Seal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Seal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Armiger	Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Adopted	5 September 1990 (original); 25 November 2002 (revised)
Relinquished	26 February 2019
Blazon	In Vert, a decrescent Or engulfing inverted kris hilt end Argent between five small mullets Or and one big mullet Or

Last updated October 07, 2019

The Seal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was the official insignia of the government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was an autonomous region of the Philippines, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that consisted of five predominantly Muslim provinces: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. It was the only region that had its own government. The region's de facto seat of government was Cotabato City, although this self-governing city was outside its jurisdiction.

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous city is Quezon City, both part of Metro Manila. Bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and the Celebes Sea on the southwest, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Vietnam to the west, Palau to the east, and Malaysia and Indonesia to the south.

History

The adoption of the official seal was the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly's first legislative act. Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act (MMAA) No. 1 was passed on 3 September 1990 and approved two days later by Regional Governor Zacaria Candao.^[1]

ARMM Regional Assembly, also known as ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, was the devolved unicameral regional legislature of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It was known as the "Little Congress" of the ARMM.

After Basilan (excluding Isabela City) voted to join the ARMM in 2001, the seal's original design was amended by increasing the number of small stars from four to five through MMAA No. 138, which was passed in November 2002.^[2]

The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago. It is just off the southern coast of the geographic Zamboanga Peninsula.

Isabela, officially the City of Isabela or simply known as Isabela City, is a 4th class city in Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 112,788 people.

Specifications

Section 2 of MMAA No. 1 (as amended by MMAA No. 138) specifies the design of the Official Seal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as follows:^[1]^[2]

The Seal is circular in form, and consists of an "outer portion" and a "center."
All rendered in green color within the Seal's outer circular band are two sets of text — the full capitalized name of the region in the upper portion, and the words "Official Seal" in the lower.
- No color is specified for the outer band's background, but it is usually rendered in white.^[3]
- In most variants of the Seal the words "Official Seal" are fully capitalized; it is rendered in a smaller size or thinner font as the region's name usually, but not always.^[3]
- No actual separator between the two sets of text was specified, but most variants of the seal use roundels,^[3] and in rare instances, mullets.^[4]^[5]
- Some variants of the Seal used by some agencies erroneously render the text in black color.^[4]^[5]
The background of the Seal's inner circular field is green. In the inner field's center (in reality, always right-of-center) is a "partially drawn" kris with its "handle" (hilt) pointing toward the top. To the left and right of the hilt are five small yellow stars and one big yellow star, respectively. All these are "partially engulf[ed]" by a yellow crescent moon.
- No orientation is specified for the crescent moon, but de facto it always has its horns pointing to the right (i.e., a decrescent in heraldry).^[3]
- No specification is provided about the size of the crescent moon or its distance to the edge of the central circular field. Many variants have a thin border between the moon and the edge, while some do not.^[3]^[5]
- No details on the design and orientation of the kris is specified, leading to a large number of variations.^[3]
- The arrangement of the five stars is not specified. By far the most common (and the de facto standard) is a staggered three-line arrangement of 2-1-2 stars,^[3] but a variant with the stars arranged in a ring pattern^[5] is also known to be in use.

A roundel is a circular charge in heraldry. Roundels are among the oldest charges used in coats of arms, dating from the start of the age of heraldry in Europe, circa 1200–1215. Roundels are typically a solid colour but may be charged with an item or be any of the furs used in heraldry. Roundels are similar to the annulet, which some heralds would refer to as a false roundel.

The kris is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron (pamor). Krises are most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well. Keris is also a symbol of power and of ethnic pride and in most communities making up the Malay Archipelago - home of Pencak Silat martial arts.

The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A tassel or sword knot may be attached to the guard or pommel.

Symbolism

Section 2 of MMAA No. 1 (as amended by MMMAA No. 138) provides the official interpretation of the elements within the Seal as follows:^[1]^[2]

Colors:

Green — symbolizes the region's "fertile soil, rich vegetation and animal life, and abundant natural resources"
White (kris) — represents "purity"
Yellow (moon) — "typifies the social class structure of [the region's] major tribes"

Other elements:

Kris — "a common symbol of the authority of the major tribes in the area;" in a "slightly drawn" state to represent use "for peace"
Crescent moon — "symbolizes the predominance of [the region's] Muslim populace
Five small stars — represents the five provinces constituting the region: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi
Big star — "represents the Republic of the Philippines"

Related Research Articles

Sumisip Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Sumisip, officially the Municipality of Sumisip,, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 41,730 people.

Tipo-Tipo Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Tipo-Tipo, officially the Municipality of Tipo-Tipo,, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 19,163 people.

Tuburan, Basilan Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Tuburan, officially the Municipality of Tuburan,, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 20,207 people.

Datu Saudi-Ampatuan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 26,427 people.

Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Municipality in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines

Datu Unsay, officially the Municipality of Datu Unsay, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 11,813 people.

Akbar, Basilan Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Akbar, officially the Municipality of Akbar,, is a — municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 17,531 people.

Al-Barka Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Al-Barka, officially the Municipality of Al-Barka,, is a — municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 20,905 people.

Hadji Mohammad Ajul Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Hadji Mohammad Ajul, officially the Municipality of Hadji Mohammad Ajul,, is a — municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 19,307 people.

Ungkaya Pukan, officially the Municipality of Ungkaya Pukan,, is a — municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 18,441 people.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao general elections was held in the ARMM for the regional governor, vice-governor posts and election of members of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly on August 11, 2008. The electronic voting used is the first in Philippines election history. The P 500 million COMELEC's "ARMM balloting" is a pilot program for the 2010 national polling.

Hadji Muhtamad Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Hadji Muhtamad, officially the Municipality of Hadji Muhtamad,, is a — municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 25,085 people.

Tabuan-Lasa Municipality of the Philippines in the province of Basilan

Tabuan-Lasa, officially the Municipality of Tabuan-Lasa,, is a — municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 24,188 people.

Sema v. COMELEC is a court case that was heard before the Supreme Court of the Philippines. It was consolidated with Marquez v. COMELEC. It held that the Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao does not have the power to create provinces and cities. Thus, the creation of the province of Shariff Kabunsuan was unconstitutional and that province no longer exists as a political entity in the Philippines.

Shariff Saydona Mustapha, officially the Municipality of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, is a — municipality in the province of Maguindanao, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 19,855 people.

The flag of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was the official vexillological device of the Autonomous Region, always to be displayed in secondary positions of honor to the national flag of the Philippines.

An autonomous region of the Philippines is a first-level administrative division and it has the authority to control the region's culture and economy. It is a minority entity that has a higher population of a particular minority ethnic group. The Constitution of the Philippines allows for two autonomous regions: for Cordilleras and Muslim Mindanao.

The Flag of Bangsamoro is the flag which represents the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an autonomous region of the Philippines.

The Seal of Bangsamoro is the official insignia of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an autonomous region in the Philippines.

References

1 2 3 ARMM 1st Regional Legislative Assembly (5 September 1990). "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 1 - An Act Adopting an Official Seal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and for Other Purposes" (PDF). ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
1 2 3 ARMM 4th Regional Legislative Assembly (25 November 2002). "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 138 - An Act amending Letter C, Paragraph Three of Section Two of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act Number One and for other purposes" (PDF). ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Google Image Search: ARMM Seal" . Retrieved 19 November 2017.
1 2 "ARMM Seal". Regional Ports Management Authority — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
1 2 3 4 "ARMM Seal". Department of the Interior and Local Government — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Retrieved 19 November 2017.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[mmaa1-1] 1 2 3 ARMM 1st Regional Legislative Assembly (5 September 1990). "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 1 - An Act Adopting an Official Seal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and for Other Purposes" (PDF). ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

[mmaa138-2] 1 2 3 ARMM 4th Regional Legislative Assembly (25 November 2002). "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 138 - An Act amending Letter C, Paragraph Three of Section Two of Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act Number One and for other purposes" (PDF). ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.

[googleimages-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Google Image Search: ARMM Seal" . Retrieved 19 November 2017.

[rpma-4] 1 2 "ARMM Seal". Regional Ports Management Authority — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Retrieved 19 November 2017.

[dilg-armm-5] 1 2 3 4 "ARMM Seal". Department of the Interior and Local Government — Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Retrieved 19 November 2017.