National symbols of the Philippines

The national symbols of the Philippines consist of symbols that represent Philippine traditions and ideals and convey the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity.^[1] Republic Act 8491, known also as Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, stipulates the code for national flag, anthem, motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices of the Philippines.^[1] Apart from RA 8491, the Philippines has only four official national symbols enacted through a proclamation by the executive department, namely sampaguita, narra, the Philippine eagle, and arnis. In 1934, during the Commonwealth era, Governor-General Frank Murphy declared sampaguita^[2] and narra^[3] as national flower and national tree, respectively, through Proclamation No. 652. Philippine President Fidel Ramos proclaimed the Philippine eagle as the national bird in 1995 through Proclamation No. 615.^[4] In 2009, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared arnis as the national sport and martial art through Republic Act 9850.^[5]

Other supposed national symbols such as the Cariñosa, Carabao, Bangus, and Anahaw that are circulating through various sources have no official status and have not established by law.^[6] Furthermore, there is no Filipino historical figure officially declared as national hero through law or executive order.^[7][8] Although, there were laws and proclamations honoring Filipino heroes. On November 15, 1995, the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee, created through Executive Order No. 5 by former President Fidel Ramos, recommended nine Filipino historical figures to be National Heroes: Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino, and Gabriela Silang.^[8] Up to now, no action has been taken for these recommended National Heroes.^[8]

List of symbols

Official

	Symbol	Image	Adopted
National Flag	Flag of the Philippines		June 12, 1898
Coat of arms	Coat of arms of the Philippines		July 3, 1946
National anthem	National Anthem of the Philippines		June 11, 1898
National Motto	National Motto of the Philippines	"Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa" ("For God, People, Nature, and Country")	February 12, 1998
National Flower	Sampaguita		February 1, 1934[9]
National tree	Narra		February 1, 1934[9]
National bird	Philippine Eagle		July 15, 1995[10]
National sports	Arnis		December 11, 2009[11]

Unofficial

• Cariñosa as National Dance
• Carabao as National Animal (or Land Animal)
• Bangus as National Fish
• Anahaw as National Leaf
• Mango as National Fruit
• Barong and Baro't saya as National Costume
• "Bayan Ko" and "Pilipinas Kong Mahal" as National Songs
• Juan de la Cruz - symbolizing the Filipino people
• Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino and Gabriela Silang as National Heroes
• Sipa as National Sport
• Lechon, Adobo and Sinigang as National Food

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Republic Act No. 8491 of the Philippines". Web Portal of the Philippine Government. http://www.gov.ph/aboutphil/RA8491.asp. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
2. ^ "Philippine Fast Facts, National Flower: Sampaguita". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/phil-fast-facts/culture-profile-sampaguita.php. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
3. ^ "Philippine Fast Facts, National Tree: Narra". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/phil-fast-facts/culture-profile-narra.php. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
4. ^ "Philippine Fast Facts, National Bird: Philippine Eagle". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/phil-fast-facts/culture-profile-phil-eagle.php. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
5. ^ Lizares, George (2009-12-20). "Arnis now a national sport". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://sports.inquirer.net/sportsevents/sportsevents/view/20091220-243044/Arnis-now-a-national-sport. Retrieved 2010-01-13. 
6. ^ Ambeth Ocampo (2009-03-03). "Looking Back: What is 'Philippine' or 'national'?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090303-192135/What-is-Philippine-or-national. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
7. ^ "Philippine Fast Facts". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/culture-profile-phil-fast-facts.php. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} "Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes and Laws Honoring Filipino Historical Figures". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/culture-profile-nationalhero.php. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "National Historical Commission - Today in History". National Historical Commission of the Philippines. http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_today_in_history&th_days=1&th_month=2&Itemid=42&thAction=thDetailView&th_id=205. Retrieved 2011-09-27. 
10. ^ "Today in Philippine History July 15". Mindanao Examiner. http://mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20110715041821. Retrieved 2011-09-27. 
11. ^ "Palace declares arnis as national martial art and sport". GMA News. 2010-01-08. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181104/sports/palace-declares-arnis-as-national-martial-art-and-sport. Retrieved 2011-09-27.