Strong winds spoil unveiling of world’s biggest flag

ARITAO, Nueva Vizcaya - The unfurling of what is being touted to be the world’s biggest flag was spoiled yesterday after strong winds tore up the giant Philippine flag that was unveiled here on a hill.

The unveiling of the giant flag, which is made of nylon, was held on Ynordenan Hill in Barangay Bone South and was attended by local officials led by Gov. Luisa Cuaresma and about 15,000 residents and visitors from all over Luzon who came to witness the historic event.

Although the flag was damaged, organizers pushed through with the program and spread the 100-meter x 200-meter flag on a nearby two-hectare ridge overlooking the ricefields and the national highway in Barangay Bone South.

The organizers led by Grace Galindez-Gupana said the torn portion of the four-ton flag resembled the shape of a heart. This showed that "God loves the Philippines, despite all our political and economic turmoils," the organizers said.

They said the creation of the giant flag was inspired by the residents’ desire to be instruments of peace, harmony, prosperity and camaraderie in the country.

Gupana said the unveiling of the giant flag was supposed to be held in Manila’s Rizal Park or the Sunken Garden at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, but "God didn’t will it that way."

"God chose Nueva Vizcaya to be the host of this highly significant unfurling of His banner," she said.

It was not clear, however, if representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records would still consider the giant Philippine flag to be the new world record after it was damaged by strong winds.

Should it be acknowledged by Guinness, the giant Philippine flag which is equivalent to 20,000 square meters in area, would now be the world’s biggest, breaking the record set in the United States.

The giant Philippine flag, despite the damage, is 30 percent bigger than the super flag of the US.