About
THE NEW COAT OF ARMS
OF MOST REVEREND LEONARDO Y. MEDROSO, DD
The Dexter or Right: Arms of the Diocese of Tagbilaran
The mallet, the long stalk of lily flower, and the try-square undoubtedly refer to St. Joseph the Worker, the patron of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin, worked as a carpenter in Nazareth as seen in the Gospels. The mallet and the try-square are two of the important tools in carpentry. The long stalk of lily flower is a standard Catholic hagiographic symbol for St. Joseph that he lived a chaste life.
At the base is the illustration of the blood compact between the Spaniard, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, and the Boholano, Datu Sikatuna, exhibiting the treaty of friendship between the Philippines and Spain. The Chocolate Hills on the lower part of the base is one of the famous landmarks in Bohol.
The Sinister or Left: Personal Arms of Most Rev. Leonardo Y. Medroso, D.D.
On chief in tripartite, at dexter argent (silver) the emblem of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte where the bishop began his studies for the priesthood; at sinister the Dominican Cross argent, for the Central Seminary of the University of Santo Tomas where he took his theology and Canon Law courses. On chief center in azure (blue) the symbol of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, titular of the Archdiocese of Palo which the bishop serves since his priestly ordination.
At base, a field of azure, a lion rampant bearing a cross fitche (cruz apuntada) in reference to the bishop Christian name of Leonardo, a Greek derivative meaning strong as a lion. Above is the “manus Dei” symbol of God’s presence. In early Christian art, the faithful refrained from using the figure of God in human form and chose to depict the Almighty “whom no man could behold and then live” (Ex. 33,20). Thus he hand became a substitute as He guided the lives of men. This reference to God’s presence translates well to the “walk before Me” motto taken from Genesis 17,2, words God addressed to the patriarch Abraham.
Below, light and dark vert (green) valley between rising terrain to denote the olden term “ogmoc” from which derived the name Ormoc, birthplace of Bishop Medroso. Even now the variance in greenery is kept by the dominant sugar plantations and the other agricultural produce of the inhabitants.
On the red of martyrdom are the crossed emblems of Saints Peter and Paul, patrons of the City of Ormoc and its people; the two keys of St. Peter and the sword of martyrdom of St. Paul.
The Motto:
“AMBULA CORAM ME.” Earlier reference was made to these words of Yahweh the Lord to Abraham. The bishop adopts this phrase for himself in consonance with his family name Medroso which in Spanish means a person in awe, in fear. It is Abraham’s avowal to walk in the fear of the Lord.
To walk in God’s presence, to abide by His laws and to submit to His will this is the message Bishop Medroso also brings to the flock entrusted to his care.