The national symbols of the Philippines consist of symbols that represent Philippine traditions and ideals

and convey the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity.[1] Some of these symbols are stated in
the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, which is also known as Republic Act 8491.[1] The national
language of the Philippines is Filipino as stated in the Constitution of the Philippines.[2] Aside from those
stated symbols in the Constitution and in Republic Act 8491, there are only five official national symbols
of the Philippines enacted through law, namely sampaguita as national flower, narra as national tree,
the Philippine eagle as national bird, Philippine pearl as national gem and arnis as national sport.

There are symbols such as the carabao (national animal), mango (national fruit) and anahaw (national
leaf) that are widely known as national symbols but have no laws recognizing them as official national
symbols.[3] Even Jose Rizal, who is widely considered as a national hero, has not been declared officially
as a national hero in any existing Philippine law.[3][4] A National Artist of the Philippines is a rank or a
title given to a Filipino citizen in recognition to the recipient's contributions to Philippine arts and letters
and they are not considered as a national symbol that represents traditions and ideals.[5]

On 17 February 2014, Bohol First District Representative Rene Relampagos filed a bill at the Philippine
House of Representatives that seeks to declare or re-declare and to recognize a number of national
symbols.[6] The proposed bill, House Bill 3926 or the "Philippine National Symbols Act of 2014", aims
also to encourage nationalism and unity; to guarantee respect, preservation and promotion of national
symbols; and to correct the "unofficial" status of the symbols.[6] Among the proposed national symbols
listed in the measure are Jose Rizal as the only historical Filipino to be recognized as national hero,
adobo as national food and jeepney as national vehicle.[7] It also includes the previous ten official
national symbols.[7]

On July 27, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9850 into law, declaring
Modern Arnis as the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport.[7]

Arnis comes from arnes, Old Spanish for armor (harness is an archaic English term for armor which
comes from the same roots as the Spanish term). It is derived from the armor costumes used in Moro-
moro stage plays where actors fought mock battles using wooden swords. Allegedly, the practice of
weaponry by the peasants or Indios was banned by the Spaniards during colonial times and the Moro-
moro stick fights were a "disguised" form of continued practice of indigenous martial arts.[5]