Title
Rules on Philippine Flag and Anthem Use
Law
Executive Order No. 137
Decision Date
Jan 7, 1965
Executive Order No. 137 revises the rules for the observance of the Philippine national flag and anthem, emphasizing the importance of reverence and respect for these symbols of national identity and unity.
executive order
national anthem
reverence

Policy and purpose

  • The rules are grounded on reverence and respect for national symbols as indicative of true patriotism and love of country.
  • The rules are designed to develop and consecrate such virtues and inculcate in people pride in the native land.

National Flag: display rules

  • The National Flag alone must be displayed in all public buildings, official residences, public squares, and institutions of learning every day throughout the year, and it must be raised at sunrise and lowered at sundown.
  • The Flag must be on the mast at the break of day, remain flying throughout the day, and must not stay flying after the sun has set, except when specially prescribed.
  • The flagstaff must be straight and slightly and gently tapering at the end.
  • The Flag must be permanently hoisted, day and night, in front of:
    • Malacañang (the official residence of the President of the Philippines),
    • the Congress of the Philippines building,
    • the Supreme Court building,
    • the Rizal Monument in Luneta, and
    • the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani.

National Flag: position, handling, and salute

  • The Flag must never be used to return the salute of any individual or organization.
  • The Flag must never be dipped by way of compliment or salute to or for any person, except when used for exchanging courtesy as an official act between States.
  • If flown from a flagpole:
    • in time of peace, the blue field must be on top; and
    • in time of war, the red field must be on top.
  • If in a hanging position, the blue field must be to the right (left of the observer) in time of peace, and the red field must be to the right (left of the observer) in time of war.
  • When hoisting:
    • the Flag must be raised briskly to the top-end of the flagpole; and
    • the flagpole must be at a prominent place and higher than the roof of the principal building in the compound (or have such height as gives the Flag a commanding position).
  • When the pole is attached to a building, it must be on top of the roof; when placed at a window, it must project to an angle pointing upward.
  • When displayed with the flag of the Armed Forces or civil organizations or with that of another nation:
    • the National Flag must always be above or on the right of the other flag.
  • When displayed in a parade with foreign nations’ flags, the National Flag must always be in front of the center of the line of the other flags.

National Flag: parades, holidays, and public conduct

  • During a parade or review, if people are walking, they must halt, uncover, stand at attention, and salute; if sitting, they must uncover, stand at attention, and salute.
  • On national holidays or special holidays proclaimed by the President, the Flag must be displayed not only in public and official places, but also, whenever practicable, in private buildings and homes from sunrise to sunset.
  • The public display of foreign flags is prohibited except in:
    • foreign diplomatic establishments such as chanceries, embassies, consulates, or other places authorized by bilateral or international agreement, or
    • international conferences of which the Philippines is a member, or
    • national holidays of foreign countries—where the foreign flag must be displayed together with the National Flag, with the National Flag occupying the place of honor (on the right of the foreign flag) and not smaller than the foreign flag.
  • The Philippine National Flag must not be hoisted or displayed in front of buildings owned or occupied by alien individuals or corporations except on:
    • our national and special holidays, or
    • their national holidays, subject to the rules on foreign national holidays under the immediately preceding paragraph.

National Flag: lowering, half-mast, and mourning

  • When lowering the Flag, no part of it should touch the ground.
  • The Flag must be handled and folded reverently.
  • During the raising or lowering of the Flag and while the National Anthem is being played, people must face the Flag, uncover, stand at attention, and salute.
  • Moving vehicles must stop, and passengers must alight, uncover, stand at attention, and salute.
  • The Flag may be hoisted at half-mast as a sign of mourning.
  • To display the Flag at half-mast:
    • it must first be hoisted to full-mast and allowed to fly there for a moment before bringing it to half-mast;
    • from half-mast, it may be raised but not lowered.
  • To lower the Flag at sunset or any other time when ordered:
    • it must again be hoisted to full-mast before bringing it down.
  • The Flag may be hoisted at half-mast by authority of the President in cases of national mourning or on occasions he designates.
  • Department Heads or chief local officials may authorize half-mast hoisting in accordance with regulations prescribed in Executive Order No. 166 (October 8, 1938), as amended.

National Flag: prohibitions on use and decoration

  • The Flag must never be festooned and must always hang with nothing to cover its surface.
  • The Flag must occupy the highest place of honor and must not be placed under any picture or below a person.
  • The Flag must never be used as a staff or whip, or as a covering for tables, or as a curtain for doorways.
  • The Flag may be used by the Armed Forces to cover the casket of their honored dead, which includes deceased civilians who rendered services in the Army, Navy, or civil office of great responsibility.
  • In the casket arrangement allowed for the Armed Forces:
    • the white triangle of the sun and stars must cover the head end of the casket,
    • the blue stripe must be to the right and the red stripe to the left of the deceased,
    • with both colors evenly divided on each side of the casket.
  • The Flag must never be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground, except as authorized under Republic Act No. 3934.
  • Wreaths of flowers must not be placed on top of a flag-shrouded casket.
  • A cross may be placed over the Flag as a symbol of “God above Country.”
  • No imprint may be made on the Flag.
  • The Flag must not be marred by advertisement or in any manner desecrated.
  • The Flag must not be worn as a whole or part of a costume.
  • The Flag must not be used as a pennant in the hood or in any part of a motor vehicle except in celebration of any national or special holiday proclaimed by the President.
  • It is inappropriate to use the Flag in a dancing pavilion or in any place where hilarity is prevailing.
  • Use of the Flag inside or outside a cockpit, club, or other places where gambling or other vices are held is prohibited.
  • The National Flag must never be used as a covering for a statue or monument and must not be used to unveil such statue or monument.
  • Worn-out Flags must not be thrown on a garbage heap or used as rag.
  • Worn-out Flags must be reverently burned to avoid misuse or desecration.
  • Government offices and educational institutions must not display worn-out or tattered flags and must replace them immediately.

National Anthem: when and how it is played

  • The National Anthem must not be played except on public acts of official or semi-official character or in formal ceremonies of civic nature.
  • People in the immediate vicinity, if outdoors, must face the band, uncover, and stand at attention.
  • When a band is present during the lowering of the Flag:
    • the National Anthem must be played by the band, and
    • the Flag must be lowered slowly so that the termination of the lowering coincides with the last note of the music.
  • Everyone present during the Flag lowering must face the Flag and stand at attention as prescribed in the order.
  • If the National Anthem is played indoors, everyone present must stand at attention and face the band.
  • The National Anthem must not be played and sung for mere recreation, amusement, or entertainment purposes in social gatherings purely private in nature or at political partisan meetings or places of hilarious or vicious amusement.
  • The National Anthem must be sung in schools so children may know it by heart.
  • The National Anthem must always be sung in Filipino, whether here or abroad.

Manner of saluting: military and civilians

  • Members of the Armed Forces and those belonging to semi-military and police organizations in uniform must adopt the military salute provided in their regulations.
  • Civilians outdoors must stand at attention.
  • Civilians wearing hats outdoors must uncover and hold the hats over their hearts.
  • Complete silence must be observed during the ceremony, and no one should be allowed to walk around while the ceremony is ongoing.

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