Policy basis and governing intent
- Executive Order No. 273 sets uniform rules for flag display and handling involving the United States, the Philippines, and other nations.
- Executive Order No. 273 establishes that these rules govern the period pending the withdrawal of the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.
Flag positioning when both flags appear
- Paragraph 1 requires that at all ceremonies participated in by troops of the Philippine Government, the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the Philippines shall be displayed on separate staffs, with the former on the right.
- Paragraph 1 further requires the same relative position when the two flags are displayed on separate staffs on other occasions.
- Paragraph 2 allows the two flags to be displayed on a single staff on separate ends of a horizontal crosspiece not less than ten feet in length, firmly attached near the top of the staff.
- Paragraph 2 requires that on a single staff, the Flag of the United States shall be on the right, determined by:
- a person standing at the shore mast and facing seaward; or
- facing to the front of a building; or
- on the north or east of the Flag of the Philippines if in an open area.
Ceremonial salutes and parade handling
- Paragraph 3(a) requires that uncased national colors and flags passing in a parade, review, or other ceremony should be saluted by all persons present.
- Paragraph 3(a) requires persons who salute to face the flags, stand at attention, and render an appropriate salute.
- Paragraph 3(b) requires that ceremonies participated in by troops of the Philippine Government shall be conducted as prescribed in regulations.
- Paragraph 3 applies these ceremonial rules specifically to uncased national colors and flags in parades, reviews, or ceremonies.
National holidays and occasions; order of flags
- Paragraph 4 requires that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the Philippines be displayed on all national holidays and other historic or special occasions.
- Paragraph 4 allows national flags of other nations to be displayed with those of the United States and the Philippines.
- Paragraph 4 requires the order of display from right to left to be:
- the Flag of the United States,
- the Flag of the Philippines,
- and the flags of other countries in the order of precedence fixed by international conventions, protocols, or usage.
- Paragraph 4 requires that where no international precedence order exists under conventions, protocols, or usage, the other flags must be arranged in alphabetical order as determined by the official names of the respective countries.
Restrictions on use of other flags
- Paragraph 5 prohibits displaying any other flag from the same point of hoist as the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the Philippines.
Mandatory inclusion of the U.S. flag
- Paragraph 6 requires that the Flag of the United States shall always be displayed when the Flag of the Philippines is displayed together with those of foreign nations.
Hoisting and lowering sequence
- Paragraph 7 requires that the Flag of the United States shall be always hoisted first and lowered last.
Procession placement with other flags
- Paragraph 8 requires that when the two flags are carried in a procession with other flags:
- the Flag of the United States shall be on the marching right (defined as the left of an observer when the flag is approaching);
- the Flag of the Philippines shall be to the left of and next to the Flag of the United States.
- Paragraph 8 requires that the other flags shall be to the left of the Flag of the Philippines in the order given in Paragraph 4.
- Paragraph 8 provides that when there is a line of other flags, the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the Philippines may be placed in front of the center of that line.
Rules for aliens on their national holidays
- Paragraph 9 allows an alien, whose nation is at peace with the United States and the Philippines, to display his nation’s flag on any building or other property owned or rented by him on his country’s national holidays and on other historic or special occasions.
- Paragraph 9 allows the alien to do so without simultaneously displaying either the Flag of the United States or the Flag of the Philippines.
- Paragraph 9 requires that if the alien is located in a building or on other property owned or rented by the United States or the Philippine Government, the flags of those governments should always be displayed when that of the alien’s own country is displayed.
Formal issuance and signature
- Executive Order No. 273 is done at the City of Manila on May 11, 1940.
- Executive Order No. 273 is signed by MANUEL L. QUEZON, President of the Philippines.
- Executive Order No. 273 is countersigned by JORGE B. VARGAS, Secretary to the President.