The Philippine Coat of Arms features the eight-rayed sun of the Philippines and the three five-pointed stars representing the three primary geographic regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In the blue field on the left side is the Eagle of the United States, and in the red field on the right is the Lion-Rampant of Spain, both representing colonial history.

The heraldric description from the Republic Act No. 8491 from 1998 is as follows: Paleways of two (2) pieces, azure and gules; a chief argent studded with three (3) mullets equidistant from each other; and, in point of honor, ovoid argent over all the sun rayonnant with eight minor and lesser rays. Beneath shall be the scroll with the words "REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS," inscribed thereon.

The words on the scroll has undergone many changes since Philippine independence. From independence in 1946 until 1972, when President Ferdinand Marcos would declare martial law, the scroll contained the words "REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES" inscribed. From 1972 until the overthrow of Marcos in 1986, the scroll had the words "ISANG BANSA ISANG DIWA" ("One Nation, One Spirit") inscribed. After the overthrow of Marcos, the scroll changed to the current "REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS". In 1998, with the approval of Republic Act No. 8491, the eagle and lion on the lower half of the shield have since been removed, but the modified arms is not in wide use.