National Flag Day / National Flag Days2026 · Date · History · Messages
Philippine law declares May 28 through June 12 each year as Flag Days; Proclamation No. 374 (1965) established May 28 as Flag Day to commemorate the first unfurling of the Philippine flag at Alapan on May 28, 1898, and Executive Order No. 179 (1994) extended annual flag display through June 12.
About National Flag Day / National Flag Days
In the Philippines, May 28 marks National Flag Day and begins the annual National Flag Days period through June 12.
Republic Act No. 8491 provides the current statutory Flag Days period, while earlier presidential instruments document how the modern observance developed.
Why National Flag Day / National Flag Days matters
The observance focuses on the Philippine flag as a national symbol and on the history associated with its first unfurling in battle at Alapan in 1898.
The Flag Days period is a flag-display and civic-commemoration framework; it should not automatically be described as a nationwide work-closure holiday.
History of National Flag Day / National Flag Days
Proclamation No. 374, dated March 6, 1965, declared May 28 of each year Flag Day.
Executive Order No. 179 of May 24, 1994 directed prominent flag display from May 28 through June 12 each year.
Republic Act No. 8491, approved in 1998, declares May 28 to June 12 each year as Flag Days.
The legal materials connect May 28 with the first unfurling of the Philippine flag at Alapan, Imus, Cavite on May 28, 1898.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
President of the Philippines
Proclamation No. 374 (6 March 1965)
Directed prominent display of the national flag from May 28 through June 12 each year, expanding the annual observance period beyond May 28 alone.
President of the Philippines · Executive Order No. 179
Codified May 28 to June 12 of each year as Flag Days in the Flag and Heraldic Code.
Congress of the Philippines · Republic Act No. 8491
Government of the Philippines
Current law and government guidance implement the Flag Days framework.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
National Flag Day Philippines
How to Observe National Flag Day / National Flag Days
Learn the legal and historical layers behind May 28 and the May 28–June 12 period.
Display the flag in accordance with Philippine flag law and official protocol.
Use schools, museums and government archives for source-based history activities.
Keep political discussion nonpartisan and distinguish historical commemoration from current political advocacy.
National Flag Day / National Flag Days Facts
May 28 is National Flag Day.
The annual Flag Days period runs from May 28 through June 12 under Republic Act No. 8491.
Proclamation No. 374 established May 28 as Flag Day in 1965.
Executive Order No. 179 expanded annual flag display through June 12 in 1994.
The reviewed legal sources do not make the entire Flag Days period a general nationwide work-closure holiday.
National Flag Day / National Flag Days Messages
May the Flag Days period encourage careful learning about Philippine history and national symbols.
Wishing communities a respectful and inclusive National Flag Days season.
May this observance be marked with accurate history, lawful flag protocol and civic respect.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Lawphil — Executive Order No. 179, 1994 (opens in a new tab)
Official Legal Text
Lawphil — Republic Act No. 8491 (opens in a new tab)
Official Legal Text
Philippine Information Agency — National Flag Days 2025 (opens in a new tab)
National Government
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Flag Day / National Flag Days?
28 May; National Flag Days run 28 May–12 June in current government guidance The documented recurrence rule is: 28 May.
Does National Flag Day / National Flag Days fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Flag Day / National Flag Days an official public holiday?
Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Philippines / national flag commemoration and statutory Flag Days period. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.
Who established or recognizes National Flag Day / National Flag Days?
The reviewed sources identify President of the Philippines as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Government of the Philippines.
Is National Flag Day / National Flag Days international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Philippines. Its fuller verified scope is: Philippines / national flag commemoration and statutory Flag Days period.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-23.
When is National Flag Day in the Philippines?
May 28.
How long are National Flag Days?
Current law declares May 28 through June 12 each year as Flag Days.
Why May 28?
The legal history ties May 28 to the first unfurling of the Philippine flag at Alapan in 1898.
What changed in 1994?
Executive Order No. 179 directed prominent flag display from May 28 through June 12 each year.
Are all Flag Days public holidays?
The reviewed sources establish a flag-display and commemoration period; they do not support treating every day in the period as a general work-closure holiday.
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