The Presidential Seal of the Philippines

Take a closer look at the central image. Look familiar? No, it's not the merlion.

This is the sea lion, which is also part of the Coat of Arms of Manila, conceded to the City of Manila in 1596 by Spain. During this time, the coat of arms of the King of Spain also featured two lions (and two castles) and since Manila was Spain's colony that was surrounded by the sea, thus the sea lion.

Aside from the Presidential Seal of the Philippines and the seal of the City of Manila, the sea lion also appears in the Executive Secretary's seal, with the sea lion holding a quill instead of a sword, the seal of the Augustinian missionaries in the Philippines, the very first missionary order to arrive in Philippine shores, showing the sea lion holding a cross, and the seal of the Archdiocese of Manila.

So next time you see a lion with a fish tail, look again...or, better yet, the next time you see a merlion, think again...