28/05/2026
WATAWAT NATIN, PAGKATAO NATIN: EMBASSY COMMEMORATES NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH AND NATIONAL FLAG DAY
Kuala Lumpur, 28 May 2026 – In commemoration of National Heritage Month and National Flag Day, the Embassy, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines(NHCP), successfully conducted a community briefing titled “Watawat Natin, Pagkatao Natin: A Briefing on the History, Proper Display, and Honor of the Philippine Flag” on 24 May 2026 at the Sentro Rizal.
The activity gathered Embassy personnel and members of the Filipino and local community for an informative and engaging session on the history, proper use, display, and respect for the Philippine flag and other national symbols, in accordance with Republic Act No. 8491, otherwise known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
In his welcome remarks, Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. Roussel Reyes emphasized the importance of understanding and upholding proper flag protocol, particularly among Filipino community organizations that regularly conduct and participate in events and activities where the Philippine flag is displayed. He noted that the activity served not only as a practical guide on the proper use and handling of the national flag, but also as an opportunity to reflect on what the flag represents - the nation’s history, sacrifices, values, and identity as Filipinos wherever they may be in the world.
Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. Reyes also delivered the main briefing and encouraged participants to uphold these standards within their respective organizations and communities. Participants engaged in an open discussion and a practical exercise led by Mr. Edwin Maglangit, Administrative Assistant of the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (ODAFA), and Ms. Ma. Lourdes Theresa Gerona, Administrative Assistant of the Office of the Police Attaché (OPA).
The Philippines celebrates National Heritage Month every May pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 439, s. 2003, to honor the stories, traditions, and places that shape the nation’s identity and collective memory. This year’s celebration carries the theme, “Roots and Horizons: Our Shared Heritage, Our Collective Future,” which highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage while building a shared future grounded in unity, identity, and community participation.
Meanwhile, the National Flag Day is observed annually on 28 May to commemorate the first unfurling of the Philippine flag following the Battle of Alapan in 1898. The observance was formalized through Presidential Proclamation No. 374, signed by former President Diosdado Macapagal in 1965. It also marks the beginning of the National Flag Days period pursuant to Executive Order No. 179, during which the display of the Philippine flag is encouraged from 28 May until 12 June in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. END