A single snapshot can sometimes trigger a storm of questions. Such was the case when an image of the Philippine Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, began circulating online — prominently featuring the U.S. flag beside it.

In a follow-up to our earlier commentary on the matter, a concerned reader reached out to us, explaining that the appearance of the American flag was merely coincidental.

According to the reader, the Philippine and U.S. pavilions happen to stand side by side at the World Expo site, making it almost unavoidable for the US flag to appear in the same frame.

Fair enough. We remain open to all perspectives and appreciate the clarification. Still, the question lingers: If the goal was to highlight Filipino pride in a pavilion designed by a Filipino architect, why not frame the photo to allow the Philippine Pavilion alone to own the spotlight?

A simple shift in camera angle, or even a basic crop, could have centered the narrative where it rightfully belonged. The fact that the U.S. flag remained in the shot leaves us wondering: had it been another country’s flag, would the same editorial choice have been made?

Or was this another subtle reminder of a lingering colonial mindset — one that still links U.S. presence to prestige? If that so, it’s time we cast off the colonial mindset that anything “made in the U.S.” automatically grants a stamp of credibility or superior quality. Filipino craftsmanship can stand proudly on its own, shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best.

To the reader who sent us the images and offered context: thank you. While we were not physically at the venue, we trust the authenticity of your images. Besides, we also conducted our own probe.

Now more than ever, let’s take pride in what’s truly ours. Let us continue to celebrate Filipino creativity and talent, unfiltered and unshadowed.

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