Here is my take on the addition of the ninth ray onto the Philippine Flag (only a proposal):
I have searched the World Wide Web in vain for an image of the proposed sun with 9 rays, so I decided to come up with my own.
Please take a moment to analyze this flag. Note that the rays are oriented in accordance with the corners of the equilateral triangle. In my opinion, having a sun with nine rays is more in-line with it being framed in the triangle, since it is a multiple of 3. Notice how ‘natural’ it looks as opposed to the the one with the eight rays.
It has always been proposed that the addition of the ninth ray on the sun should represent the Bangsamoro people, who managed to successfully resist full Spanish occupation. I remember encountering this proposal during the FVR presidency and have since been fascinated.
In summary, I would advocate the adoption of this flag due to the following:
- It incorporates more meaningfully the status of the Bangsamoro people as an integral part of the Philippine nation, not just relegating their symbol as a star – a more geographic reference rather than the symbolic struggle represented by the Sun in the flag
- It is aesthetically pleasing and introduces a sense of ‘balance’ of the sun relative to the equilateral triangle
- It does not desecrate the memory of the first flag, but acknowledges the true change and eventual evolution of our flag. It still retains its basic shape from Aguinaldo’s concept.
The only down side to this flag is that it will be hard for kids to draw the 9 rays. Remember how as elementary students it was so easy to draw the sun with 8 rays?
I mean no disrespect to the current flag. Let me emphasize that this is JUST A PROPOSAL. For the current flag, please click this file for the flag displayed on the Wikipedia entry.
Please, share your views on this proposal and let me know if you think it will be viable.
9 comments
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June 24, 2008 at 6:23 pm
wawell osorio
we are reviving the ninth ray movement on august 9,2008.
as senator dick gordon said in the senate, he remembers
that his fratenity, the upsilon sigma phi, launched this in a
symposium at the university of the philippnes. this was
on august 9, l969.
in the early weeks of sen. aquilino pimentel’s first term as
senator, he filed a bill to add the ninth ray to the sunburst
of the philippine flag to represent the struggle of the
muslim filipinos and the cultural communities, now called the
indigenous people, for freedom
July 29, 2008 at 10:08 am
Philippine Flag : PinoyTattoos.com - Filipino Tattoo Source
[...] to get for Filipinos, what happends if the government finally adds a 9th ray and acknowledges the Muslim rebellion in the [...]
July 29, 2008 at 10:10 am
Christian
The flag looks great. Thanks for doing this. I support the 9th ray.
December 15, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Arben Saavedra
What about the creoles an mestizo peoples? are we not going to be represented too?
September 24, 2009 at 1:38 pm
arnel t g bsb
bakit sa ray ng sun ilalagay, d ba mas maganda kung lalagyan ng crescent ang blue colour ng flag kasi di naman nag struggle ang mga Muslim para sa pilipinas kundi para protektahan lang ang kanilang lupang pilit kinakamkam ng mga Espanyol kasi wala pang pilipinas noon at hindi kasama sa pilipinas ang Basilan jolo tawi-tawi kalahati ng Palawan at buntot ng Zamboanga.
di siguro nabasa ng nagpasa ng bill na yan ang history ng nagsisisgaw si Aguinaldo sa terasa ng mansion nya june 12,1898 eh nakikipagbasagan pa ng bayag ang mag muslim sa south, kailan ba binayaran ng mga kano ang mga kastila? Dec 10.1898? ano ba ang una nating araw ng kalayaan? July 4. 1946 ba? kailan unang sinelebreyt ang june 12? di ba noong maging pesidente na ang tatay ni GMA? hay, ang galing nyong mang uto ng mga Muslim ewan ko ba!!! Yan nga lang 3 stars di nya na maipaliwang kung ano ang meaning iyan pang magdagdag ng isa pang sinag para patahanin ang mga muslim! o come on!
SUGGESTION KO:
WAG SINAG!! CRESCENT ANG MAS KAGALANG GALANG NA SIMBULO NA ANG IBIG SABIHIN THEY WERE RECOGNIZED AS PART OF THE PHILIPPINES WHEN THIS KANUTOS SIMPLY HAND OVER NUSLIM ISLANDS TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND NOT BEING PART OF AGUINALDO’S STRUGGLE. SINO BA NANG UTO AY NAG UTOS PALA KAY dIOSDADO MACAPAGAL NA PALITAN ANG ARAW NG KALAYAAN? AKO ALAM KO….. EWAN KO KAYO!!!
September 24, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Carolina B Balmaceda
Great design! Well, im a mere ordinary citizen, nevertheless i would like to suggest a 10-ray Philippine sun instead. Why 10 rays? 9 is old, it represents the last cycle, last struggle, “bitin”. 10 however, is rebirth, renewal, all-inclusive, a return to unity. It is a blessed number full of holy meanings in the Bible.
Moreover, 10 rays can also mean honoring not just the Muslims’ but also the Lumads’ struggles for freedom and peace.
September 24, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Carolina B Balmaceda
Practical reasons exist why personally, I’d love to see it take effect. Federalismo po, sa aking tingin, ang pinaka-demokratikong sistema na angkop sa bansang archipelago na gaya natin. Hindi sapat ang magbago ang mga mukha ng nasa gobyerno, kailangan na natin ang tunay na pagbabago sa sistema ng governance. Bigyan na natin ng saysay ang pagiging ibat-ibang isla natin. Dapat na may aktibong pakikilahok ang mga kabataan, at hindi sa mga eleksiyon lamang nahihingan ng boses na gaya ng nangyayari sa sistemang pinaiiral ngayon at nung mga nakaraang rehimen.
Sa Federalismo, ang mga sektor sa ating lipunan ay makakalasap ng matagal nang inaasam na “empowerment” o kapangyarihan na ma-planuhan at madireksyunan ang mga buhay-buhay, ayon sa kani-kanilang likas na kakayahan, inisyatibo, creativities, availabilities ng resources. Pagsumikapan na nang diretsuhan ang lahat, ayon sa sariling mga alituntuning angkop sa kinalalagyan ng bawat mamamayan. Ang mga mamamayan ay malayong mapagsamantalahan nang ganun-ganon na lamang. Maski papano ay magkakaroon ng katiwasayan sa shift of powers dahil mabibigyan ng autonomy ang local form of government na kakatawanin ng sarili nitong mga leaders – at hindi kapos ang Pilipinas dyan. Lalakas ang mga rehiyon- economically, politically, socially, morally, sa lahat ng aspeto. Ang sistemang Federalismo ay mas conducive sa pakikipagtulungan at pakikipagkapwa-tao sa level na kung saan may diretsong interes ang mga participants. Sa madaling salita, mas may pagkakataon tayong makapag-ambag sa ikasusulong ng buong bansa, kung kalaunan nga ay mapapaial natin ang healthy competition among regions. Sa ganang ganito, hindi malayong ang lahat ng ating kabataan na nagbabakasakali sa ibang mga bansa (brain drain here) ay uuwing masigla upang lalong pag-ibayuhin ang masiglang pakikipagsapalaran sa buhay na sariling atin… ang mga seniors naman ay mag-iisip pang lalo na mag-imbak dito ng mga nalikom sa pagsusumikap nila overseas.
September 25, 2009 at 11:52 pm
ja
if theyre gonna START adding rays, add a ray for the Bisayans, the Lumads, & Igorots as well. gah…i have so much against this and im party Moro & Igorot.
September 26, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Jameson Ong
I agree the 9th ray for the Muslim. Since the 8 rays of the sun represents the first provinces who fought against the Spaniards. However they have forgotten that the very first one are the Muslim in Mindanao since they are not conquered by the Spaniards. This is not a racial thing, since all races of the Philippines are very well represented on the 3 Stars.
I am a proud Chinese from Manila, which my ancestor also fought for our freedom, some for Philippine freedom, some for Chinese freedom, and other for other’s countries freedom (where they belong in).