Leo Angelo Mercado de Castro is a Bachelor of Secondary Education student at Cavite State University – Main Campus, completing a Major in Social Studies. He was born and lives in Alfonso, Cavite, and is the first-born son of Ramil and Leah de Castro.

Description and symbolism:

The first and fourth quarters feature a blue fleur-de-lys set on a golden field as an allusion to the Armiger’s ardent devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

The second and third quarters feature a lion rampant set on a blue field, holding a book and censer to symbolize the Armiger’s dedication to the teaching profession and his devotion to the Sacred Liturgy, respectively.

The cross pommee is a homage to the attributed traditional coat of arms of Saint Michael the Archangel, the Armiger’s primary patron saint.

The red bordure with five gold stars and six gold palm leaves alludes to the martyrdom of the Armiger’s town patron, Saint John of Nepomuk.

The motto is taken from the third line of the Rythmus of Saint Thomas of Aquinas, “My whole heart submits to Thee”.

Blazon: Shield: Quarterly Or and Azure a cross pommée throughout counterchanged between in the first and fourth quarters a fleur-de-lis Azure, and in the second and third quarters a lion rampant Or armed and langued Gules holding in his forepaws, respectively, a closed book and a censer Or, all within a bordure Gules charged with five stars of five points and six palm branches Or shewn sunwise at the dexter side and counter-sunwise on the sinister side alternately.

Motto: Tibi se cor meum totum subicit (“My whole heart submits to Thee”)

Assumed/granting authority: Assumed, January 13, 2022. Registered, Philippine Armorial, January 21, 2022.

Description and image submitted by the Armiger. Blazon assistance kindly provided by Michael Y. Medvedev.