Throughout history, flags serve as symbols of their nation's ideals, their territory, and their people. A country's flag is more than drawings on a piece cloth for it carries with it the embodiement of nationalism- and nationalism is an immortal concept. It is an idea that no bullet can kill nor any sword can harm.
Like civilizations, flags change- as it reflects the ideals of those who carry it.
An example can be illustrated in the flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Jack is a combination of all the British peoples, the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish, to represent a unified Great Britain.
The United States adds a star in its flag each time a new state joins its federal government.
The ten stalks of the ASEAN flag represent the member states of our charter.
The Philippine flag has was first concieved by the Katipunan to represent the outcry for independence of the tagalog provinces. What was once a promise of freedom of only eight provinces became representative to the entire country. But why has the flag not changed?
The eight rays represent the provinces: Bulacan, Cavite, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Bataan and Laguna. But how about the other regions? the Visayan, Ilokanos, Lumads, and even the Moros who successfuly resisted Imperialism for countless centuries? It is with deep remorse to concede that not only are our Philippine history books, our government Manila-centric, but even the Philippine flag itself only represent the "favored region."
Thus, an initiative has to be made by Filipinos to restore what is rightfully ours.
"The Federate Sun" was commissioned by designers in across the country to represent all of the Philippine's 18 Regions. From the peoples of the Cordilleras, the Ilokanos, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, Visayans, all the way to the Lumads and Moros.
The regions are as follows:
1. Manila
2. Cordillera
3. Ilocos Region
4. Cagayan Valley
5. Central Luzon
6. Calabarzon
7. Mimaropa
8. Bicol Region
9. West Visayas
10. Central Visayas
11. East Visayas
12. Negros Island Region
13. Zamboanga
14. North Mindanao
15. Davao Region
16. Soccsksargen
17. Caraga Region
18. Bangsamoro
This is an independent initiative to unify a country that has long alienated its own people. True unity comes from embracing our diversity rather than shunning each other's existence.
#FederalismPH
