Symbols can signify many things and domination, nationalism and national identity are no exclusion. The most common symbols of sovereignty
and nationhood are the national flag and national anthem but there many others, such as a pledge of allegiance. We give you the complete list of
our Philippine National Symbols or Pambansang Sagisag ng Pilipinas that has been recognized by Filipinos.
| Pambansang Puno or Philippine National Tree  | Narra or Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) - Narra tree is a striking, large and strong shady tree. It is one of the most wanted wood for furniture but because there are only a few trees left, cutting down a Narra tree is no longer allowed. It is mostly found in Bicol, Mindanao and the Cagayan Valley forests. The Narra trees grow all over the Philippine islands and are mostly found and grown in Bicol, Mindanao and the Cagayan Valley forests. |
| Pambansang Dahon or Philippine National Leaf  | Anahaw or Fan palm (Livistona rotundifolia in Latin) - The Filipino word "Anahaw" (ana-how) are nice-looking, tropical palm known for its round fan-shaped leaves. Its leaf has some uses like: to fan yourself during hot days. The Tagalogs of Quezon Province even use it to wrap their brown and delicious tikoy. Anahaw leaves are also a widespread symbol in the Philippines that is often used in awards and medals to represent high achievement, strength, and loyalty. The Anahaw leaf features a large, round outline and is glossy green in color. It spreads out grandly from the center of the shaft and opens to a full crest divided shallowly at the ends and is known to be one of the most beautiful plant in the Philippines. |
| Pambansang Prutas or Philippine National Fruit  | Mangga (Mangifera indica) - Philippine Mango is a bizarre tropical fruit prevalently known to be yellow in color which achieves its addictive taste through its scrupulous harvest procedures. Philippine Mango is recognized worldwide for its best qualities, which cannot be beaten by any kind of mangoes around the globe. It is a wonder fruit of versatile ways to enjoy its taste. Green mango can be served as a salad constituent, while golden yellow mango has diversities of ways to relish its uniqueness. It can be served as plain, processed, dried or frozen, this delicious fruit is world known for its sweetest character. Philippine mango is an ideal dessert served in many ways and has been known as the “Fruit of the Gods”. |
| Pambansang Ibon or Philippine National Bird  | Agila ng Pilipinas or Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jeffery) - Philippine Eagle or also known as the monkey eating eagle stands over 3 feet (1m) tall. It has a large, sharp, curved beak. It has feathers that seem to bristle on its head. It is a giant forest raptor and is considered excellent hunters. It is considered one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world and one of the world's rarest and definitely one of the world’s most seriously endangered vertebrate bird kind with only about 500 birds in the wild. It lives in tropical rain forests and it lays only one or two eggs each year. There are only a few of them now because of the disappearance of trees in our mountains. |
| Pambansang Hayop or Philippine National Animal  | Kalabaw or Carabao or water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) - The carabao or kalabaw in Filipino is a tamed type of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis or sometimes bubalus carabanesis) in the Philippines. Being the farm animalof choice for pulling the plow and cart used to tow farm produce to the market, carabaos are warmly associated with farmers. Its life span is 18 to 20 years and the female carabao can deliver one calf each year. |
| Pambansang Isda or Philippine National Fish  | Bangus or Milkfish (Chanos chanos) - Deboned milkfish, or "boneless bangus," has become popular in stores and markets because milkfish is known for being bonier than other food fish in the Philippines. Bangus is a popular table fare among Filipinos. To the biologist, it is a naturally strong fish since it is capable in adapting and thrives even in the limited, unusual environment of the fishpond. This feature is not frequently found in most other fish class. |
| Pambansang Bulaklak or Philippine National Flower  | Sampaguita or Arabian Jasmine (Jasminium sambac) - Philippine Sampaguita flower is a white, star-shaped blossom which has a sweet fragrance. It opens at night and droops in less than a day. The white flowers are often made into wreath and its extract made into perfumes. Sampaguita is not a tree but a woody vine. The flower called was accepted as the National Flower of Philippines in 1934 which also happens to be the National Flower of Indonesia. |
| Pambansang Pagkain or Philippine National Dish  | Lechon or Roasted pig - The lechon is a very popular and famous food among Filipinos. Lechon (litson in tagalong) is roasted whole pig cooked over burning charcoals. It is a dish that is almost a fixed part and menu centerpiece of any Filipino celebration which is usually prepared for fiestas, family celebrations (like parties and marriages) and also a favorite dish during Christmas. Lechon is the Spanish name for pig, in the Philippines it means a spit-roasted pig. Lechon is prepared by filling the inside of the animal pig with herbs and vegetables. The pigs are slowly hand roasted on top of charcoal for hours till their skin turns into reddish brown and the inside flesh becomes tender. Philippine Lechon is often served with a thick liver sauce cooked with vinegar, sugar and herbs. |
| Pambansang Tirahan or Philippine National House  | Bahay Kubo or Nipa Hut Bahay kubo is a shelter made out of bamboo and palm leaves. It is a good place to take rest and eat typical food in the farm because of its material which allows good ventilation. The roof of the first Philippine houses, nipa huts, or bahay kubo, were high inclined and typically open gabled to allow for ventilation. The steeply sloping pitch also protected from the wind and rain in the typhoon season. The roof also provides wide extension roof space to provide shade from the hot sun. |
| Pambansang Sayaw or Philippine National Dance  | Tinikling - The Tinikling is a dance from the Philippines which includes two people hitting bamboo poles or piece of wood, using them to beat, tap, and slide on the ground and against each other in harmonization with one or more dancers who will step over and dance in between the poles. When the bamboo closes, the dancers must be fast enough to not get their foot or feet caught. As the tinikling dance continues the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of clashing bamboo excites the crowd and the quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers awes them. The tinikling name came from birds locally known as Tikling. The term tinikling literally means "tikling-like". |
| Pambansang Kasuotan Para sa Mga Lalaki or Philippine National Costume for Men  | Barong Tagalog - Barong Tagalog is an untucked or loose shirt of delicate fabric showing Chinese, airy tropical appearance Indo-Malayan and elongated effect of Hindu influences and the decorative captivity of European men's clothing. The barong appears to have preserved its fundamental look since it was first worn. Almost unnoticeably, through the years, the barong's round neck, straight long sleeves and mid-thigh hemline were resourcefully customized with collar, cuffs and side slits. |
Pambansang Kasuotan Para sa Mga Babae or Philippine National Costume for Women | Baro at Saya - Baro't Saya is a collarless blouse and skirt which means baro at saya (blouse and skirt). From the original, half-naked style, the bare upper torso was slowly covered with a short-sleeved, collarless blouse called "baro". The whole look has developed into a many-layered collection of the kimona or inner shirt, the baro outershirt with its typically delicate materials, fine embroidery and wide sleeves. |
| Pambansang Laro or Philippine National Sport or Game  | SIPA - Philippine Sipa is hacky-sack game but, instead of a footbag, a metal stud, coin-like object (washer) with a tail or a bunch of rubberbands or colorful threads attached and knotted together is used. This is then kicked (sipa) into the air by the player as many times as he can without the "sipa" falling on the floor. |
| Pambansang Bayani or Philippine National Hero  | Dr. Jose Rizal - José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. He wrote the books Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and the poem Mi Ultimo Adios. He was very intelligent; he is a Filipino polymath, nationalist, author, eye doctor and the most well-known advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. His monument now stands in Rizal Park, Manila Philippines. The anniversary of Rizal's death is remembered as a Philippine holiday called Rizal Day. Rizal's 1896 military trial and execution made him a martyr of the Philippine Revolution. |
| Pambansang Sasakyan or Philippine National Vehicle  | Kalesa - Philippine kalesa is a horse-driven carriage that looks like an inclined cart, was introduced during the 18th century. The kalesa has two round wheels on each side and two rows of seats that can accommodate four persons. The driver sits on a block of wood located at the front of the cart near the horse. This was one of the methods of transportation introduced in the Philippines in the 18th century by the Spaniards that only nobles and high ranked Spanish officials could afford. The Ilustrados, who are the rich Filipinos who had their own businesses, used the kalesa not only for traveling but as a way of transporting their goods as well. They are hardly ever used in the streets nowadays except in tourist spots and some rural areas. |
Philippine National Gem | South Sea pearls - The color of south sea pearls is white to golden. Their extraordinary sizes are normally large which is between 9mm to as much as 19mm which made Philippine pearls very expensive. South Sea Pearl is very valuable. Its beauty and elegant gleam honor its reputation as "the queen of pearls". There are two basic groups of Philippine South Sea cultured pearls: white and black. Their colors range from white and silvery blue to pale gold. The golden or light-yellowish varieties abound in Philippine and Indonesian waters while white or silvery hues occur mainly in Australian waters. |
| Pambansang Sapin Sa Paa or Philippine National Footwear  | Bakya or wooden clogs - Bakya or wooden clogs footwear is made from local light wood like santol and laniti. It is cut to the desired foot size before being shaven until smooth. The side of the bakya is thick enough to be carved with floral, geometric or landscape designs. Afterwards, the bakya could then be painted or varnished. Uppers of plastic or rubber will then be fixed firmly using clavitos or tiny nails and the bakya is now ready to wear. The word bakya may also be used in the Philippines to indicate something that is of "low-class", "unsophisticated" or "cheap". |
| Pambansang Awit or Philippine National Anthem | Lupang Hinirang - The entire song is translated into English as "Land of the Morning". In English, Lupang Hinirang is Beloved Country and Filipinas in Spanish. Julian Felipe from Cavite composed the music to our national hymn. Jose Palma wrote the poem entitled Filipinas. We sing our Philippine national hymn to indicate our unity as a nation. It is generally sung during flag-raising ceremonies and whenever there is an official and important event. Filipinos place their right hand on their left chest as they sing the Philippine national anthem, Lupang Hinirang and we remember our heroes who gave their lives for our independence. |
| Pambansang Wika or Philippine National Language | Filipino |
| Philippine National Motto | Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan, at Makabansa (For the Love of God, People, Nature and Country) |
| Philippine National Pledges | Patriotic Pledge and Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag |
| Philippine Narional Patriotic Song | Pilipinas Kong Mahal, Bayan Ko |
