The contractor for the drone show at the Palarong Pambansa has apologized for displaying an upside-down image of the Philippine flag during the event's closing ceremony.
"We would like to clarify that this error in the Drone Show programming which was supposed to be tested days before could have been noticed and corrected [but] was not successfully done due to severe weather conditions and signal interference in the said area for several nights," wrote drone supplier DroneTech Philippines.
"The company is sincerely sorry for this unintentional error in programming. As God is our witness, we have innocently made this mistake and have no malice or bad intentions on anyone and the people of Marikina and the Philippines as a whole," it added.
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Marikina City, which hosted the event, earlier issued a strong statement regarding the incident.
"Mariing kinondena ng Marikina City government sa pangunguna ni Mayor Marcy Teodoro ang pangyayari at pinapakasuhan ang DroneTech PH upang madetermina ang mga legal na pananagutan ng kumpanya kasama na rin ang mga kalakip na kaparusahan at multa," it said.
Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines
In 1998, the Philippine government enacted the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. It provided the rules on how to display the flag and what appropriate colors it should contain. It also declared May 28 to June 12 as “Flag Days”. During this period, all government offices, businesses, schools, and homes are encouraged to display the flag.
Violations of the Philippine flag law you didn't know about
Accidentally displaying the flag upside down is a common mistake when raising the Philippine flag from being previously folded. But that is just one of the many violations of the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
Here are some violations you may not be aware of.
1 | Adding text, pictures, designs, or marks on the Philippine flag
This is probably the most common violation of the Flag and Heraldic Code, because there are so many images on the Internet where the Philippine flag is used as a backdrop for texts, pictures, or designs. If you own or are displaying such images on your social media (are you using an edited version of the Philippine flag on your profile photo?), consider taking them down.
2 | Wearing the Philippine flag on your clothing, especially on shoes.
The Philippine flag’s design shall not be used as a base for clothing such as jackets, t-shirts, and shoes.
3 | Displaying the flag front of a building or office occupied by foreigners.
We don’t know why this provision was included in the law, but it was probably added to avoid the instance of aliens handling the Philippine flag.
4 | Printing, painting, or attaching a representation of the flag on handkerchiefs, napkins, cushions, and similar items.
Handkerchiefs and napkins are used to wipe dirt off the face, while cushions are made to be lay or sat on, which are inappropriate for the flag.
5 | Wearing the flag in whole or in part as costume or uniform.
Sports teams are susceptible to committing this mistake. If you belong to any team, remember not to use the Philippine flag as a dominant design for your jackets, jerseys, or other team uniforms and merchandise.
6 | Displaying the flag in bars, clubs, and casinos or any place where frivolity prevails.
If you are not sure where not to display the flag, just remember not to hang the flag in any place of entertainment, whether it is wholesome or not.
7 | Using the flag on your brand or business labels.
Businesses should not make a profit from the image of the Philippine flag by using it as part of their trademark or label, including on business or calling cards.
8 | Displaying the flag under any picture.
If you have to hang the flag on a wall, make sure to hang it ABOVE any painting, picture, frame, or wall hanging.
9 | Hanging the flag horizontally on the wall.
The proper way to hang the flag on the wall is vertically with the blue side on the left.
10 | Damaging the flag.
This is the most obvious, but apparently needs emphasis: you shall not mutilate, deface, defile, trample, cast any contempt or act of omission that will dishonor the flag.
Anyone found in violation may face a fine of not less than P5,000 and not more than P20,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
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