PHILIPPINES – Facebook’s Independence Day greeting showed the Philippine Flag upside-down, drawing criticism online.
The controversial greeting showed the Philippine flag with the red field placed on top of the blue field, indicating a state of war. During times of peace, the blue field should be placed on top.
According to Wikipedia, this “war flag” was used during the Philippine–American War from 1899 to 1901,[21] World War II by the Philippine Commonwealth from 1941 to 1945 and by the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic when it declared war against the United Kingdom and the United States in 1944.
It was also used during the coup attempts during President Corazon Aquino’s administration, and EDSA III. The only time that the flag was not oriented in a state of war was during the Battle of Alapan in 1898, 15 days before the Philippine Declaration of Independence in Kawit, Cavite.
Update (5:20PM): Facebook has issued the following statement:
“This was unintentional, and we’re sorry. We care deeply about the community in the Philippines and, in an attempt to connect people on Independence Day, we made a mistake.”
-Facebook spokesperson
Image courtesy of Raffy Pedrajita of techpatrl.com / FB