Over 6,000 Iloilo town residents form giant PH flag

More than 6,000 mostly residents of San Enrique town in Iloilo form a human Philippine flag to mark the 119th Philippine Independence Day . Photo from Facebook pages of Surong San Enrique and Mayor Trixie Fernandez

ILOILO CITY – Residents of San Enrique town in Iloilo displayed much more than flaglets during Monday’s 119th Philippine Independence Day commemoration.

Residents and guests of the town assembled at the town plaza and formed a giant human Philippine flag, the first activity of its kind in the province.

The number of persons who took part in the human flag-formation reached 6,631, according to Gilbert Marin, provincial tourism officer.

Those who joined the activity wore red, blue and yellow shirts and stood in formation at the public plaza of San Enrique, about 60 kilometers north of Iloilo City.

The human flag covered almost all of the town’s plaza measuring 80 meters by 36 meters.

“This activity is a unique way of commemorating Independence Day. We also hope to help instill the spirit of nationalism among our youth,” San Enrique Mayor Rosario Mediatrix “Trixie” Fernandez told the INQUIRER.

Fernandez said at least 85 percent of those who joined the activity were residents of San Enrique, which has a population of nearly 35,000. Friends and relatives of San Enrique residents were also part of the human flag.

Those who joined were mostly students along with municipal employees, and members of non-government organizations and business groups.

Participants were assigned specific colors to wear, especially blue and red, the main colors of the Philippine flag.

The participants started to assemble before 9 a.m. at the plaza where the commemorative rite was held. The flag formation was done at the conclusion of the program around 10:30 a.m., according to Fernandez.