Answer:
(Nasa Wikang Filipino)
At the center is the San Diego Fort, locally known simply as the castillo, which for years has been considered as the symbol of the municipality. The fort is the only one surviving out of the four built in the 18th century (1751-1781) to protect the community from marauding attacks of sea pirates, including foreign invaders, who has made several attempts to overrun it. The castillo therefore, signifies the Gumaqueños’ fortitude and heroism to protect their freedom and what they consider as their own.
From the right (3:00) is depicted a mountain range with the rising sun, the municipality being located in the east, nestling at the foot of the Sierra Madre range. Immediately below is the facade of the municipal building, built in 1921. Nearby are the baluartes and arañas used in the Farmers’ Day (the Feast of San Isidro Labrador). Below are the people dancing on the street for the Pasinaya, the cultural parade which showcases the creative and colorful costumes and dances of the townspeople, held in celebration of the town fiesta or community foundation day, preceding the town patronal fiesta of San Diego de Alcala. At the forefront of the Pasinaya is a couple dancing La Jota Gumaqueña, the primary of the three national folk dances originating from Gumaca (the other two being Jotabal and Del Pilar). At the base on the right side of the muralla is the year 1582, the year Gumaca was founded as a pueblo although oral traditions and oral history have it that the community has been in existence since the 14th century. On the left of the muralla is the green and blue water of historic Lamon Bay. Going upwards and to the right (from 8:00 to 2:00) are the representations of the primary industries that support the community; namely: fishing, coconut, rice, fruits and vegetables, trade and commerce, and banking and finance. These representations are in-between the rays in yellow, green, brown and red emanating from the sun—representing the beauty and bounty of the natural surroundings of the town and the creativity and dynamism of its citizens.
The entire seal is bounded by coir rope signifying the unity of the people not only among themselves but with nature as well.
This municipal corporate seal was conceptualized, given explanation and suggested by Municipal Administrator J. Pepon T. Olivera; drawn and colorized by Alberto Vargas; scanned and retouched by Mangum L. Paril through WinPhoto 1.5 and Muslek Power of Scanning V1.3; endorsed by SB Councilor Carlo Vinci Villafranca for a public hearing of the SB Committee on Laws and Ordinances on 5 March 1998; sponsored by SB Councilors Carlo Vinci Villafranca, Diosdado Olaivar, and Ramon Reynante Castillo on the floor of and approved by the Sangguniang Bayan through SB Resolution #86/98 on 23 March 1998 and signed for implementation by Mayor Juanito B. Bañal as the Official Municipal Corporate Seal.
