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Philippines Senate Flag

Last modified: 2009-03-21 by ian macdonald
Keywords: philippines | senate |
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About the flag

The Senate of the Philippines seems to have its own flag, displayed in the Senate Ceremonial Hall. The Hall can be seen in several photos of the image gallery of the Senate website; the national flag is placed on the left of the stand and the probable Senate flag on its right, the seal of the Senate being applied on the wall. See, for instance, in the 2006 gallery:
http://www.senate.gov.ph/photo_release/2006/photo_rel120806.asp
http://www.senate.gov.ph/photo_release/2006/photo_rel110606b.asp
http://www.senate.gov.ph/photo_release/2006/photo_rel101206.asp

The flag is red with a golden fringe and, most probably, the seal of the Senate in the middle.

A photo of Senator Richard Gordon, taken in January 2005, seems to confirm the design of the flag: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_Gordon.jpg.

The seal of the Senate of the Philippines includes the shield of the national arms, surrounded by elements specific of the Senate heraldry:
 "On the side of the coat of arms are garlands of sampaguita with six sampaguita buds on each side representing the 12 regions of the country. The sampaguita flower also symbolizes honor and dignity, characteristics, which likewise epitomize the Senate as an institution;
Below the coat of arms is a scroll with the Latin inscription Legis Servitae Pax Fiat, which means "Law Serves Peace, Let It Be Done.” This Latin maxim embodies the ideals and aspirations of the Senate to pass relevant laws in order to attain peace in the country. The stars arranged in circle surrounding the coat of arms represent the 24 elected Senators of the Senate of the Philippines."

Quote from the "Symbols of Authority" page of the Senate website (http://www.senate.gov.ph/about/symbols%20of%20authority.asp):
As can be seen on the flag beside Richard Gordon, the seal as used on the flag has a white rim with black letters (as shown also on the top of the pages of the Senate website) instead of a blue rim with golden letters (as shown on the seal applied on the wall of the Senate Ceremonial Hall).

"Sampaguita" is the Filipino name of the Arabian Jasmine, Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton, a species of jasmine native to Southern Asia (Bengal to Ceylon and Burma) and widely cultivated elsewhere. It was named the national flower of Philippines by Governor General Frank Murphy on 1 February 1934. [http://web.tri-isys.com/greenhearts/sampag.htm].
Quoting Mansfeld's World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops:
"In the tropics, especially in India and adjacent regions to China, much cultivated for the very fragrant, white flowers much used for decoration and as condiment. In China it is the main source to scent tea. Much planted for ornamental purposes in gardens. Roots and leaves are an important Ayurvedic medicine, in Cuba and China also especially cultivated for medicinal purposes."
Ivan Sache, 22 February 2009