LOOK: Google Doodle for Philippine Independence Day

MANILA, Philippines – Google has a new Doodle to commemorate the Philippines’ Independence Day, Wednesday, June 12. 

The Doodle shows the Google logo on a blue banner on which an animated Philippine flag is shown waving to the wind. The background shows clouds and the sky. 

On the official Doodle page on Google, a short write-up about Independence Day appears along with an Independence Day greeting in Filipino at the end. We’ve reposted it here: 

“On this day in 1898, the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean named after Spanish King Philip II, declared independence from Spain after more than 300 years of colonial rule. Today’s Doodle salutes Philippines Independence Day, celebrated across the islands and in Filipino communities all over the world.

A commemorative ceremony takes place each year in Kawit, in the province of Cavite, where the Declaration of Independence was first read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista at the home of General Emilio Aguinaldo, now known as the Aguinaldo Shrine. Besides the public reading of this historic document—in the original Spanish as well as in Tagalog – the first flag raising is reenacted.

The flag itself is a powerful symbol of the independence movement: blue representing truth and justice, red symbolizing patriotism, and white standing for equality. The stars at the flag’s corners represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three main regions of the Philippines. The eight rays surrounding the sun stand for the first eight provinces that battled against Spain.

Independence Day is marked by festive parades nationwide, including a police and military parade in the capital city of Manila that culminates with a speech by the president, followed by a 21-gun salute. Families and friends take advantage of this day off from work and school to enjoy quality time together, this year to celebrate this country’s 121 years of independence.

Maligayang Araw ng Kasarinlan!”

Google has made a number of doodles to commemorate important events in Philippine history, including the birthdays of renowned Filipinos such as National Scientist Fe del Mundo and National Artist Levi Celerio.

A full list of previous Philippine Google Doodles is available here. – Rappler.com