The ordinary ecclesiastical hat (galero) of the simple priest is black and has on either side a single tassel(fiocchi) of the same color. Placed over this hat is the shield bearing the symbols of Rev. Fr. David O. Reyes, Jr.
The shield’s dexter side depicts the origin of Father David. At the upper dexter is the harp and two crowns. The harp symbolizes the biblical shepherd-turned-king David, his namesake who is also notable as a psalmist; while the two crowns signify Father David’s lineage, the Reyes family. In Spanish, “reyes” is transliterated as “kings,” hence the two crowns. The harp and the crowns are placed side by side to stand for the fact that Father David is the second person to bear such a name in his family. The lower dexter bears the symbols of the patron saints of Nagcarlan. Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, the principal patron of the town, is represented by the flaying knife, the instrument that awarded the saint the crown of martyrdom. Beside the flaying knife is the symbol of the rose. It reminds us of the food which Saint Didacus of Alcala, the secondary patron of the parish, kept in his Franciscan habit for distribution to the poor and which miraculously turned into roses. It also implies the Blessed Virgin, the Rosa Mystica. She who is Queen of Apostles guided Father David as a seminarian and continues to watch over him even to this day. It is in the town of Nagcarlan that Father David was brought up to live the Catholic faith and to be of service to the Church.
The right side depicts the patron saints of the seminaries where Father David studied. At the upper right is the crossed sword and scroll, famed symbols of Saint Paul the Apostle. The very foundation of Father David’s formation to the priesthood lies in the Pauline spirituality that he imbibed during his days at Saint Paul Seminary under the tutelage of the Society of Saint Paul. At the lower right is the three overlapping circles tiered with a crown, reminiscent of Saint Charles Borromeo’s coat of arms. Father David was formed into the diocesan priesthood at San Carlos Seminary, the first conciliar and diocesan seminary in the country.
The heraldic colors of metallic silver and amaranth red demonstrate a contrast of light metal against dark color. Silver expresses sublimity and solemnity; red corresponds to passion, love and sacrifice.
In honor of the Apostle Paul, his protector and patron, Father David chose as his motto the words Comprehensus sum a Christo (Christ made me his own) to remind him of the great task that has been given to him – to be an alter Christus in capitis, to be another Christ the Head – and of his constant need to grow in holiness. The motto was liberally derived from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (3:12): “Non quod iam acceperim aut iam perfectus sim; persequor autem si umquam comprehendam, sicut et comprehensus sum a Christo Iesu”(It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus).
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