LA UNION SEAL
DESCRIPTION IN HERALDICAL TECHNICAL LANGUAGE
Parted per saltire azure and gules. On chief point between motto, LOVE, UNION, CONCORD, three hands firmly clasped; on base point, ship’s steering wheel; on dexter point, three cotton balls, and a tobacco plant; on sinister, a spinning wheel.
EXPLANATION:
The shield with seven points is divided into four parts by two diagonal lines crossing each other.
The upper and lower triangles are blue while the side triangles are red. On the upper triangle on a blue field are three hands firmly clasped together. They represent the people which were created from portions of the Provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos and Benguet. The Province came to existence by virtue of a “Superior Decreto” on March 2, 1850 of Governor-General Antonio Maria Blanco. Four years later on April 18, 1854, the decree was approved by Queen Isabella II of Spain.
The words, LOVE, UNION, CONCORD from an apt motto of the province. LOVE is the Christian law. The Holy Bible admonishes that “He who does not love does not know God for God is love.” (1 John 4:8) But people, even if they love one another cannot accomplish mush if they are poles apart. They must be united together. Such is UNION. The Psalmist rhapsodizes: He sings, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.” (Ps 133:1) And if people are of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and gathered together in God’s name, then He is their midst.” (Phil 2:2) That is CONCORD.
On the right side of the shield, left of the beholder, on red background are three cotton balls and a tobacco plant symbolizing farming and agriculture and the province’s principal “cash” products.
On the left side of the shield, right of the beholder, likewise on a red background, is a native spinning wheel representing a developed weaving industry in the province.
On the bottom blue field is a ship’s steering wheel representing sailing, fishing, and other sea based industry and the port of San Fernando City which serves as a major link of the Province with international commerce.
COLOR SYMBOLISM:
BLUE represents peace, justice, equanimity, tranquility and calmness; RED symbolizes industry, initiative, activity and aggressiveness; GOLDEN YELLOW represents richness in aims and fullness of mind and heart.
