Facebook sorry over Philippine flag gaffe

MANILA, Philippines — Social media giant Facebook has apologized over the inverted Philippine flag in its Independence Day greeting.

“This was unintentional, and we’re sorry,” said Facebook in a statement sent to The STAR. “We care deeply about the community in the Philippines and, in an attempt to connect people on Independence Day, we made a mistake.”

The social media giant earlier committed a blunder when it used an inverted Philippine flag in its Independence Day message.

“Happy Independence Day! Here’s to all of the Philippines’ health, happiness and prosperity,” read the greeting that appeared on users’ timeline Sunday.

The button, which allows users to share their Independence Day greetings to their contacts, carried an inverted Philippine flag that immediately got the attention of Filipino netizens.

@facebook , you have the Philippine flag upside down w/c means we are at war. Blue is Up, Red is down.

— theLAUNDRYDIARY (@theLAUNDRYDIARY) June 12, 2016

Nakakagulat ang @facebook bakit mali ang Philippine Flag :flag-ph:? Happy Independence Day pic.twitter.com/5fQ4XqL1hz

— Keith San Antonio (@klenlue) June 12, 2016

Philippine Flag on @facebook turned upside down. Very wrong. #Kalayaan2016 #War pic.twitter.com/973MiLhGAJ

— romuel baltonado (@romualdo026) June 12, 2016

Dear @facebook please change the Philippine flag you posted. Red on top means the country is at war. Blue should be on top! Apologize too.

— NEY (@neyvillasenor) June 12, 2016

Facebook greeting Happy Independence Day is using an inverted Philippine flag :flag-ph: and only few people noticed it. #HappyIndependenceDay

— B R Y A N (@HydroBryanic) June 12, 2016

While Facebook appeared to have taken down the original Independence Day Button, screenshots of the gaffe have already been posted on different social networking sites.

Some users pointed the mistake, others mused in what they said was a “subtle recognition” that the country is currently at war, either in reference to the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea or the incoming administration’s so-called war against criminality.

The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines specifically prescribes that the Philippine shall be flown with the blue field on top in time of peace.

“The flag, if flown from a flagpole, shall have its blue field on top in time of peace and the red field on top in time of war; if in a hanging position, the blue field shall be to the right (left of the observer) in time of peace, and the red field to the right (left of the observer) in time of war,” read the law.

May 28-June 12 are the Flag Days; all citizens are encouraged to fly the Philippine colors: https://t.co/O6r6YTjkPd pic.twitter.com/iSVHP4X67V

— Official Gazette PH (@govph) June 2, 2016

Google joins celebration

Technology company Google also joined the Independence Day celebration with a Philippine-inspired doodle on its home page Sunday.

A jeepney with a flag-themed design dominated the home page of Google.

Clicking on the image would direct users to search results for “Philippine Independence Day.”