MANILA – The Philippines marked Flag Day Sunday (May 28), but the significance of that was perhaps felt best by a woman who witnessed history both because she lived it and because she belonged to a family that had been making flags for over a century.
At 86, Luningning Tan-Gatue has been been stitching thousands of thousands of flags since she married Gregorio Tan-Gatue, a third-generation flag maker after the war.
Luningning was putting finishing touches to more than a dozen Philippine evolution flags in their modest family-owned office in Sta. Cruz, Manila when she was visited by InterAksyon on the eve of Flag Day.
On Sunday (May 28), National Flag Day 2017 celebrated the victory of Filipino troops against Spanish forces in the Battle of Alapan (in Imus Cavite) in 1898, two years after the Philippine Revolution and just days before Filipino patriots would declare independence in Kawit, Cavite.
The family’s flag-making legacy was started by Alejandro Tan-Gatue, the grandfather of Luningning’s husband, who originally came from China in 1903. He passed it to her husband’s father, Pablo, who started the flag-making business from 1910 before the Japanese occupation.
Pablo’s eldest son Gregorio and Luningning continued the flag-making business after the war. They were commissioned to make US and Philippine flags until the country gained independence from the Americans.
“Nagsimula din sila (Alejandro Tan-Gatue) sa mga bedsheet ng dating Philippine General Hospital (PGH) ng American Commission.”
“Nung panahon ng Hapon, hindi gumagawa ng bandera noon, pero nang nag-liberation, oh wow, ang dami dami! American at saka Pilipino ‘ yun, wala pa tayong independence noon. Tapos nag-gain na tayo ng independence, wala na yung Amerika sa ‘tin, solo na natin ang watawat [No one was making flags during Japanese occupation. But after the Liberation, wow, we had lots of flags. Americans and Filipinos shared in the pride of that flag, until we gained full independence and the flag was all ours].”
With scissors in one hand, she worked next to an image of Padre Pio, whom she credits with miracles especially fpr cancer patients and the elderly. She told InterAksyon the celebration is long but important: that Filipinos are urged to honor the flag from May 28, The National Flag Day, to Independence Day on June 12.
Bring back real respect for flag
She lamented how many Filipinos take their flag duties lightly. “We see people during flag ceremonies, who no longer bother to stop. Before, we always stopped and put our hands over our chest like this (putting her hand on her chest). Today there is little respect. Teachers must teach that to children. Let’s bring back that practice.”
“When you see the flag, stop and salute it. During flag rites, which only take 1-2 minutes, stop and respect the flag. That’s our symbol as Filipinos,” she said, speaking in Filipino.
She urged all Filipinos to at least give importance to the celebration of Flag Day up to June 12.
“Dapat matuto silang ipangilin ang ating kalayaan, ang ating June 12, dapat magsaya tayo puro sa bandera, huwag nating iaalis sa isip na ang Pilipino ay nagmamahal sa bayan.”
“Mahalin ang ating bayan, mahalin ang ating watawat, igalang dahil yun ang sagisag ng bansa [Let us love our country, our flag. We must also respect this symbol of our country].”
Even though she has passed the flag-making to her son Gregory, she encourages her grandchildren, all graduates already, to help spread the legacy.
“Dito ang mga apo ko; sila na ang magpapatuloy ng paggawa ng watawat para sa susunod na mga Pilipino [My grandchildren will continue the legacy of flag-making for the next generation of Filipinos].”
