Coat of Arms

THE UPPER CREST

The hills are reminiscent of the original landscape of Quezon City which geographically constitutes the new Diocese of Cubao. Quezon City was built on hills. In the Scriptures, hills and mountains are the dwelling places of the Divine. They are places where man encounters God. Jesus himself was always found on a hill communing with the Father. Hills and mountains are thus symbols of God’s presence. They are also symbols of prayer and contemplation where man encounters God in silence. The three hills symbolize the Trinity after which the communion of the three sectors of Cubao – Clergy, Religious, and Lay – or, the Santatlo as we call them, is patterned.

The Tau Cross on top of the hill depicts the missionary character of the new diocese. It reminds us of the Franciscan missionary and martyr, San Pedro Bautista, who founded the first missions in San Francisco del Monte in the late 1500’s before he was martyred in Japan. The cross is the symbol of Christ and his sacrificial love for us. Thus, the Tau cross is a symbol of that merging of Christ’s self-offering and our desire to imitate his love and service. The Tau cross on top of the hill echoes the words of Christ in Matthew 5: “Civitas supra montem posita non abscondi” – A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”. The new Diocese of Cubao envisions a community of disciples that will shine forth through its faithful and loving witness to Christ.

The Yellow Background suggests light radiating from the cross. The darkness which characterized the wilderness of Diliman, the name given to the vast area of Quezon City because of its once gloomy condition, is now suffused with light emanating from the Holy Spirit. Christ who overcomes all things has overcome the darkness of sin that we may have the Light of Life.

The entire image in the upper crest is a symbol too of what we, the parishes of the new Diocese of Cubao, truly want to become: a Church that has experienced – and is set to witness to – the living presence of God, the empowering sacrifice of Christ, and the animating light of the Holy Spirit.

THE LOWER CREST

The Blue Color and White Flowers are symbols of Mary, the titular of the new Diocese. The Cathedral of Cubao is dedicated to the  Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the same Patroness of Manila, the mother diocese.

Historically, Quezon City has a strong Marian tradition. The first chapel that was constructed by the Franciscans in 1590 in San Francisco del Monte was dedicated to Our Lady of Montecelli. In 1892, the Capuchins opened a public chapel dedicated to the Mother of the Divine Shepherd or Divina Pastora. In this same chapel was placed the image of Our Lady of Lourdes and due to the many devotees of Our Lady, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes was founded. In 1898, a bigger church was constructed and was dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Moreover, in 1954, the image of the Nuestra Señora de Santissimo Rosario (also called Our Lady of La Naval) was enshrined in Sto. Domingo Church. The Quezon City Council has declared the Virgin of La Naval as the Patroness of Quezon City.

Furthermore, the white flowers also complement the flowers in the coat-of-arms of the Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin. We attribute our devotion to the Virgin Mary as one of the precious heritage of our beloved Archbishop.

Providentially, the establishment of the new Diocese of Cubao coincides with the celebration of the Year of the Rosary declared by Pope John Paul II. The flowers bring  to mind the mysteries of the Rosary with the new Mysteria Lucis. These mysteries of the Rosary symbolized by the four flowers, as Pope John Paul puts it, “are resplendent with the Mystery that surpasses all understanding: the Mystery of Christ, the Word made flesh, in whom all the fullness of God dwells.”