Hairy situation: Use of PH flag as barber capes in Golden State Warriors heritage night slammed

Screenshot: ABS-CBN’s TFCBalitangAmerica YouTube Video.
Screenshot: ABS-CBN’s TFCBalitangAmerica YouTube Video.

A group’s way of showing their passionate #PinoyPride is currently getting backlash on social media.

On the hot seat is a Filipino barbers’ association in the United States that is now being criticized for using the Philippine flag as barber capes during NBA team the Golden State Warriors’ Filipino Heritage Night last week. Many are saying that it was a misuse of the country’s banner.

Jayr Mallari of the National Filipino Barbers Association (NFBA) even apologized for it in a Facebook post yesterday.

https://www.facebook.com/JayarMallari/posts/10218821464712328

“[O]ur intention was to use our platform to express pride in and raise awareness of our heritage by highlighting our flag design. It was not our intent to offend or inadvertently disrespect any of our fellow Filipinos or our country in any way,” he said.

The NFBA provided free haircuts in Oakland, California’s Oracle Arena during the Golden State Warriors’ Filipino Heritage Night on March 10.

Mallari’s post was a response to comments online that were critical of how they used the flag.

“For your information our Philippine Flag embody the national ideals and traditions and which express the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity. DON’T USE IT AS A BARBER CAPE!” @KyahJonas said.

https://twitter.com/KyahJonas/status/1107282968710541314

“A sign of disrespectfulness. How can these people do such things like this? A resemblance of Philippine flag used as a barber cape?” @CarlopGuno wrote.

https://twitter.com/CarlopGuno/status/1106146940209659905

“THIS IS DISRESPECT!!!” @76sheng tweeted.

People also pointed out that what they did was against the law because the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines prohibits the misuse of the flag.

In his post, Mallari said that he and the NFBA will no longer use the flag as barber capes from now on.

“Please accept my sincerest apologies as I have made an honest mistake and I am eager to learn more about how we at the NFBA can continue upon our mission whilst navigating respectfully,” he said.

Mallari also shared that their goal is to use barbering to unify Filipinos across the world.

“[We] will use the utmost care and diligence in respectfully expressing our admiration for the Filipino culture and our country,” he said.

Do you think the netizens were right to blast the NFBA or were their reactions too much? How do you feel about using the flag for other purposes? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.



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