Concept: Logo of Loyola Retreat House-Angono (LRH-Angono)
by Fr Rene Javellana, SJ
The logo of LRH-Angono is composed inside a semi-circular or Roman arch, a design feature of Felipe Mendoza’s LRH-Angono building complex (1964). Divided in two uneven segments, the upper has an open book with the monogram of Jesus’ name used in the seal of the Society of Jesus. The open book symbolizes the Spiritual Exercises (SPEX), which, over the centuries, have led many to know Jesus and make him the center of their lives.
The book and name are placed against the background of stylized waters and mountains. The waters symbolize Laguna de Ba’e (The Lady’s Lake). Ba’e or bai or bay is an ancient Tagalog word meaning a noble woman. The mountains represent Luzon’s Sierra Madre of which Angono hill is part.
On the lower segment, occupying 2/3rds of the logo are the lobo y olla (wolf and pot) of the House of Loyola’s escudo or coat of arms. The posture of the wolves standing or statant rather than on their hind paws or rampant (found in modern depictions of the seal) is based on the stone carving at the entrance of the Loyola casa-torre in Guipozcoa.
The pot and wolves, however, are drawn following the style of the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs, the oldest known art work in the Philippines dated as far back as the 3rd millenium BCE.
At the base: A • M + D • G “Ad majorem Dei gloriam”
All told, the logo celebrates Angono’s unique legacy and the legacy of St. Ignatius Loyola, patron of retreats and founder of the Society of Jesus.
