The Sarimanok (Pronunciation: sá·ri·ma·nók), also known as papanok in its feminine form, is a legendary bird of the Maranao people, who originate from Mindanao, an island in the Philippines, and part of Philippine mythology. It comes from the words sari and manok. Sari means "assorted" or "various", while manok originally meant "bird" as evidenced by early Spanish colonial sources, but came to mean only "chicken", which is how it is understood today (i.e. the creature is a "bird/chicken of assorted colors").
According to the later legend, Muhammad found a rooster in the first of the seven heavens. The bird was so large its crest touched the second heaven. Its crow roused every living creature except man. The Day of Resurrection would come once this celestial rooster ceased to crow. The Manila Times Internet Edition: Adorning the Sarimanok. Accessed July 29, 2007
Philippine National Artist for Visual Arts Abdulmari Asia Imao uses the Sarimanok as a motif for some of his artworks which helped popularize the creature.
The Far Eastern University seal bears the FEU Coat of Arms and the sarimanok motif. The FEU Coat of arms consists of eight-pointed golden star that represents the first eight main disciplines of FEU. The sarimanok is a legendary bird in full color that project the nationalistic spirit upon which the university is founded. The university wanted to have a Filipino touch in everything because they were one of the first universities in the Philippines to be founded by a Filipino, Dr. Nicanor Reyes, Sr.Tambayan, The Official Magazine of the FEU Advocate, March 2012, Vol.8
The Philippine television network ABS-CBN used the Sarimanok in the network's 1993 station ID and served as the network's mascot from 1993 until 2000. It was first used during its color broadcasts in November 1966, similar to how NBC in the United States created their most famous symbol in 1956 for its color broadcasts: the peacock, which remains the company's official logo to this day. The Sarimanok was re-used in 2004 on plugs of its regional broadcasts. The ABS-CBN News Channel was also originally launched as the Sarimanok News Channel in 1996 and used the name until 1999.
The Philippine float entry for the 1998 Rose Parade featured a giant 55-foot Sarimanok which also won the "Most Beautiful Float from Outside the USA” honors.
The Sarimanok was also the logo of Spirit of Manila Airlines, a short-lived airline which only lasted from 2011 to 2012.
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