Its original form was designed by Captain Galo B. Ocampo, secretary of the Philippine Heraldry Committee, and patterned after the seal of the president of the United States.

Inside and at the center of the equilateral triangle is the traditional golden-yellow sea lion (Ultramar) of the Coat-Of-Arms granted to the City of Manila in 1596, on guard with a sword on its right paw, at hilt.

Inside and at the corner of each of the three (3) angles of the equilateral triangle, a five-pointed golden-yellow star to represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively.

On the sun there is an equilateral triangle (colored red as opposed to the flag's white), representing liberty, equality, and fraternity, which were ideals of the Revolution.

The coat of arms of the President of the Philippines shall be of the following design: SHIELD: The eight-rayed Philippine sun rayonnant in or; on the center an equilateral triangle in gules; over-all the traditional sea lion (Ultramar) of the ancient or original coat of arms of the City of Manila on guard with sword or at hilt; on three points of triangle three mullets in or.

After Estrada's executive order came into effect, Roxas's executive order read: Shield: the eight-rayed Philippine sun ravonnant in golden yellow; on the center, an equilateral triangle in gules (red); overall the traditional sea lion of the Coat of Arms granted to the City of Manila in 1596, on guard with sword, or at hilt and one mullet in golden yellow in the corner of each of the three angles of the equilateral triangle: one mullet representing Luzon; one, Visayas; and another, Mindanao.