PHILIPPINE VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, FOR THE LOVE OF THE FILIPINO FLAGS
By: Dittz Centeno-De Jesus
Did you know that there is a Facebook page which was solely dedicated in propagating the knowledge about the Filipino flags? Well, now we know, there is this association which was founded in 2015 whose objective is to let Filipinos and non-Filipinos know the history of the flags, the past and the present symbols of the Archipelago.
The association, the PHILIPPINE VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, already has its statute which its officers and members are hoping that they could be officially registered in the Philippines as soon as possible. But what is the meaning of VEXILLOLOGY? It is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum (which refers to a kind of square flag, which was carried by Roman cavalry) and the Greek suffix -logia ("study").
PAOLO PADDEU, an Italian, is the founder and president of the association and he personally deals with the flags and coats of arms of the world, giving particular importance in the study of the Philippine flags since about 1990.
The other officers of the Association are: GENE MICHAEL ATANACIO, vice-president, and MELVIN LAM as the other administrator of the page, with Gene and Paolo. The group was created on September 8, 2015 and has amassed more than 2,400 members at present.
Gene Michael Atanacio Melvin Lam
On its Facebook page, we can find numerous and significant research materials, which they could attest with pride, and has always, become a point of reference by many people who are interested in the history of flags, particularly, eminent members of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Through their research, they have found some errors in some of the published materials about flags and coat of arms of the Philippines.
The Philippine VexillologIcal Association has its own official flag, too. The blue color of the field symbolized the sky under which human beings live in serenity. The "knot of sheet" or "knot of the net", universally known as the "knot of flags" is used to raise the flags and has become one of the symbols to identify the vexillology. In the flag of P.V.A. two appear, one on the right side and one on the left and symbolize the bond of vexillology and symbology in general with the Philippines, represented by a sun with the three stars indicating respectively, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The red and white stripes reference the colors of the Philippine national flag.
You can check their FB group PHILIPPINE VEXOLLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION or KAPISANAN PANG-ARALING WATAWAT NG PILIPINAS. Their Facebook Group is a place where anyone can talk, share, and post about flags and symbols of the Philippines. Proposal flags are acceptable only with the tag "PROPOSAL".
Contact: vexiphilippines@gmail.com