Human Rights, Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines:

Summarization and Brief Discussion

Marc Jandrei Barrios

NSTP1 - PSY229
National University – Manila
April 15, 2023
 According to United Nations, human rights are rights that grants people the right
to life and liberty, freedom from torture, freedom of speech and expression, and many
more. Everyone is entitled to these rights regardless of sex, ethnicity, race, religion, or
any status without discrimination. In order to guard and establish human rights,
International human rights law was officiated to prevent any cruelty and to promote
individual or group freedoms.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a significant milestone in the
history of human rights. It was set out in 1948 to protect human rights worldwide and to
be a common standard of achievements for all people and their nations.
International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, established in
1976, seeks to promote and protect the following:

• The right to work in proper and beneficial conditions.

• The right for social protection, to attain adequate standard of living up to their
highest attainable standards of physical and mental well-being.
• The right to get education, as well as the enjoyment of benefits that come from
cultural freedom.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, established in 1976, is
meant to protect the people in a political manner.

• Freedom of movement, thought, opinion, expression, and association.

• Right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence.
• Peaceful Assembly.
• Participation in public affairs.
• Protection of minority rights.
This covenant effective prohibits the deprivation of life; torture, cruelty, or degrading
treatment; slavery; arbitrary arrests, privacy invasion, and racial discrimination.
The United Nations protect all people regardless of their status, race, ethnicity,
religion and many more. The rights mentioned above are some of the rights that
effectively deals with problems that happens every day to millions of people around the
world. Everyone is equally entitled to their own rights without any ounce of discrimination,
which is why our rights are; Universal and inalienable, Interdependent and indivisible,
Equal and non-discriminatory, and Both Rights and Obligations.
 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) made rights and freedom
equal to everyone. It was adopted by the General Assembly on the 10 th of December
1948. Because of the devastating world wars that happened beforehand, countries
agreed to inalienable human rights for the first time. The Universal Declaration states that
human rights are universal, and it is to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of who they
are. UDHR consists of a preamble and 30 articles.
Summarization of the 30 articles:
Article 1
All humans are born free and equal.
Article 2
We are equal in rights regardless of race, sex, language, etc. Distinction is not tolerated.
Article 3
We all have the right to life, liberty, and freedom as a person.
Article 4
No more slavery.
Article 5
Nobody should be subjected to torture or any physical harm.
Article 6
We all have rights no matter where we are.
Article 7
Everyone is equal before the law and is entitled to equal protection against any
discrimination.
Article 8
Our human rights are protected by the law.
Article 9
Nobody should be subjected to arrest without any valid reason.
Article 10
We all have the right to have a fair trial and public hearing.
Article 11
We are innocent until proven guilty.
Article 12
We have the right to have our own privacy.
Article 13
Everyone has the right to move homes, may it be another state or to a different country.
Article 14
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
Article 15
We have the right to a nationality, and we shall not be deprived of it, even if we desire to
change nationality.
Article 16
People in the legal age have the right to marry, with full consent of the spouse, and
have a family. The family will then be entitled to protection by the state.
Article 17
We have the right to own property and share them. Nobody is allowed to take our own
property without a proper and valid reason.
Article 18
People have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. We can hold opinions and
seek and receive information and ideas through any forms.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in their country’s government while having equal
access to public services.
Article 22
We all have the right to social security.
Article 23
We all have the rights to work, equal pay for equal work, and join or trade unions.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, so they can rest and relax from work.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and of his family. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special
care and assistance to lessen any hardships.
Article 26
Everyone has the right to education and it shall be free for at least elementary stage.
Education should be focused on the full development of the human personality and to
the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Parents have
the right to choose the kind of education their children will have.
Article 27
Everyone has the right to enjoy and share art. Artists have the right to protect their work.
Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms
set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29
We have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms.
Article 30
No person can take away one’s rights.
 Republic Act No. 8491, series of 1998, also known as the Flag and Heraldic
Code of the Philippines, is an act prescribing the code of the national flag, anthem,
motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices of the Philippines. The republic
act states that
“Reverence and respect shall at all times be accorded the flag, the anthem and other
national symbols which embody the national ideals and traditions and which express the
principles of sovereignty and national solidarity. The heraldic items and devices shall
seek to manifest the national virtues and to inculcate in the minds and hearts of our
people a just pride in their native land, fitting respect and affection for the national flag
and anthem, and the proper use of the national motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic
items and devices.”
In summary, it states that any heraldic items and devices should be used and
displayed to express sovereignty and national solidarity. Therefore, these heraldic items
and devices must not be disrespected in any way possible.

Examples:
1. If an establishment wishes to display two flags, one of them being the national flag,

the flag shall be on the right of the other flag. This is in accordance with the

Republic Act No. 8491 Chapter 1 Section 13,

“When displayed with another flag, the Philippine flag shall be on the right of the

other flag. If there is a line of other flags, the Philippine flag shall be in the middle

of the line.”

2. If Martin has a worn-out Philippine flag, he should not throw it away like any other

trash in his house. Because according to R.A No. 8491 Chapter 1 Section 14,

“A flag worn out through wear and tear shall not be thrown away. It shall be

solemnly burned to avoid misuse or desecration. The flag shall be replaced

immediately when it begins to show signs of wear and tear”.

 3. Lorena noticed that a lot of people in her neighborhood displays the Philippine flag

outside their respective home every May 28. Lorena obviously is not aware of the

Chapter 1 Section 9 of the Republic Act No. 8491 that states:

“The flag shall also be displayed in private buildings and residences or raised in

the open flag-staffs in front of said buildings every April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan);

May 1 (Labor Day); May 28 (National Flag Day) to June 12 (Independence Day);

last Sunday of August (National Heroes Day); November 30 (Bonifacio Day); and

December 30 (Rizal Day); and on such other days as may be declared by the

President and/or local chief executives”.

References:
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/human-rights
https://www.humanrightscommission.ky/human-rights-principles
https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/2021/03/udhr.pdf
https://www.youthforhumanrights.org/what-are-human-rights/universal-declaration-of-
human-rights/articles-16-30.html
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1998/02/12/republic-act-no-8491/