Amendment to Order of Sikatuna Classes

Executive Order No. 174 is issued by the President under the powers vested by law.
Executive Order No. 174 amends Section 2 of Executive Order No. 571 by substituting the text on how the Order of Sikatuna is divided into classes.
The amendment preserves the operative framework that the Order of Sikatuna commemorates the first treaty (Pacto de Sangre) between the Philippines and a foreign country.
The amended Section 2 establishes the class names and their specific eligibility bases.

The Order of Sikatuna “commemorates the first treaty (Pacto de Sangre) between the Philippines and a foreign country.”
The class structure in Section 2 ties eligibility to distinctions in the field of international relations.
Each class is defined by the kind of official position or service and the level of meritorious or extraordinary contribution.

Section 2 divides the Order of Sikatuna into the following classes: Special Class RAJA, First Class DATU, Second Class LAKAN, Third Class MAGINOO, and Fourth Class MAHARLIKA.
All classes are awarded “for” specified forms of service in the field of international relations under their respective class descriptions.
The order consistently allows awards to Filipino or foreign persons where the class description expressly includes both.

Special Class RAJA is awarded to actual or former heads of state and/or heads of government, whether Filipino or foreign.
The award is for extraordinary services in the field of international relations.

First Class DATU is awarded to foreign ministers and other officials of cabinet rank, whether Filipino or foreign.
The award is for exceptionally meritorious services in the field of international relations.

Second Class LAKAN is awarded to vice foreign ministers, cabinet undersecretaries, ambassadors, and officials of equivalent rank, whether Filipino or foreign.
The award is for outstanding services in the field of international relations.
Ministers Plenipotentiary may qualify for Second Class LAKAN.

Third Class MAGINOO is awarded to ministers, consuls general, and senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, whether in the Home Office or in the Foreign Service.
Third Class MAGINOO is for excellent services in the field of international relations.
Third Class MAGINOO may also be awarded to other government officials of the Philippines and of foreign countries of equivalent or similar rank, and to other distinguished persons.
Before any Filipino government official or employee is entitled to Third Class MAGINOO, the person must have served at least six (6) years in the government.

Fourth Class MAHARLIKA is awarded to other officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs, whether in the Home Office or in the Foreign Service.
Fourth Class MAHARLIKA is awarded to other government officials of the Philippines and of foreign countries, and to private citizens.
The award in Fourth Class MAHARLIKA is for meritorious services in the field of international relations.
Before any Filipino government official or employee is entitled to Fourth Class MAHARLIKA, the person must have served at least four (4) years in the government.

The operative amendment is the substitution of the amended Section 2 language governing the division of the Order of Sikatuna into classes.
The order is signed in the City of Manila on February 26, 1969 by Ferdinand E. Marcos, with Rafael M. Salas as Executive Secretary.