SCHOOL SEAL

“NOTRE DAME” was the name suggested by Rev. Fr. Joseph Boyd, OMI for the first Oblate school founded in Midsayap, Cotabato, in 1941. The reason given was that “Notre Dame” means “Our Lady,” the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this was suitable in view of the strong Filipino devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

The Notre Dame of Greater Manila seal was designed by an Oblate priest, Fr. Natalio Tabada, himself a product of Notre Dame School System.

GREEN is the color of Notre Dame signifying joy and happiness. GOLD and BLUE are also recognized as official colors of Notre Dame as befit the colors honoring the Blessed Mother.

The CROSS signifies the Oblate cross, representing the immense love of God in Jesus Christ.

The FLEUR-DE-LIS, depicting a stylized lily or lotus flower, traditionally had been used to “represent French royalty, and in that sense it is said to signify perfection, light, and life”.  It may represent the French origins of St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

The TOWER on the lower left hand is the symbol of HOPE, and of COTABATO province, where the first Notre Dame school in the Philippines started.

The LION with the CROSS represents FORTITUDE or COURAGE, especially in the evangelisation mission of every disciple of Jesus Christ.

The motto “UT COGNOSCANT TE” (THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU) is taken from the Gospel of St. John: “And this is eternal life: for men to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).  It connotes the aim of true Christian education: knowledge and love of God.