Flag of the Philippines

What the flag looks like

Two equal horizontal bands, blue over red, with a white equilateral triangle at the hoist containing a gold eight-rayed sun in the center and a gold five-pointed star in each corner.

What it means

Blue stands for peace and justice, red for patriotism and valour, and white for equality; the sun's eight rays represent the first eight provinces to revolt against Spain, and the three stars Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

How to remember it

The Philippines is the flag that turns upside down in wartime: red on top means war; look for the gold sun and three stars in the white triangle.

Fun facts

• By law the flag is flown with the red band on top during a state of war.
• The flag was conceived by Emilio Aguinaldo and first sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad.

Philippines at a glance

Capital

Manila

Region

South-Eastern Asia

Population

116 million

Area

342,353 km²

Languages

English, Filipino

Currency

Philippine peso (₱)

Flag adopted

1898

Flags often confused with the Philippines

• Czechia: Czechia and the Philippines both have a triangle at the hoist and a red lower band. Czechia has a blue triangle with white on top; the Philippines has a white triangle with a gold sun, with blue on top.
• Cuba: Cuba and the Philippines both have a triangle at the hoist. Cuba's is red with a white star on blue-and-white stripes; the Philippines' is white with a gold sun and stars, on two bands, blue over red.