QuestionsQuestions (Acts No. 4240)
To amend Executive Order No. 38 (s. 1947) by updating the design and specifically the number of stars in the Presidential seal/coat of arms so that the stars in the “amulet” correspond to the number of provinces of the Philippines at any given time.
Executive Order No. 38 dated 07 January 1947.
An eight-rayed Philippine Sun with a red equilateral triangle containing the traditional sea lion with a sword, and a mullet each at the corner of the three angles.
The coat of arms of the President, encircled by the words “Seal of the President of the Philippines.”
It specified that the sun and the sea lion are in golden yellow, and added a design surrounded by stars forming an “amulet” with a number equivalent to the number of provinces as of 04 July 1951.
It increased from fifty-one (51) to seventy-eight (78).
Because the number of provinces has continuously increased and changes over time; therefore, the number of stars must match the number of provinces at any given time.
It updates the description of the coat of arms and, crucially, changes the star specification so that the number of stars in the amulet conforms to the number of provinces of the Republic at any given time.
It contains the golden yellow eight-rayed Philippine Sun; in the center an equilateral triangle in red; and overall the traditional sea lion with sword, plus one mullet in golden yellow in the corner of each of the three angles of the equilateral triangle.
One mullet represents Luzon, one represents Visayas, and another represents Mindanao.
It states the whole is surrounded by stars in the form of an amulet with one point of each star outward on the imaginary radiating center lines.
The Office of Presidential Protocol, which must ensure that all concerned offices/units in the Office of the President comply.
Immediately, as provided in Section 3 of the order.
The number of stars is not fixed; it must adjust to match the current number of provinces at any given time.
It uses a dynamic standard: the number of stars must conform to the number of provinces of the Republic at any given time, rather than fixing a single number permanently.
It states that the President issues the order by virtue of the powers vested in him by law.
The order requires that the number of stars conform to the new number of provinces at that time, since the star count is linked to the number of provinces.