as well as their arrangements — has also resulted in the proliferation of many flag variations. Variants which incorrectly orient the crescent moon toward the fly, instead of positioning it at an angle facing the big star at the upper hoist, also exist and continue to be in use. Number of small stars After the accession of Basilan into the Autonomous Region in 2001 the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly enacted Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 138 in November 2002 to legally amend the design of the Official Seal of the Autonomous Region by increasing the number of stars from four to five. However the Regional Legislative Assembly has not yet made any amendment to the original ARMM flag law (MMAA No. 12), making the design with four smaller stars the de jure official version. At present versions with five or six smaller stars are also in prevalent use around the Autonomous Region. The version with five smaller stars reflect the current number of the Autonomous Region's constituent provinces and is thus the most symbolically accurate version of the regional flag. Those with six smaller stars were only symbolically accurate from 2006 to 2008, when the province of Shariff Kabunsuan briefly existed. Symbolism Per Section 3 of MMAA No. 12, the elements within the regional flag are officially interpreted as follows: Colors: Blue — "peace and tranquility" White — "purity and righteousness" Red — "the bloody struggle of [the region's] people for self-identity and self-determination" Green and yellow within the central emblem — "the abundance of vegetation in, and the culture of the inhabitants of, the Autonomous Region" Other elements: Big star — "the Sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines over the Autonomous Region and its constituent Provinces" Crescent moon — "the predominance of the Muslim inhabitants in the Autonomous Region" Four smaller stars — the region's original constituent Provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi Kris — "a symbol of authority used by the major tribes in the Autonomous Region," as well as "the valor and perseverance of the Bangsamoro people in their quest for self-rule." Use The ARMM regional flag is to be raised in mast to the left of the Philippine flag, at a distance of at least 2 meters apart from each other. The ARMM flag's mast is always to be one foot (0.3 meters) lower in height. It is mandatory for the flag