EXPLANATION OF COAT OF ARMS

EXPLANATION OF COAT OF ARMS

The bishop’s motto “Duc in altum”, Latin for “Put out into the deep”, is culled from the biblical passage (Luke 5:4) wherein Christ instructed the apostles to go to sea once again after failing to catch fish the whole night. It echoes Christ’s call that entails a response in faith to a mission which to human perception may abound with uncertainties.
The upper left quadrant of the shield portrays the geographical location of the province of Surigao del Sur which comprises Tandag Diocese. It is situated in the eastern portion of the island of Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean where the sun rises. The hills represent the mountainous terrain of the place and the color green, the verdant forests.
The lower left quadrant bears the monogram of the Blessed Virgin Mary of which the bishop is an ardent devotee. He was born in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, the patron saint of which Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary; the parish to which he was assigned upon his election is dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; and the date of his Episcopal ordination falls on the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
The upper right quadrant symbolizes the competence and authority of the bishop in the field of canon.
The lower left quadrant portrays the pastoral concerns of the bishop. The slanting staff depicts the shepherd bending forward to lift even a wounded sheep. Literally, the net relates to Surigao del Sur as a coastal province where fishing forms one of the means of livelihood. Figuratively, however, just as the net catches different kinds of fish, the symbolism stands for the openness of the ministry to the diversity of people.
The shield is ensigned by the Dominican cross, a tribute to the University of Santo Tomas of Manila, where he obtained his Doctorate in Canon Law and where he was a professor at the time of his election.