On June 27, 2024, the South Korean-based YouTube channel Awesome world 어썸월드 released an episode featuring two UNIS (유니스) members: Filipina member “Gehlee Dangca” and Japanese member “Kotoko”. The channel is known for producing engaging content, where South Koreans interact with individuals from a diverse range of countries—exchanging cultures through activities such as food reviews, reaction videos, interviews, and more.
UNIS is an eight-member girl group created through the survival show Universe Ticket with members, Jin Hyeonju, Nana, Bang Yunha, Elisia Parmisano, Oh Yoona, Lim Seowon, along with Gehlee Dangca and Kotoko. They debuted on March 27, 2024 with the mini album WE UNIS and title song Superwoman, establishing their identity in the rising scene of the 5th generation of K-pop.
In the episode titled, “Korea Students Meets Beautiful Filipina and Japanese FT: UNIS,” the two UNIS members met and conversed with two South Korean students about their countries of origin, Philippines and Japan. In one part of the segment, Filipina member Gehlee Dangca asked the Korean students if they had ever seen the Philippine flag, and began to describe its colors. This simple question led to an educational exchange between three differing cultures of Filipino, Japanese, and Korean.
At first, Dangca provided the Tagalog name for the Philippine flag and its counterpart in Korean language.
“In the Philippines, our flag is called ‘Watawat’ so in Korea, you have the ‘Taegeukgi’.” Dangca said in the Awesome World 어썸월드 episode.
Then, she detailed the meaning behind the Philippine flag’s colors, sun, and stars.
“We have four colors, there’s white that represents equality; blue that represents sincerity, justice, and peace; and there’s red that symbolizes courage and patriotism. In the white part of our country’s flag, there’s a sun and there are three stars and each star represents the principal islands, and the rays of the sun represent the different provinces in the Philippines.” Dangca continued in the Awesome World 어썸월드 episode.
Dangca also didn’t miss to point out the meaning when the Philippine flag’s colors are interchanged.
“Originally, [the color] blue is on top and that’s how we normally represent the country but when we’re at war, the red is on top. ” Dangca clarified in the Awesome World 어썸월드 episode.
In the same day, Dangca trended on X, with the video reaching 1.5M views, 33K likes, and 5.2K reposts. The clip has also been reposted and shared throughout various social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram.
Photo Courtesy: @gehleesource | X
Gehlee Explains PH Flag | LINK
Most of the netizens praised Dangca for being knowledgeable about the Philippine flag and openly discussing it with individuals from different cultures. EverAfters (UNIS’s fandom) and netizens have also highlighted Dangca’s inclusion of the rare and crucial circumstance when the Philippine flag is flipped with the red color replacing the blue at the top part during war times—with some hoping that the younger generations should have the same level of awareness with their own country’s culture and history in the dominating era of social media’s entertainment or trending sectors.
Photo Courtesy: @gateunbam | Link
More than just a cultural exchange, Dangca’s explanation became a point of discussion for the learning crisis found in Philippine education, with replies stating that they were unaware of the Philippine flag’s meaning until watching the video. This could also be traced in other trending videos about the lack of awareness of Philippine history including the infamous “MaJoHa”’ discourse from the reality TV show “Pinoy Big Brother.”.
While idols, artists, and entertainers, which maximizes their participation and promotions through social media platforms—no doubt having the capability to enlighten their fanbases, or go beyond their target audiences; the primary responsibility for improving historical awareness and education is still held by institutions that manage the quality of the Philippine education system.
The Philippine Flag
Photo Courtesy: RJ Joquico | Unsplash
Upon Emilio Aguinaldo’s return to the Philippines from exile in Hong Kong, he led the first victory of the Filipino revolutionaries against the Spaniards at the Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898. It was also the first time that Aguinaldo unfurled the silk-made Philippine flag at Teatro Caviteño in Cavite Nuevo. A few weeks later, on June 12, 1898 at Kawit, Cavite; the same Philippine flag was officially waved and regarded as the national flag of the Philippines—a testament to the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonization. Today, the annual National Flag Day is celebrated from May 28 until June 12.
The flag has a white equilateral triangle at the left which symbolizes the nation’s hope for equality. At its center, a sun with eight rays is found; each ray representing the first eight provinces in the Philippines that revolted against the Spanish Colonization and were the major catalysts of the Philippine Revolution: Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. Lastly, the three five-pointed stars on each corner of the triangle represent the three island groups of the Philippines–Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The flag’s upper stripe of blue symbolizes the concepts of peace, truth, and justice, while the lower stripe of red reflects patriotism and valor. Indeed, the crucial point of the flag’s color placements is that once the colors of red and blue are exchanged with the red at the bottom, it means that the Philippines is in a state of war—a point in history that should not be repeated given the oppressive centuries Filipinos have endured.
With reports from Rianna Mae B. Santiago
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