"Whenever the Philippines is at war the red stripe is flown at the top of the flag, the reverse of its normal position." As a reference, the following is cited "The Philippine National Flag" by Pedro A. Gagelonia (Manila, Dept. of Education, 1963)
The Flag Bulletin, Number 132 (1989) had an article entitled "Republic of the Philippines" in a section entitled "Recent Flags." Footnote 5 states "The Philippines is unique in having its national flag officially flown upside down when the country is at war. Executive Order No. 321 of 12 June 1950, section 1, paragraph 4, states that 'the Flag, if flown from a flagpole, should have its blue field on top in time of peace and the red field on top at time of war ....' The tradition, however, is much older: the first Philippine presdient, Emilio Aguinaldo, claimed that in the 1898-1899 War of Independence 'our National Flag had been hoisted with a red stripe up' (quoted on p. 52 of 'Our Country's Flag and Anthem' by Emanuel A. Baja [Manila:1930])."
In the same article it is stated "In late August 1987 disaffected military men attempted a coup against the Aquino government under the leadership of Colonel Gregorio 'Gringo' Honasan. At the bases which they briefly controlled the national flag was flown upside down, in its wartime position.* Likewise, the Philippine national flag as worn on the front of their shirts by many soldiers was displayed with the red stripe on the top. The coup was suppressed.
"* 'Rebel Troops Attempt to Topple Aquino,' 'The Natal Mercury,' 28 August 1987."
The flag with the red stripe above is more properly the war flag and ensign; that is, upon a state of war or declaration of war, the national flag is flown upside down. This was so from 1899-1901 (Philippine-American War) and 1941-45 (World War II); to make things more complicated, while the Philippine Commonwealth flew the flag upside down from Dec. 8, 1941 until the surrender of Japan, the Philippine Republic (est. Oct. 1943 under Japanese sponsorship) only did so from 1944 when it proclaimed a state of war with the USA and Britain. The flag has also been flown upside down during coup attempts by military rebels in 1987 and 1989.
The unique nature of the Philippine flag presents a problem in the use of terms in the FIS usage symbols, particularly those which are for use by the military (represented by the third column of usage symbols). Strictly speaking, it would be inappropriate to call the flag used by the Philippine military during peacetime a 'war flag' and a 'war ensign.' The 'wartime' Philippine flag (the one with the red stripe on top) should also be denoted as
. This is because
when war is declared by the president, civilians, the state and the
military all use the wartime flag. It is the only official flag to be
used in land and at sea when the country is officially declared in a
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