Blazon

Per pall wavy cottised Argent and Azure; on Chief Gules, the Dove of the Holy Spirit Argent volant recursant descendant palewise bearing an Aureola Or; on Dexter Azure the Staff of St. Joseph Tenné and Or with three Lily flowers Argent and Or leaved; on Sinister Vert, the Moon Crescent Or ornamented by a Cherub Carnation and Tenné winged Argent below the Patriarchal Cross Argent with the Sun in splendor on base over a globus Azure.

The Personal Coat of Arms of the Bishop

CHIEF POINT (Upper)
The Chief (upper portion) refers to the symbols of the Bishop’s personal advocacy as a minister, the apostolate of evangelization. The dove coming down from heaven signifies moments of the proclamation of God’s Word. We are reminded of the proclamation of Our Lord’s coming as the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove during the Baptism of Christ by St. John. The Gospel according to St. Matthew tells us that: “The heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 16-17). At Pentecost, we are also reminded how “the Spirit gave them ability” as “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts of the Apostles 2:4). Bishop Occiano has joyfully served in ministries for the proclamation and deepening of the Catholic faith. He served as Director of the Archdiocese of Caceres Catechetical Ministry (CCM) and the Archdiocese of Caceres Commission on Communications (CCCom). The Bishop also finished further studies in the Formation Institute of Religious Education (FIRE) in the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City earning a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies. The Gules (red) field reminds the Bishop of the tongues of fire at Pentecost and the heritage of the proclamation of God’s Word from the Apostles to the Christian Martyrs of the present age. The tincture also represents the Apostles present during the Pentecost. One of these Apostles was St. Bartholomew, Patron Saint of the Parish of Baao where the Bishop was assigned for the first time as a Parish Priest from 2015 to 2021.

DEXTER FLANK (Left)
The Dexter (left of the viewer portion) refers to symbols linked to the Bishop’s principal pastoral assignments and devotions in the Archdiocese of Caceres. The staff in the form of a scepter with lily flowers budding from it refers to the Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph in San Jose, Camarines Sur where the Bishop first served as Shrine Rector from 2021 to 2024. The Azure (blue) field refers to the deep love of all Bicolanos to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, called by Bicolanos as “Inâ”, the Queen, Mother, and Patroness of Bicolandia.

SINISTER FLANK (Right)
The Sinister (right of the viewer portion) refers to symbols linked to the Bishop’s personal heritage. The Patriarchal Cross over the globe refers to the Holy Cross of Nabua, the titular patron of the Bishop’s lakeside hometown celebrated every 3rd day of May. It also symbolizes the historic importance of Bishop Occiano’s appointment being the first bishop-son of the parish and the third bishop from Rinconada region of Camarines Sur. The crescent moon with the cherub, which is also present in the coat of arms of Holy Cross Parish in Nabua, signifies the Blessed Virgin Mary as Nuestra Señora de Katipanan. This represents the role of the Blessed Mother in the life and vocation of the Bishop. He started his elementary formation at La Consolacion Academy at Iriga City and finished his high school until theological studies at the Holy Rosary Seminary, Naga City. As a priest of the Archdiocese, he was inspired by the Marian devotion at his hometown of Nabua, Nuestra Señora de Katipanan and has also been accompanied in his priestly ministry by “Inâ” as he was also assigned as Vice-Rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Naga City. The Vert (green) background refers to the agricultural abundance of the province of Camarines Sur where the Bishop hails from.

Adopted Symbols from the Seal of the Diocese of Virac

The Bishop adopted a number of symbols from the seal of the Diocese of Virac that are similar to his personal coat of arms. The dove is also present in the Diocese’s coat of arms to symbolize the Holy Spirit. Although the crescent moon is not found the Diocese’s coat of arms, it also comes to symbolize the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception, who is Patroness of the Diocese of Virac. The Cross of Nabua also reminisces the viewer to the Holy Cross of Batalay in Bato, Cataduanes, the wooden cross that serves as first Christian symbol to be planted in the island of Cataduanes in the 16th century. The placement of the tinctures in the shield also reminisces the viewer to the location of the island of Cataduanes. The island would be the Vert field at Sinister with the waters of the Pacific Ocean at the Dexter field and the Mayon Volcano symbolized by the Gules field. The aureola of the Holy Spirit also symbolizes the sun over the island of Cataduanes. The pall (Y-shaped division) wavy refers to the sea and the sky surrounding the island. Geographically, the waters of Lagonoy Gulf at the Western side of the island and the Pacific Ocean at the Eastern side of the island converge at its southern tip, which is Virac and goes down towards the San Bernardino Strait in the South. These waters have a great importance to the island province as the waterways give the islanders transportation and trade.

The Motto

CUM GAUDIO PRÆDICARE — “TO PROCLAIM WITH JOY”. The motto signifies the Bishop’s commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Christ with joy and exaltation. It is inspired by the First Letter of St. John that tells us: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life… We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our[a] joy complete” (1 John 1: 1, 3-4).

The Ornaments of the Episcopal Rank

The shield is surmounted by a Cross and by a Roman galero or ecclesiastical hat of this rank, i.e., Vert (green) with six (6) tassels of the same pendant (1, 2, and 3) at both sides. These features signify the rank of a bishop. The Cross has a unique feature being Cross Fleury, similar to the Dominican Cross in the Shield of Faith and the Cross of the Holy Rosary. This represents Bishop’s priestly formation and later teaching post at Holy Rosary Minor and Major Seminaries in Naga City. The shape of the shield and the figure of the galero and tassels reflect the episcopal coat of arms of His Excellency, Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legazpi, O.P., D.D. (1935-2014), Third Archbishop and 33rd Bishop of Caceres. The Bishop became Archbishop’s Legazpi’s Personal Secretary for many years and considers the prelate as his mentor. The shape of the scroll is adopted from the original Coat of Arms of His Grace, Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, D.D., which he used when he was Bishop of Daet (2019-2024). The Archbishop is a contemporary and friend of the Bishop as a Seminarian, a Priest and now, a Bishop.