Unfurling of biggest Philippine flag marks Magellan visit to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the 490th year of the arrival of Portugese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu, the HalleluYAH Kingdom of Jerusalem Foundation will unfurl the biggest Philippine Flag at the South Road Properties.

The unfurling of the Philippine flag is part of what the group calls as the “Philippine Redemption.”

Grace Galindez-Gupana, founder and president of the organization, said Cebuanos should celebrate the occasion, considering that Magellan himself was here in Cebu.

Based on the Bible, 70 years is equivalent to one generation and when 70 is multiplied by seven, the product is 490, which signifies the 490 years since the “redemption” of sins in the Philippines.

“The 490 years is very significant for the Philippines as 2010 is the True Independence Jubilee Year,” Gupana said.

The unfurling of the flag today is the second to be done in Cebu, the first was done in the town of Liloan last March 6. The flag will be unfurled at 5am today by more than 200 children and young adults. The activity will last until 9am.

Gupana said the flag, which reportedly costs between P5 million to P7 million, was made by 40 people who worked 24 hours a day.

It is reportedly made of 14,900 yards of nylon taffeta fabric; 1,250 yards of satin; and 70 yards of canvass and required 18 rolls each of white, read and blue thread and 12 rolls of yellow gold thread. The flag measures 18,818 square meters.

“This is not a political event, this is a historical event. We are not inviting any politicians but everyone is welcome,” Gupana said.

“The Philippines is for the Filipinos and the Filipinos are for the Philippines. The Philippines is not for sale,” she added, saying the Philippine flag is the “Banner of Grace of the Triune God” and “New Covenant Flag of Revelation” as signified by its colors.

Blue reportedly signifies God the Father, red signifies the blood of Yeshua (Jesus Christ), and white signifies purity and power of the Holy Spirit. The three stars in the Philippine flag can also symbolize God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit with the sun representing the glory of God.

Gupana was recognized in 2007 for her first Guinness World Records Award for making possible the unfurling of the world’s biggest flag, the Israel flag, which was unfurled at the Masada Airfield in Israel.

Her other Guinness Record awards include: World’s Largest Flag, which is now the Jerusalem-Lion of Judah flag; the Largest Banner, the 777 Yahveh’s Banner; the largest Ten Commandments Tablet located in San Mateo, Rizal, Manila.

The Philippine flag is part of the 777 Yahveh’s banner also called “the flag of all Nations,” which is a trumpet call for the unity of believers worldwide to worship the God of Israel, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Gupana, who is also the chief executive officer of ABS Gen Herbs International Corporation, also holds the Guinness Records awards for the Largest Cholesterol Screening, the largest Blood Pressure Screening, the largest Diabetes Screening, the largest blood identification and the longest drawing of idols burned. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)