Salute the flag

For the last eight years she has been promoting a “clean” flag, devoid of any tears or rips, and properly representing our country’s ideals. She did not have to, but she did. It is fortunate that she is in the property business and she gets to see government buildings, private edifices, offices, schools and other institutions that proudly display the Philippine flag. Proudly, as a description, is sometimes not appropriate, as many flags are left tattered and aged by the elements, but who really bothers to check on its condition? Whose job description contains looking after the flag? Monique Pronove, a property realtor, found her mission and started checking on flags everywhere her job took her.

Did you know that the Independence flag used to be only raised twice a year – on June 12 and on Rizal Day? Only two days a year and not open to the public as we do today. But when the movement started by Monique began, everyone can now come and watch the flag raising every first Monday of each month. It is quite heavy and takes 40 men or women to hold it and then tug at the rope for the pulley to raise it up. But holding it or touching it (even with just one hand) and then letting go gives one a special feeling of connectedness to our ideals as a people. We all had to wear white gloves to signify cleanliness and purity, the best we can give to our representation as a country.

The biggest flag I have seen yet is this Independence flag at the Rizal Park, and Monique gave our organization Philwen (www.philwen.org) the opportunity to come and hold the flag at the monthly ceremony in celebration of Women’s Month this March. The first Monday of every month is designated as “Stop and Salute the Flag” Monday and this month, we had simple but inspiring ceremonies honoring a woman of substance, former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. It is just fitting that these days, as integrity and transparency is on everyone’s list, we had the former justice as a good model for these traits and values.

The short program also reminded us that women used to have more important roles in society as the “Babaylan” in pre-colonial times, only to be put on the back burner during the colonization and women were related to secondary roles at home. It is only these days that women are again asserting their power and role in society as partners, not as subjects or masters but co-equals.

And who made our first flag anyway? Women, right? The flag was sewn by three women in Hong Kong while in exile. Let us not forget Marcela Mariño Agoncillo, the principal seamstress and her two assistants: her seven-year-old daughter Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, a niece of the national hero Jose Rizal. Fittingly, Philwen and NOWCD (www.nowcdphils.com) member, former SEC chair Tess Herbosa (a Rizal descendant), presented a commemorative flag to Carpio-Morales as honoree.

Over breakfast we all started to recount stories of personal experiences with the use of our flag, especially when we are represented abroad. I have had the personal experience of having my name place card beside a Philippine flag with the red side on top! I had to tell the organizers we were not at war and that the blue side must be on top.

Women have always been associated with flag-making, so much so that we now would like to help Monique in gathering our now modern women to help make authentic and official flags for our government needs.

At another conference in Guatemala, as they called my name, the organizer could not identify our flag among the many flags displayed and she had to call me to identify it.

There are rules on how to fold the flag properly, how to use them at funerals and other occasions and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) is in charge of disseminating these rules, according to Monique.

If you need a proper Philippine flag, it must be accredited by the NHCP, did you know? You cannot just buy a flag from an online site lest they be in another shade of blue, another red and of another material. Or, as I found out, even made in another country!

Monique also told us that there is a Flag Columbarium – yes a resting place for the ashes of flags that have been de-commissioned or retired. It is located in Alapan, Imus, Cavite – a place worthy of being a tourist spot, if you are interested in history. The flag was first raised there following the Filipino victory at the Battle of Alapan. It was formally unfurled on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.

Schoolchildren must be taught how to respect the flag from kindergarten until they finish schooling. I had this experience of carrying the flag in high school as a Girl Scout. We were the designated flag bearers and yes, we wore white gloves, too. That is what they call the entrance of colors at every program. That was many decades ago.

Today, I stood tall, holding the edge, looking up to the sky as the flag unfurled and swirled to its rightful place at the top of the Independence flagpole as we sang Lupang Hinirang. And this month, we honor the many women who had a hand in making our first ever Filipino flag, as we look forward to more women who will soon get involved in helping Monique Pronove in furthering her mission to make sure all institutions fly a clean flag.

The next first Mondays will have other organizations, some divisions of the Armed Forces, CSOs and other groups wanting to take part in saluting the flag and being part of this ceremony. It is a once in lifetime experience for many of us, and we would not mind sharing the experience with others.

Our job now is to make sure all our flags are made in the country, and most probably made by women. Just like we did over a hundred years ago.

Happy Women’s Month!