Johnel Camilan Dimco was born and lives in Bacolod City, the son of Nelson Dimco and Joecelyn Camilan, and the eldest of three siblings. His parents, merging their first names, initially named him “Jonel”, but later corrected it to “Johnel” in honor of St. John the Baptist.

Description and symbolism:

The owl symbolizes the Armiger’s pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. It also alludes to the Armiger’s habit to work in the background in silence.

The eight-pointed star illuminating the field refers to Jesus Christ, “the true light that enlightens every man coming into the world” (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 31.4). A star led the way of the Magi towards the house of Saint Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the child Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, thus the star also alludes to the Holy Family of Nazareth, to whom the Armiger is devoted. It is also a reminder for the Armiger that, as the curiosity of the Magi on the star led them to worship the King of the Jews, every pursuit of knowledge and wisdom should point towards Christ.

The cross flory fitchy held by the owl expresses the Armiger’s Christian faith. Crosses with a pointed base are said “to have been carried by the early Christians in their pilgrimages, so that they might be readily fixed in the ground whilst performing their devotions” (John Cussains, Handbook of Heraldry). It also alludes to the Armiger’s interest in heraldry and Sacred Liturgy: the symbol struck the Armiger deeply in his heraldic pursuit, and is also commonly used by Filipino ecclesiastical heraldist Archbishop Mariano Madriaga in his heraldic works, particularly in the arms of Manila and Cebu.

The mound is canting to the birthplace and residence of the Armiger in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, from the Hiligaynon term “bakolod” which means “hill, mound, or small elevation”. The mound is depicted as waves of white and blue, alluding to the waters of Baptism. This refers to Saint John the Baptist, the namesake of the Armiger. This also alludes to the Armiger’s walk of rediscovering Baptism in the Neocatechumenal Way.

The red field also alludes to St. John the Baptist. The Armiger was born on the liturgical day of the saint’s martyrdom (August 29).

The pawn represents the Armiger’s philosophy as a “useless servant”: the pawn in the game of chess only moves one square forward under the command of the king. In this case, the Armiger must be in service to the King of Kings. This also alludes to the Armiger’s interest in history and video games.

The use of silver – a less precious metal – rather than the more valuable gold throughout alludes to the words of St. John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The motto is taken from Luke 17:10.

Blazon: Shield: Gules, on a mound barry wavy Argent and Azure charged with a pawn chess piece Gules, an owl grasping in its dexter claw a Latin cross flory fitchy, in sinister chief an eight-pointed star, all Argent.

Motto: Servi inutiles sumus (“We are useless servants”).

Assumed/granting authority: Assumed, May 29, 2024. Registered, August 29, 2024.

Image and information submitted by the Armiger.