MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 236, September 19, 2003 ]
ESTABLISHING THE HONORS CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES TO CREATE AN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF HONORS CONFERRED AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, sovereign nations confer honors to recognize distinguished achievements, acknowledge the accomplishments and services of patriotic citizens, enhance the prestige of a nation, and promote amity with other nations;
WHEREAS, in the history of the Republic of the Philippines, various awards and decorations have been created in recognition of achievements and distinctions;
WHEREAS, there is a need to rationalize the roster of civil awards and decorations of the Philippines to ensure consistency of criteria in conferring honors, preserve the integrity and prestige thereof, clarify and definitively establish their order of precedence, in conformity with internationally-accepted traditional and protocular norms and practices;
WHEREAS, the issuance of this Executive Order is recommended by the Presidential Assistant for Historical Affairs, with the conformity of and/or in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the National Historical Institute;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. The Honors Code. There is hereby established the "Honors Code of the Philippines" (hereinafter referred to as the "Honors Code") as set out in this Executive Order.
The Honors Code emphasizes the exceptional prestige of the Honors conferred hereunder. Unless otherwise enumerated as Honors within the Order of Precedence established by this Executive Order, all other Presidential Awards, while tangible recognitions of merit and accomplishment, shall not be considered Honors for the purposes of this' Honors Code.
Section 2. Definition of Terms. The following terms, as used in this Executive Order, shall be defined as follows:
a. Order. An Order is an award that grants membership in an exclusive association of honored individuals, and which by tradition carries with it distinctive insignia to be worn by recipients.
b. Decoration. A Decoration is a wearable award usually conferred for a specific act of meritorious service.
c. Medal. A Medal is a wearable award usually conferred to recognize service and/or achievement or to commemorate a significant event.
For purposes of this Executive Order, Orders, Decorations and Medals, which are awards of the highest prestige, are collectively referred to as Honors.
d. Award. An Award is a tangible means of recognizing accomplishment and/or merit, usually in the form of a citation, plaque, trophy or medallion.
Section 3. Order of Precedence. Civilian Honors that have been and will be conferred by the Republic of the Philippines are hereby officially ranked by Order of Precedence, to emphasize the relative value, importance and seniority, as well as to enhance the prestige, of such Honors. The Order of Precedence in the Honors Code shall be as follows in descending order:
Quezon Service Cross
II Order of Lakandula
Order of Sikatuna
Philippine Legion of Honor
III Order of Gabriela Silang
IV Order of National Artists
Order of National Scientists
Order of National Social Scientists
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
V Gawad Mabini
VI Order of the Golden Heart
VII Presidential Medal of Merit
Section 4. Order and Manner of Wear. The Chancellery of Philippine Orders and State Decorations, as created in this Executive Order, shall prescribe the Order and Manner of Wear for all Orders, Decorations, Medals (and/or other Presidential Awards), including those conferred by foreign governments, states, institutions, and/or individuals.
For purposes of this Executive Order, the Order and Manner of Wear shall refer to the prescribed order and manner in which insignia are to be worn, consistent with the Order of Precedence.
Section 5. Honors Conferred.
I. Quezon Service Cross (Krus nq Serbisyo ni Quezon) -
Created by Joint Resolution No. 4 dated, October 21, 1946 of the First Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, the Quezon Service Cross is a Decoration conferred by the President of the Philippines with the concurrence of the Congress of the Philippines on Filipino citizens for exemplary service to the nation in such a manner and such a degree as to add great prestige to the Republic of the Philippines, or as to contribute to the lasting benefit of its people.
Nominations for the Quezon Service Cross shall state the services meriting the award and shall be made only in cases where the service performed or contribution made can be measured on the scale established by the national benefaction of the late President Manuel L. Quezon.
II Order of Lakandula (Orden ni Lakandula); Order of Sikatuna (Orden ni Sikatuna); Philippine Legion of Honor (Lehiyong Pandangal ng Pilipinas) -
Order of Lakandula
The Order of Lakandula is an Order of political and civic merit awarded in memory of Lakandula's dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one's people.
The Order of Lakandula is conferred upon a Filipino or foreign citizen:
a. who has demonstrated by his life and deeds a dedication to the welfare of society;
b. whose life is worthy of emulation by the Filipino people;
c. for deeds worthy of particular recognition, including suffering materially for the preservation and defense of the democratic way of life and of the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines, for devoting his life to the peaceful resolution of conflict, or for demonstrating an outstanding dedication to the fostering of mutual understanding, cultural exchange, justice and dignified relations among individuals; or
d. for acts that have been traditionally recognized by the institution of presidential awards, including meritorious political and civic service.
The Order of Lakandula shall be composed of the following ranks:
Grand Collar (Supremo) - Conferred upon an individual who has suffered materially for the preservation and defense of the democratic way of life or of the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or of government
Grand Cross (Bayani) - Conferred upon an individual who has devoted his life to the peaceful resolution of conflict; upon an individual whose life is worthy of emulation by the Filipino people; or upon a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or the equivalent, foreign minister or other official of cabinet rank, Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) - Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated a life-long dedication to the political and civic welfare of society; or upon a Charge d'affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Commander (Komandante) - Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated exceptional deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or upon a Charge d'affaires a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, Consular officer with a personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Officer (Pinuno) - Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated commendable deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Member (Kagawad) - Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated meritorious deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or upon a Third
Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Order of Sikatuna
Created by Executive Order No. 571 dated February 27, 1953, as amended, in commemoration of the first treaty (Pacto de Sangre) between the Philippines and a foreign country, the Order of Sikatuna is an Order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines, upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines, or upon personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service.
The Order of Sikatuna may be awarded by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the name and by authority of the President.
The Order of Sikatuna shall be composed of the following ranks:
Grand Collar (Raja) - Conferred upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or of government
Grand Cross (Datu) - The Grand Cross shall have two (2) distinctions:" (i) Gold (Katangiang Ginto) and (ii) Silver (Katangiang Pilak). The Grand Cross may be conferred upon a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or the equivalent, foreign minister or other official of cabinet rank, Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Grand Officer (Maringal na Lakan) - Conferred upon a Charge d'affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Commander (Lakan) - Conferred upon a Charge d'affaires a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, Consular officer with a personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Officer (Maginoo) - Conferred upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Member (Maharlika) - Conferred upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Philippine Legion of Honor
Created by Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947, the Philippine Legion of Honor is conferred upon a Filipino or foreign citizen in recognition of valuable and meritorious service in relation to the military affairs of the Republic of the Philippines.
To signify the importance of the civil service in military affairs in the preservation of the honor of the Republic of the Philippines and in nation building, the Philippine Legion of Honor shall henceforth be conferred on the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence.
The Philippine Legion of Honor may be awarded by the Secretary of National Defense in the name and by authority of the President.
The civilian division of the Philippine Legion of Honor shall be composed of the following ranks:
Chief Commander (Punong Komandante) - Conferred upon a civilian for life achievement in public service not otherwise qualifying for the Quezon Service Cross; or upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or of government
Grand Commander (Maringal na Komandante) - Conferred upon a civilian for singular acts of service with a tangible impact on the Philippine military sphere; or upon a Crown Prince, Vice, President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or the equivalent, foreign minister or other official of cabinet rank; or upon an Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing for life achievement in the military field.
Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) - Conferred upon a civilian for acts of exemplary merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Charge d'affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Commander (Komandante) - Conferred upon a civilian for acts of conspicuous merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Charge d'affaires, a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of ,In Embassy, Consular officer with a personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Officer (Pinuno) - Conferred upon a civilian for acts of commendable merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Legionnaire (Lehiyonaryo) - Conferred upon a civilian for acts of merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
III. Order of Gabriela Silang (Orden ni Gabriela Silang) -
The Order of Gabriela Silang may be conferred upon the spouses of heads of State and/or of government, both Filipino and foreign.
IV. Order of National Artists (Orden ng mga Pambansana Alaaad ng Sirring); Order of National Scientists (Orden nq mqa Pambansang Alagad ng Agham); Order of National Social Scientists (Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad na Agham Panlipunan); Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (Award for National Living Treasures) -
Order of National Artists
Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1001 dated April 27, 1972 and Republic Act No. 7356, the Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos who have made distinct contributions to arts and letters, upon the recommendation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The National Artist for Historical Literature, created under Executive Order No. 451 dated October 9, 1997, is subsumed under the Order of National Artists.
Order of National Scientists
The Order of National Scientists is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos for distinguished individual or collaborative achievement in the physical sciences and/or technology.
Pursuant to Book IV, Title XVIII, Section 33 of the Administrative Code of 1987, the National Academy of Science and Technology may recommend annually not more than ten (10) scientists who shall be accorded by the President the rank and title of National Scientists. National Scientists shall be given gratuities and be entitled to privileges enjoyed by National Artists.
Order of National Social Scientists
There is hereby created an Order of National Social Scientists, which shall be the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos for life achievement in the Social Sciences.
The National Academy of Science and Technology may recommend annually not more than ten (10) individuals who shall be accorded by the President the rank and title of National Social Scientists. National Social Scientists shall be given gratuities and be entitled to privileges enjoyed by National Scientists.
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7355, otherwise known as the Manlilikha ng Bayan Act, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan is conferred upon a Filipino citizen or group of Filipino citizens engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino, whose distinctive skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present generations in his/her community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence.
The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan is conferred pursuant to the rules, regulations and criteria promulgated by the, NCCA.
V. Gawad Mabini -
Created by Presidential Decree No. 490, the Gawad Mabini may be conferred upon personnel of the DFA, both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service, and upon Filipinos who have rendered distinguished service or promoted the interests of the Republic of the Philippines at home and abroad.
The Gawad Mabini may be conferred by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the name and by authority of the President.
The Gawad Mabini shall be conferred on July 22 of every year, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini, the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines.
The Gawad Mabini shall be composed of three (3) ranks
Grand Cross (Dakilang Kamanong) - Conferred upon a former or incumbent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Chief of Mission, cabinet member or other high official who headed a Philippine delegation to an important international conference on a ministerial level and as a result thereof, made substantive contributions to public interest and public welfare
Commander (Dakilang Kasugo) - Conferred upon an officer with a rank between career minister to foreign service officer class IV, or upon personnel of a government agency who serves as an Attache in a Foreign Service establishment, as recommended by the Chief of Mission or the Principal Officer of the post served, as the case may be, or by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in the case of personnel in the Home Office.
Member (Kasugo) - Conferred upon a staff officer or employee of the DFA, as recommended by the Chief of Mission or the Principal Officer of the post served, as the case may be, or by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in the case of personnel in the Home Office.
VI Order of the Golden Heart (Orden ng Gintong Puso) -
Created by Executive Order 40-A dated June 21, 1954, the Golden Heart Presidential Award is hereby renamed the Order of the Golden Heart.
The Order of the Golden Heart gives official recognition to Filipino or foreign citizens who have rendered distinguished services or given noteworthy monetary or other material aid, encouragement to the campaign for the amelioration and improvement of the moral, social, and economic conditions of the Filipino masses, and for volunteerism in the service of the Filipino masses.
The Order of the Golden Heart shall be composed of the following ranks:
Grand Collar (Maringal na Kuwintas) - Conferred upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or of government
Grand Cross (Maringal na Krus) - Conferred upon a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or the equivalent, foreign minister or other official of cabinet rank; or upon an Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno) - Conferred upon a Charge d'affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Commander (Komandante) - Charge d'affaires, a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, Consular officer with a personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Officer (Pinuno) - Conferred upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
Member (Kagawad) - Conferred upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing
VII. Presidential Medal of Merit (Pampanguluhang Medalya ng Merito) -
The Presidential Merit Award is hereby renamed the Presidential Medal of Merit.
The Presidential Medal of Merit shall be conferred upon an individual, Filipino or foreign:
a. for outstanding service to the President, the Administration or cabinet members;
b. for gaining prestige for the country in an international event, in the fields of literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields of endeavor that foster national pride and artistic excellence;
c. who is a retiring cultural worker or artist, after serving the government in an official or advisory capacity, or a foreign artist who has promoted Philippine culture; or
d. for acts of merit that enhance the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines, including heading the Philippine delegation or having contributed materially to the success of a major international conference or event that has brought prestige and honor to the country, including Presidential visits overseas and major international events held in the Philippines.ᇈWᑭHIL
Section 6. Posthumous Honors. All Honors may be conferred posthumously, in which case they shall be received by the legal heirs; or if there be no heir or nearest of kin, by any person designated by the President of the Philippines to receive an Honor on behalf of the deceased.
Section 7. Other Presidential Awards. The President may confer Presidential Awards not otherwise included in the Order of Precedence of the Honors Code, as set out in Section 3 of this Executive Order. For the avoidance of doubt, Presidential Awards not otherwise enumerated in Section 3 of this Executive Order are not considered Honors, as defined herein.
Section 8. The Chancellery of Philippine Orders and State Decorations. There is hereby created the Chancellery of Philippine Orders and State Decorations (hereinafter referred to as the "Chancellery") in the Office of Presidential Protocol. In coordination with the Office of Protocol and State Visits, DFA, the Chancellery shall be responsible for the implementation of this Executive Order, as well as for all technical and protocular matters relating to the Honors Code to ensure compliance with qualitative standards and international norms and practice.
The Chancellery shall:
a. Maintain and update a roster of all individuals, Filipino or foreign, who have received Honors from the government of the Republic of the Philippines, and provide copies thereof to the Office of Protocol and State Visits, DFA and to the Heraldry and Display Section, National Historical Institute (NHI);
b. Promulgate and update, when necessary, appropriate guidelines for general distribution on the Order und Manner of Wear;
c. Where appropriate and necessary to respond to changing circumstances and conditions, recommend modifications to the Order of Precedence and/or the Honors Code;
d. In consultation with the Heraldry and Display Section, NHI, create, maintain, revise, redesign and/or enhance specific technical drawings and schematics for the official specifications of Orders, Decorations, Medals, and Presidential Awards, unless otherwise directed by the President of the Philippines;
e. Consistent with procurement laws, rules and regulations, approve manufacturers and/or suppliers of Orders, Decorations, Medals, Presidential Awards, and related items to ensure consistency of quality, in consultation with the Heraldry and Display Section, NHI;
Supervise and ensure adherence by manufacturers and/or suppliers to promulgated specifications;
g. Promulgate appropriate guidelines to implement this Executive Order, subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines; and
h. Perform all other functions as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of and consistent with this Executive Order.
Section 9. Committee on Honors. There is hereby created a Committee on Honors (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") composed of the following:
Chairman Executive Secretary
Vice Chairman Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Members Head, Presidential Management Staff
Presidential Assistant for Historical Affairs
Chief of Presidential Protocol
Chief of Protocol and State Visits, DFA
The Committee shall assist the President in evaluating nominations for recipients of Honors hereunder, as well as of Presidential Awards. For this purpose, the Committee may authorize relevant departments or government agencies to maintain Honors and/or Awards Committees to process nominations for Honors and/or Presidential Awards.
The Committee shall meet quarterly or as often as it deems necessary to perform its functions.
The Chancellery shall provide the necessary technical and administrative support to the Committee.
Section 10. Schedule of Conferment of Honors. Honors shall be conferred on national holidays; Provided, That conferment of Honors may, if deemed necessary or warranted by the President of the Philippines, be made on other occasions.
Section 11. Discontinuance of Previous Awards. a. Upon the effectivity of this Executive Order, only Honors enumerated under Section 3 hereof shall be awarded. Accordingly, the following civilian Awards shall no longer be conferred:
i. Medal of Honor
ii. Rizal Collegiate Palms
iii. Mabini Teachers Medal
iv. Rizal Pro Patria Award
v. Presidential Citation for Honesty and Integrity
vi. Order of the Grieving Heart
vii. Presidential Award in Education
viii. Order of Kalantiao
ix. Republic Cultural Heritage Award
x. Presidential Citation for Outstanding Humanitarian Services
xi. International Artist
xii. Bayani ng Bagong Republika
xiii. Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service to Philippine Democracy
xiv. Presidential Award for Heroism in Times of Disaster
xv. Sajid Bulig Presidential Award for Heroism
xvi. Presidential Mineral Industry Environment Award
b. The above-mentioned civilian Awards shall remain extant during the lifetime of the last holder of the respective Awards, and the holders of said Awards shall continue to enjoy the rights and privileges thereof.1a⍵⍴h!1 Thereafter, the respective affected Awards shall cease to exist and be discontinued.
c. All other Awards which have not heretofore been mentioned may continue to be awarded as Presidential Awards, but such Awards shall not be considered Honors for purposes of this Honors Code.
Section 12. Implementation. The Chancellery shall coordinate with the Office of Protocol and State Visits, DFA, the NCCA, the Heraldry and Display Section, NHI, and other relevant government agencies to obtain copies of all records and memoranda, paraphernalia, items and technical or schematic drawings relevant to the implementation of this Executive Order.
Section 13. Affected Issuances. This Executive Order is based on the pertinent provisions of the following:
a. Congressional Joint Resolution No. 4 dated October 21, 1946;
b. Presidential Decree No. 490;
c. Proclamation No. 1151 dated June 7, 1973;
d. Republic Act No. 7355;
e. Executive Order No. 251 dated January 17, 1940;
f. Executive Order No. 571 dated February 27, 1953, as amended by Executive Order No. 24 dated October 19, 1962 and Executive Order No. 174 dated February 26, 1969;
g. Executive Order No. 663 dated December 29, 1953;
h. Executive Order No. 40-A dated June 21, 1954;
i. Executive Order No. 429 dated June 2, 1961;
j. Executive Order No. 9 dated May 12, 1962;
k. Executive Order No. 20 dated April 12, 1966, and Memorandum Order No. 33 dated June 14, 1966; Executive Order No. 268 dated October 29, 1970; Executive Order No. 294 dated March 1, 1971;
n. Executive Order No. 316 dated May 6, 1971;
o. Executive Order No. 329 dated August 10, 1971;
p. Proclamation No. 100l dated April 27, 1972;
q. Executive Order No. 930 dated January 6, 1984;
r. Executive Order No. 316 dated January 10, 1988, as amended by Executive Order No. 323 dated April 12, 1988;
s. Executive Order No. 421 dated September 7, 1990, and Memorandum Order No. 318 dated September 7, 1.990;
t. Executive Order No. 393 dated January 22, 1997;
u. Executive Order No. 399 dated February 3, 1997; and
v. Executive Order No. 451 dated October 9, 1997.
Administrative Order No. 362 dated September 30, 1997 is hereby amended.
All other Presidential directives, issuances, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof insofar as they are inconsistent with this Executive Order are likewise hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately,
DONE in the City of Manila, this 19th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary
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