Paraguay
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the
emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the
left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star
within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY,
all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears
a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of
Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red
symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and
peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity
note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the
Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their
obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
Peru
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red
with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a shield bearing a vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona
tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow
cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls
blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace
Philippines
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a
white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of
the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each
corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star;
blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white
equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first
eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars
represent the three major geographical divisions of the country:
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897
note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at
the top
Pitcairn Islands
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered
on the outer half of the flag; the green, yellow, and blue of the
shield represents the island rising from the ocean; the green field
features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and
the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest
is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro
(a local plant)
Poland
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors
derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field
note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red
(top) and white
Portugal
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and
red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere
and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations
for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation
has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the
nation
Puerto Rico
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the
white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle
signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the
government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red
symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents
liberty, victory, and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the
Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Qatar
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on
the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars,
white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies
Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake
of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916
note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE
and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was
formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun
and the new shade was eventually adopted
Romania
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the
principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and
blue), which united in 1861 to form Romania; the national coat of
arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed
note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker;
also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Russia
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
note: the colors may have been based on those of the Dutch flag;
despite many popular interpretations, there is no official meaning
assigned to the colors of the Russian flag; this flag inspired other
Slav countries to adopt horizontal tricolors of the same colors but
in different arrangements, and so red, blue, and white became the
Pan-Slav colors