Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 547)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 547 is to amend Executive Order No. 540 to establish a special class of the Champion for Life (Kampeon Habang Buhay) within the Order of Lakandula, distinct from its existing ranks, to honor Filipino individuals, groups, or organizations who have attained extraordinary achievements in sports, academics, and similar fields that foster national pride and inspiration towards excellence.
The Order of Lakandula is a Philippine national order of merit that recognizes individuals who have rendered political and civic merit to the country. It comprises different ranks and honors, including the special class of Champion for Life established by Executive Order No. 547.
The special class of Champion for Life is a distinction within the Order of Lakandula conferred on Filipino individuals, groups, or organizations who have achieved extraordinary success in sports, academics, or other competitive fields that promote national pride and honor the Philippines.
The special class of Champion for Life is equivalent in rank and order of precedence to the Order of National Artists, the Order of National Scientists, and the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, as well as other orders of cultural and scientific merit.
The first recipients were Manny Pacquiao, Precious Lara Quigaman, the Filipino Gold Medalists in the Southeast Asian Games, and Filipinos who reached the peak of Mount Everest in 2006.
The President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested by law, establishes and confers the special class of Champion for Life as determined by the President.
Section 4 restores the six original ranks in the Order of Lakandula that existed prior to amendments.
Executive Order No. 236 dated 19 September 2004 and Executive Order No. 540 dated 13 June 2006 were amended accordingly by Executive Order No. 547.
All other Presidential directives, issuances, orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with Executive Order No. 547 are repealed or modified accordingly.
Executive Order No. 547 took effect immediately upon its signing on 25 July 2006.