The Official Seal of Pasig

There are several reasons why the seal has the said symbols. The seal had a blend of both fact and fiction.

THE WOMAN AT THE CENTER OF THE LOGO REPRESENTS THE MUTYA NG PASIG, THE IDEALISM OF PERFECTION IN ALL ASPECTS THAT EPITOMIZES LOYALTY, GOODWILL AND SPLENDOR OF THE CITY OF PASIG.

The mutya is a woman from the Tagalog folklore. It is said to be a maiden goddess of the rivers, lakes, springs, seas and oceans. She is the "Mother of Waters" and was similarly identified as a mermaid or “sirena”, but more likely a ghost or apparition of the river.

Since mutya means a muse or goddess and corresponds to the embodiment of the ideal woman ... and Filipinos, in general, associate fair skin with "goddessness" and ideal beauty, then I guess you could say mutya also means "fair one".

The word muse originates from Greek mythology. The Greek gods Zeus and Mnemosyne had nine daughters called the Muses. The nine daughters were of one being in heart, spirit and thought. If the muses loved a man, then the man's worries instantly disappeared. The man who was loved by the muses was considered to be more sacred than a holy man.

Throughout the history of the arts, men and women have been inspired by their own muses. One world famous artist who incorporated his muses into his work was the painter Pablo Picasso. Throughout his life, each of the women he met and loved became his subject.
The muse is not always a human being. The idea of the muse could originate in a spiritual world where many people see the muse as a supernatural being or force that possesses the artist and helps create his or her work.

Whether the muse is spiritual or a person of flesh and blood, it is true that the world of the arts is indebted to its muses. Without these inspirational people who have loved and encouraged the artist, a wealth of paintings and music would be missing from the world.
I believe that is partly why the Mutya ng Pasig was chosen as part of the seal because the city would also like to have the inspiration to become the most ideal city.

THE BODY OF WATER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WOMAN IS A SUGGESTION OF THE PASIG RIVER CONNECTING TWO BODIES OF WATER, LAGUNA DE BAY AND MANILA BAY BOTH SUGGESTED BY WAVES.
 
As can be seen from even the older seal of Pasig City, there is a prominent representation of the Pasig river.

The Pasig River is 25 kilometers long. It is lined by Metro Manila on each side. Its major tributaries are the Marikina River and San Juan River.

It is technically a tidal estuary, as the flow direction depends upon the water-level difference between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay. During the dry season, the water level in Laguna de Bay is low and the flow direction of the river depends on the tides. During the wet season, when the water level of Laguna de Bay is high, flow is normally from Laguna de Bay towards Manila Bay.

The river used to be an important transport route in Spanish Manila. Due to negligence and industrial development, the river has become much polluted and is considered dead and unable to sustain life by ecologists.

It continues to play an important social, cultural, historical and political role. Efforts to restore the river have been initiated a long time ago and began with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Program (PRRP) in 1989.

PRRP aims to reverse the effects of years of negligence, uncontrolled development, and unabated pollution. Various initiatives and projects were undertaken in collaboration with international donors, national government agencies, local governments, civil society groups, and the private sector. 

In 1999, a presidential mandate established the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) with the clear goal of restoring the Pasig River from a biologically dead river to Class "C" level that which can sustain life by 2014.

It’s already 2012. I wonder if their goal is still possible with only two years left.

ANOTHER PART OF THE SEAL IS THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS MANIFEST PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS, THE HALLMARKS OF THE CITY’S DEVELOPMENT.

Many factories and industries already existed in Pasig during the time the seal was conceptualized.

The creators of the seal probably envisioned a very progressive city bustling with many business establishments.

Today, upscale modern Pasig is threaded by EDSA and a lengthening C5, many shopping and leisure centers have been established, soaring office buildings have been constructed, well-heeled schools are abound, churches and unending gated subdivisions has proliferated. Pasig has truly gone a long way.

LASTLY, THE CHURCH REPRESENTED IN THE SEAL IS THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH.

The church was founded in 1572 and is one of the oldest structures in the city and historic seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig. It exudes not only the Christian faith but also history and tradition. The church is one of the oldest edifices in the city. It is now called the Pasig Cathedral. It is a Roman Catholic church located at Plaza Rizal in Barangay Malinao, Pasig City.

Here are some historical facts:

“The church is the first Marian Parish in the Philippines. The Augustinian Missionaries founded it in 1572. The original patroness of the church was the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1573) whose feast falls on 2 July. The title of Immaculate Conception was only recognized on 25 April 1587.

The present stone church of the archdiocese was built between the years 1722 to 1760. – Rating as the oldest edifice in Pasig. Here, the Second Philippine Commission met in 5 June 1901 to discuss the organization of a civil government; thus, creating through the enactment of the Philippine Commission Act No. 137 the Province of Rizal with Pasig as its capital. In 28 October 1992, a new Immaculate Conception of Pasig with renovated altars and marble floor was blessed by Jaime Cardinal Sin, the same date the old altar was blessed. In October 2003 came a milestone in the church history when the church was converted into a cathedral with father Francisco San Diego as the first bishop.

Being one of the oldest structures still in existence, it truly deserves to be part of the seal as it has both a historical and sentimental value to the citizens of Pasig. We should always put importance on our origins to represent how we equally respect our culture.