Largest Pinoy Flag Highlights Juan DeLa Cruz Rally for Unity in Baguio

Largest Pinoy Flag Highlights Juan DeLa Cruz Rally for Unity in Baguio
By: Isagani Liporda, Aileen Refuerzo, Julie Fianza
Email: baguiocity.com@gmail.com

BAGUIO CITY – It was beautiful; hair raising even… it was as if Manny Pacquiao won another belt against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
For 2-hours, social classes were overshadowed by a proud race and faith, June 12, as a throng of Pinoys cheered on about 600-enlisted volunteers and about 200-additional onsite hands in unfurling the World’s largest Philippine Flag at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.
It was 8:15am, Independence Day. There were neither politicians nor activists; no privileged nor underprivileged classes – just Filipinos.

Amidst the blur of colors red, white, yellow and blue of miniature versions of the 2nd largest national banner in the world, a tapestry of nationalism was painted as “Filipino pride” was raised even further as the crowd sang with Juan Alberto Gaerlan’s spine-tingling tenor to the tune of “Bayan Ko.”
There were no dull repetitive speeches either, just prayers, songs and dances with a common theme, “Yes, a nation can change in one day with faith in [the Supreme Being].”
Bishop Oscar Magallanes of Good News Community Church led pastors from the city’s evangelical churches asking for blessings for the city of Baguio and the nation.
Magallanes said the unfurling of the giant flag signified the country’s “declaration of our freedom,” and its “victory as a nation.”

He added the activity is meant to, “Inculcate love for country and patriotism; and to ask God to grant the nation his presence and mercy.”
Filipino businesswoman Grace Gupana financed the making of the largest Philippine flag in August 2006.

“Miraculously,” said one Bishop Joey Gadaraza, “it only took a month, 2-artists, 32-assistants, and 6-taylors taking turns at 4-sewing machines to piece together 3.7-metric tons of taffeta nylon into 18,818-square meters of the country’s national colors.”

Meanwhile, Gadaraza echoed Gupana’s message to the people of Baguio straight from Gaza Strip, Israel the same day, saying, “The unfurling of the flag symbolizes that the Philippines if for Christ.”

In 2006, unveiling of the same flag suffered a huge setback when winds tore on its white triangle about halfway down to its base while being unfurled atop Mt. Inordinan, Nueva Vizcaya.


Gupana is likewise the brains and purse behind two Guinness World records for the world’s largest flag and banner.



In November 25, 2007, a huge blue and white Israeli flag with a total measurement of 18,847 square meters and weighing 5.2 metric tons surpassed the record for the world's largest flag which was the 11,964 square meters made in the United States in 1996.
The total cost of the white and blue state symbol and the Philippine Flag was placed at US$500,000, each.

A month later, a Gupana-engineered banner, the “777 Yahweh” measuring 54,451 square meters and comprising the flags of Israel, Philippines and North and South Korea and smaller flags representing the 180 nation-members of the United Nations (UN), likewise made it into the Guinness Book.

Magallanes revealed, “We are witnessing a very historic event… As our flag is being unfurled, the flag of Israel is likewise being unfolded along Gaza Strip in Israel as a declaration of God’s victory in the war-laden land.”


He cited June 12 is most opportune time for the twin events for its close proximity to June 14, the day of Hebrew Pentecost (a Christian festival that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles).


Meantime, government Independence Day celebrations mimicked its “dressed-down” national version.

Dubbed, “Republic Service Tungo sa Ganap na Kalayaan at Kaunlaran,” a multi-agency task force led by the Department of Education and Department of Tourism staged identical programs at the Rizal Monument and the Baguio Convention Center.

Guest of honor Sec. Ray Anthony Chua III of the newly-formed Commission on Information and Communications Technology during his speech said the struggle against forceful inequality of the Philippines and other countries is over.
Rallying government employees to strive for better public service he added, “The [new] struggle is now about how to remain at par with the rest of the world in the age of globalization.”
Magallanes earlier claimed June 12 would be a fair weather day as it was a day meant for praise. True enough, strong rains came only after dark, long after the ceremonies were concluded.**ISL, APR, & JGF