^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Proposals for changes to the flag of the Philippines

Flag with crescent moon
Flag with nine rays

See also:

Flag with crescent moon

by Jay Allen Villapando, 11 February 2005

I have some more on the Philippine flag. I remember reading quite a few years back about plans to change the national flag. The first was the addition of a golden crescent to the left of the sun in the centre of the white triangle. I cannot find actual articles on this proposal but here is an Asiaweek reader's reaction on former president Fidel Ramos' implication that the crescent symbolizes Islam just like in the Malaysian and Singaporean flags: http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/95/0714/letters.html. I don't know how deeply this issue was considered by lawmakers but this proposal was definitely made to appease the Muslim minority in the country.
Jay Allen Villapando, 11 February 2005

Flag with 9 rays

by Jay Allen Villapando, 11 February 2005

The second is the addition of another ray in the sun, which is already mentioned in the FOTW site. I made a rendition of the flag.
Jay Allen Villapando, 11 February 2005

According to Gilbert Felongco, "Gulf News", 18 February 2009, the independent Senator Richard Gordon proposed [again] on 17 February 2009 to add a ninth ray to the sun featured on the national flag of Philippines. While the eight rays of the sun represent the eight original provinces that rose against the Spanish colonial rule, the ninth ray would "Filipino Muslims' contribution to national freedom" and "acknowledge the bravery of Muslim Filipinos".
http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10287236.html

The biography and achievements of Richard "Dick" Gordon (b. 1945) are available on the website of the Senate of the Philippines: http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/gordon_bio.asp.
Ivan Sache, 22 February 2009