MANILA, Philippines - National Football League wide receiver Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks carried the Philippine flag before the start of a match with the Minnesota Vikings in a bid to raise funds for victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Monday.
The flag, however, was upside down with the red portion on top of the blue. A Philippine flag with the red stripe flown upwards means the country is in a state of war.
Asked by a Twitter user why the flag was inverted, the team responded:
@migzmoldez @DougBaldwinJr We are fighting the devastation of #Haiyan which has been worse than many war-torn regions of the world.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 18, 2013
The Seahawks started a fundraiser among its supporters for the typhoon-stricken Visayas, having solicited over $24,000 for the relief operations to be coursed through the Red Cross in Washington.
For Monday's game alone, the team managed to raise $12,070, according to its Twitter account.
On Sunday, @RedCross will be collecting cash donations at all gates to aid disaster relief from Typhoon #Haiyan. http://t.co/pCKyHR6NfT
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 13, 2013
In the US, we are blessed with comforts others don’t have. My family needs your help. Even your prayers will do! http://t.co/5NIzX0JRJu
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) November 12, 2013
The Seahawks took every round, accumulating a score of 41 against the Vikings' 20.
In 2010, the United States government apologized for displaying an inverted Philippine flag in a meeting among world leaders led by American President Barack Obama.
In other countries such as the United Kingdom, a flag flown upside down is a sign of distress.
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