with the inauguration of the autonomous Commonwealth of the
Philippines, a flag was adopted for the President of the Philippines, as well as
for the US High Commissioner (successor to the US
Governors-General, and representative of American sovereignty in the islands).
Both are reproduced in the Flaggenbuch (1939).
The Philippine presidential flag was based on the American presidential flag of
the time: a navy blue flag defaced with the coat of arms of the Commonwealth,
with a white mullet in each corner. It was customary to use a fringe for this
flag. There was no vice presidential flag.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 12 April 2002
1935-1946
4:7~ by
Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
As in Flaggenbuch (1939). A blue flag with
the coat of arms in the middle and four yellow five-pointed stars, one in each
corner. The coat of arms at the time was a shield: per pale azure and gules, in
the chief argent thee mullets of five or and overall an escutcheon oval per fess
gules a tower issuant or and argent a sea-lion or holding a sword. Crest: on a
torse gules and argent standing an eagle displayed proper. Motto: below on
ribbon argent "COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES". This coat of arms was in use 15
November 1935 - 7 January 1947, according to Christian Siemer's site. There
might have been similar presidential flag in 1946-1951 period with the
subsequent coats of arms.
Željko Heimer, 11 November 2002
The presidential flag from 7 January 1947 (retroactive to 4 July 1946) to 4
July 1951 was similar but with a new presidential seal replacing the seal of the
commonwealth.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 12 November 2002
This flag is also shown on the Watawat pages at
http://www.watawat.net/flags_and_symbols_under_the_american_occupation__-.html
with the designation:
" PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. HIGH COMMISSIONER FLAG
With the inauguration of the autonomous Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935),
a flag was adopted for the President of the Philippines, as well as for the US
High Commissioner (successor to the US Governors-General, and representative of
American sovereignty in the islands)."
There is also a post 1939 version
there.
1946-1951
by Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
As in Znamierowski (1999) (4 stars).
In 1947, a new presidential flag was adopted to reflect the independent status
of the country, retroactive to July 4, 1946. It was also based on the American
presidential flag, with the new presidential seal in the center, and one yellow
five-pointed star in each corner.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 10 November 2002
1951-1981
by Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
With a ring of stars. The number of stars theoretically* progressed: 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74 (as the number of provinces changed).
In 1951, with the change in the American presidential flag, a change was made
also to the Philippine presidential flag, copying the ring of stars. A curious
result of this copying was that the official order making the changes specified
that the ring of stars would be yellow, but in practice, copying the American
model, the stars have been represented as white. The vice presidential flag was
also modified at this time.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 10 November 2002
1981-1986
by Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
The triangle was inverted and an eagle replaced the sea lion, 74 stars.
In 1981, Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed the Fourth Republic of the Philippines and
changed the presidential seal, to an upside-down triangle with an eagle instead
of the sea lion. This seal and flag was abolished after the Revolution of
February, 1986.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 10 November 2002
1986-1998
by Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
Reverted to pre-1981 pattern, number of stars theoretically* increased: 74, 75, 77, 78, 79?
After 1986, the presidential flag has consistently been either a dark blue or
royal blue reflecting the blue of the Philippine flag.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 10 November 2002
1998-
by Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
Design same as previously, but legislation "strengthened". The
president's flag now has a ring of 81 stars, increasing theoretically*: 79?, 80, 81?
Željko Heimer, 18 November 2002
In 1946, the Philippines became independent, and in 1947, President Manuel Roxas issued an executive order specifying the presidential seal and flag. The flag was also navy blue, defaced with the presidential seal, and with a mullet in each corner. The same executive order also specified the vice presidential flag, differenced by its having a white field, and blue sun and stars.
It is unclear when navy blue was dropped, but the state portraits of Presidents Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961) and Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) both portray presidential flags with a Yale Blue field. The proportion of the triangle to the sun also changed from administration to administration.
In 1986, the presidential flag prior to 1981 was restored, with a royal blue
field. This remains the presidential flag in use today, with this one minor
amendment.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 12 April 2002
Drawing based on E.O. 310 (2004); by Zachary Harden, 20 May 2020
1. The Flag of the Vice President of the Philippines shall consist of the Coat-of-Arms of the Vice President in proper colors, with a rectangular white background (instead of the circular white shield). The fringe shall be of knotted yellow silk. The ratio of the Flag shall be 1:2.Executive Order 310 (2004) - Prescribing the Design and Use of the Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag of the President and Vice President of the Philippines, and For Other Purposes.
1935-1946
No vice president's flag
1946-1951
by Željko Heimer, 10 November 2002
Vice president's flag as in Album des Pavillons (2000)
(where obsolete, 4 stars)
1951-1981
by Željko Heimer, 10 November 2002
Vice president: with the ring of stars, abolished 1972. Number of stars theoretically* increased: 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74.
In 1972, Congress was abolished and the vice-presidency, so there was no
vice-presidential flag after this date.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 10 November 2002
1981-1986
No vice presidential flag.
1986-1998
by Željko Heimer, 10 November 2002
Vice president's flag reintroduced in the 1951 pattern. Number of stars theoretically* increased: 74, 75, 77, 78, 79?
The vice presidential flag was technically restored in 1986 but is hardly used;
institutional memory is not there, so by mistake, often the presidential flag is
used for the vice president. The number of stars fixed in 1951 was increased in
1998 to reflect the increased number of Philippine provinces.
Manuel L. Quezon III, 10 November 2002
1998-
26:33 by Željko Heimer, 10 November 2002
Vice president's flag lacks the ring of stars. Manuel sent me this image of the
current VP's flag without the ring of stars (and without the corner stars, of
course). I must have missed this part in the recently posted legislation (or it
is defined somewhere else), therefore I don't really know when exactly the ring
of stars was dropped.
Željko Heimer, 10 November 2002
*Note: The number of stars is theoretical because it is highly probable that the
actual flags produced and used were always "behind", and some specimen were
probably never made (for subsequent changes in several months). I don't think
that there is a point of picturing each and every version of the number of stars
above, but documenting what the number was (or might have been legally) is
important. The variations in the shade of blue are ignored in this review. As
Manuel informed us, the variations are considerable but without any legal
background. See our page listing growth in number of
provinces.
Željko Heimer, 10 November 2002
Album des Pavillons also has a verbose description of the flag of the Vice-President's flag: same pattern as the Presidential flag, but with:
- white field with four blue stars in the four corners
- blue sun, inner stars and sea lion on white.
Ivan Sache, 23 August 2000