Identifying Emblems from Augustinian and Franciscan Churches in the Philippines: Arts and Linguistics of Sacred Symbolic Archaeology

Augustinian and Franciscan orders in the Philippines brought spiritual cultures among Filipinos. One of these was the influence of their arts and practices which have been visible to their enormous churches built and established during the early 16th to 19th century. Part of the arts used by the two religious orders is the iconic symbols and emblems drawn, etched, affixed, molded or stamped on most of their liturgical objects which they have been using and transferred through space and time, from generation to generation. Many of their sacred symbols can also be found in other institutions, organizations, sacred and non-sacred societies. The focus of this paper is on the identification of sacred symbols common to the two religious orders. This paper gives comparison on the iconic emblems as arts, designs and adornments and understand its depicted characteristics. This paper also gives initial findings on the interpretations of common sacred symbols used by the Augustinian and Franciscan orders