HISTORIC PH REVOLUTION FLAG UNEARTHED IN ANTIQUE

A flag believed to have been raised during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule has resurfaced in Antique, potentially predating the well-known flag-raising in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

Historian Edbert Cabrillos revealed that Norma Furio Abellon, granddaughter of Col. Ruperto Abellon, preserved the flag believed to have been hoisted by Gen. Leandro Fullon in Libertad, Antique on Sept. 21, 1898.

A photograph from 1967, showing Norma’s father, Juan Abellon, holding the flag during an Independence Day event, supports the claim and includes a handwritten note detailing its origins.

The flag, though partially deteriorated, remains 80 percent intact and is now undergoing historical verification and preservation efforts in coordination with cultural agencies.

Cabrillos emphasized that the discovery does not diminish Santa Barbara’s role but adds depth to the narrative of the Visayan revolutionary movement.

Source: PhilNews24 | June 27, 2025