FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine flag was sewn by the revolutionary junta in Hong Kong and first 
displayed in battle on May 28, 1898. It was formally unfurled during the proclamation of 
Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 by President Emilio Aguinaldo. 
Article XVI, Section 1 of the Constitution provides: "The flag of the Philippines shall 
be red, white, and blue, with a sun and three stars, as consecrated and honored by the 
people and recognized by law. !, 
The law governing the design, manner of display, and observance of respect for the 
Philippine flag is Republic Act No. 8491, enacted fittingly in 1998 or on the centennial of 
Philippine independence. The design adopted the mythical sun (with a face) common to 
many former Spanish colonies; the.triangle of Masonry; the eight rays representing the first 
eight provinces that revolted and were put under martial law by the Spaniards during the 
start of the Philippine Revolution in 1896, namely: Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, 
Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac. There are three stars representing the three 
major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. 
Not only does the flag represent principles of sovereignty and solidarity of the 
Philippine nation, it embodies the ideals and traditions of the Filipino people developed over 
the course of national history. Of history we refer to the period before the arrival of the 
Spanish up to the present, centuries replete with stories of struggles for independence and 
victory against colonizers. Behind the stories of the most celebrated names of national 
heroes lie the stories of our mostly-forgotten Muslim heroes, who displayed tremendous 
courage in the battles that they fought. 
Among the most valiant soldiers were Lapu-Lapu, the king of Mactan, known as the 
first native of the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization. On the morning of April 
27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with spears and karnpilan, faced 
Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. In what would later be 
known as the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his men were killed. 
There was Sultan Kudarat, who united the Muslim clans in Cotobato, Lanao, and 
Basilan, and ruled for 50 years. He led many raids and battles against the Spanish from 
1634 up to 1668 and inspired the Maranaos to oppose the building of a Spanish fort near 
Lake Lanao. There is also the story of Sirongan, the Rajah of Buayan, who successfully 
pushed back the enemy into the coast of Rio Grande, thwarting the first Spanish attempt to 


colonize Buayan. He killed Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa who led the first Spanish 
expedition to Cotabato. There are Kaliph Pulaka, Datu Amai Pakpak, Kapitan Laut Buisan, 
Sultan Jamalu'l Alani, Sultan Muwallil Wasit, Paduka Batara and Panginan Sarikula, who all 
fearlessly led their men in battles against the Spanish. 
With their bravery, our Muslim heroes left an imprint on national history that, at the 
very least, must be given due recognition in the most heraldic item of national importance- 
the Philippine flag. This bill proposes that the rays of the sun on the Philippine flag be 
increased from eight to nine, to symbolize the community of Muslim leaders who defended 
our land. They are our forgotten heroes, and through this proposal we seek to inculcate in 
the minds and hearts of our people a just pride in their native Muslim brothers who 
sacrificed their lives for the country's freedom. For these considerations, the passage of this 
bill is earnestly sought. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
Second Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RAYS OF THE SUN ON THE PHILIPPINE FLAG 
FROM EIGHT TO NINE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 8491, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FLAG AND HERALDIC CODE 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8491, otherwise known as the Flag and 
Heraldic Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SECTION 4. The flag of the Philippines shall be blue, white and red 
with a[n] NINE[eight]-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed stars, as 
consecrated and honored by the people." 
SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect 15 days following its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,