Policy, purpose, and scope focus
- The Honors Code emphasizes the exceptional prestige of the Honors it recognizes.
- The Honors Code rationalizes the roster of Philippine civil awards and decorations to ensure consistency of criteria and to preserve the integrity and prestige of honors.
- The Honors Code clarifies and definitively establishes the order of precedence of honors for conformity with internationally-accepted traditional and protocular norms and practices.
Definitions: Order, Decoration, Medal, Award
- The Honors Code defines an Order as an award granting membership in an exclusive association of honored individuals, carrying distinctive insignia to be worn by recipients.
- The Honors Code defines a Decoration as a wearable award usually conferred for a specific act of meritorious service.
- The Honors Code defines a Medal as a wearable award usually conferred to recognize service and/or achievement, or to commemorate a significant event.
- The Honors Code defines an Award as a tangible means of recognizing accomplishment and/or merit, usually in the form of a citation, plaque, trophy, or medallion.
- Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the highest prestige are collectively referred to as Honors.
Order of precedence of civilian Honors
- Civilian Honors conferred by the Republic of the Philippines are officially ranked by an Order of Precedence to reflect relative value, importance, and seniority.
- The Order of Precedence in the Honors Code is in descending order as follows:
- Quezon Service Cross
- Order of Lakandula
- Order of Sikatuna
- Philippine Legion of Honor
- Order of Gabriela Silang
- Order of National Artists
- Order of National Scientists
- Order of National Social Scientists
- Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan
- Gawad Mabini
- Order of the Golden Heart
- Presidential Medal of Merit
- The Executive Order establishes that the Order of Precedence governs how Honors are valued and sequenced under the Honors Code.
Honors and their substantive conferment rules
The Honors recognized under Section 3 are the only ones treated as Honors for the Honors Code unless otherwise enumerated.
Quezon Service Cross (Krus ng Serbisyo ni Quezon) is a Decoration conferred by the President with the concurrence of Congress on Filipino citizens for exemplary service to the nation in a manner and degree that adds great prestige to the Republic or contributes to lasting benefit of its people.
Nominations for the Quezon Service Cross must state the services meriting the award and are made only when the service performed or contribution made can be measured on the scale established by the national benefaction of the late President Manuel L. Quezon.
Order of Lakandula is an Order of political and civic merit awarded in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to leadership responsibilities, prudence, fortitude, courage, and resolve in service of one’s people.
The Order of Lakandula is conferred on a Filipino or foreign citizen who has demonstrated dedication to the welfare of society by life and deeds; whose life is worthy of emulation by the Filipino people; and/or whose deeds warrant particular recognition (including materially suffering for preservation and defense of the democratic way of life and the territorial integrity of the Republic; devoting life to peaceful resolution of conflict; or fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, justice, and dignified relations among individuals); and/or acts traditionally recognized by presidential awards, including meritorious political and civic service.
The Order of Lakandula has the following ranks:
- Grand Collar (Supremo): conferred upon one who has materially suffered for preservation and defense of the democratic way of life or territorial integrity, or upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or government.
- Grand Cross (Bayani): conferred upon one who devoted life to peaceful resolution of conflict; one whose life is worthy of emulation; or on a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or equivalent, a foreign minister or cabinet-rank equivalent, an Ambassador, an Undersecretary, an Assistant Secretary, or a person of similar or equivalent rank.
- Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno): conferred upon one with lifelong dedication to political and civic welfare of society; or on a Charge d’affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or a person of similar or equivalent rank.
- Commander (Komandante): conferred upon one with exceptional deeds of dedication to political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or on a Charge d’affaires a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, consular officer with personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or a person of similar or equivalent rank.
- Officer (Pinuno): conferred upon one with commendable deeds of dedication to political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or on a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or a person of similar or equivalent rank.
- Member (Kagawad): conferred upon one with meritorious deeds of dedication to political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or on a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or a person of similar or equivalent rank.
Order of Sikatuna is an Order of diplomatic merit conferred on individuals who rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic, on diplomats, officials, and nationals of foreign states who rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations with the Philippines, or on Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel in both Home Office and 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 has the following ranks:
- Grand Collar (Raja): conferred upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or government.
- Grand Cross (Datu): has two distinctions—(i) Gold (Katangiang Ginto) and (ii) Silver (Katangiang Pilak)—and may be conferred on a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or equivalent, foreign minister or cabinet-rank equivalent, Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or a person of similar or equivalent rank.
- 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 similar or equivalent rank.
- 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 personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Officer (Maginoo): conferred upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Member (Maharlika): conferred upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or similar or equivalent rank.
Philippine Legion of Honor is conferred on a Filipino or foreign citizen in recognition of valuable and meritorious service related to military affairs of the Republic of the Philippines.
The Philippine Legion of Honor is conferred on the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence to signify the importance of civil service in military affairs in preservation of the Republic’s honor and nation building.
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 has 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 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 equivalent, a foreign minister or cabinet-rank equivalent, an Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or similar or equivalent rank, for life achievement in the military field.
- Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno): conferred upon a civilian for acts of exemplary merit benefiting the Republic; or upon a Charge d’affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Commander (Komandante): conferred upon a civilian for acts of conspicuous merit benefiting the Republic; or upon a Charge d’affaires a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, consular officer with personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Officer (Pinuno): conferred upon a civilian for acts of commendable merit benefiting the Republic; or upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Legionnaire (Lehiyonaryo): conferred upon a civilian for acts of merit benefiting the Republic; or upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or similar or equivalent rank.
Order of Gabriela Silang may be conferred upon the spouses of heads of State and/or of government, both Filipino and foreign.
Order of National Artists is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos who made distinct contributions to arts and letters.
The Order of National Artists is conferred upon 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 is the highest national recognition conferred upon Filipinos for distinguished individual or collaborative achievement in the physical sciences and/or technology.
The National Academy of Science and Technology may recommend annually not more than ten (10) scientists; the President accords them the rank and title of National Scientists.
National Scientists are given gratuities and are entitled to privileges enjoyed by National Artists.
Order of National Social Scientists is created as 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; the President accords them the rank and title of National Social Scientists.
National Social Scientists are given gratuities and are entitled to privileges enjoyed by National Scientists.
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (Award for National Living Treasures) is conferred upon a Filipino citizen or group of Filipino citizens engaged in a traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive skills have reached a high level of technical and artistic excellence and are passed on and widely practiced by present generations in their community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence.
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan is conferred pursuant to rules, regulations, and criteria promulgated by the NCCA.
Gawad Mabini may be conferred upon personnel of the DFA in both Home Office and Foreign Service, and upon Filipinos who rendered distinguished service or promoted the interests of the Republic 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 has the following ranks:
- Grand Cross (Dakilang Kamanong): 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 made substantive contributions to public interest and public welfare.
- Commander (Dakilang Kasugo): an officer with a rank between career foreign service officer class IV or DFA personnel who serves as an Attache in a Foreign Service establishment, as recommended by the Chief of Mission or Principal Officer of the post, or by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Home Office personnel.
- Member (Kasugo): a staff officer or employee of the DFA, as recommended by the Chief of Mission or Principal Officer of the post, or by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Home Office personnel.
Order of the Golden Heart (Orden ng Gintong Puso) is a renaming of the Golden Heart Presidential Award.
The Order of the Golden Heart gives official recognition to Filipino or foreign citizens who rendered distinguished services or gave noteworthy monetary or other material aid, encouragement to the campaign for amelioration and improvement of moral, social, and economic conditions of Filipino masses, and for volunteerism in service of Filipino masses.
The Order of the Golden Heart has the following ranks:
- Grand Collar (Maringal na Kuwintas): former or incumbent head of State and/or government.
- Grand Cross (Maringal na Krus): Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or equivalent, foreign minister or cabinet-rank equivalent, Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Grand Officer (Maringal na Pinuno): Charge d’affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Commander (Komandante): Charge d’affaires a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, consular officer with personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Officer (Pinuno): Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or similar or equivalent rank.
- Member (Kagawad): Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attache, Principal Assistant, or similar or equivalent rank.
Presidential Medal of Merit (Pampanguluhang Medalya ng Merito) is the renaming of the Presidential Merit Award.
The Presidential Medal of Merit is conferred on an individual, Filipino or foreign, for:
- outstanding service to the President, the Administration, or cabinet members;
- gaining prestige for the country in an international event in literature, the sciences, the arts, entertainment, and other civilian fields that foster national pride and artistic excellence;
- being a retiring cultural worker or artist after serving the government in an official or advisory capacity, or a foreign artist who promoted Philippine culture; or
- acts of merit enhancing the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines, including heading a Philippine delegation or contributing materially to the success of a major international conference or event that brought prestige and honor to the country, including Presidential visits overseas and major international events held in the Philippines.
Posthumous honors; presidential awards not “Honors”
- All Honors may be conferred posthumously.
- Posthumous Honors are received by legal heirs.
- If there is no heir or nearest of kin, posthumous Honors are received by any person designated by the President to receive the Honor on behalf of the deceased.
- The President may confer Presidential Awards not otherwise included in the Order of Precedence established by the Honors Code.
- Presidential Awards not enumerated in the Order of Precedence are not treated as Honors for purposes of the Honors Code.
Chancellery and technical implementation duties
- The Executive Order creates the Chancellery of Philippine Orders and State Decorations in the Office of Presidential Protocol.
- The Chancellery coordinates with the Office of Protocol and State Visits, the DFA, and has responsibility for implementation of the Executive Order and technical and protocular matters relating to the Honors Code to ensure compliance with qualitative standards and international norms and practice.
- The Chancellery must maintain and update a roster of all individuals, Filipino or foreign, who received Honors from the Republic, and provide copies to the Office of Protocol and State Visits, DFA, and the Heraldry and Display Section, National Historical Institute (NHI).
- The Chancellery must promulgate and update guidelines for general distribution on the Order and Manner of Wear.
- The Chancellery may recommend modifications to the Order of Precedence and/or the Honors Code to respond to changing circumstances and conditions.
- In consultation with the Heraldry and Display Section, NHI, the Chancellery must create, maintain, revise, redesign, and/or enhance specific technical drawings and schematics for official specifications of Orders, Decorations, Medals, and Presidential Awards, unless otherwise directed by the President.
- Consistent with procurement laws, rules, and regulations, the Chancellery must approve manufacturers and/or suppliers to ensure consistency of quality, in consultation with the Heraldry and Display Section, NHI.
- The Chancellery must supervise and ensure manufacturers and/or suppliers adhere to promulgated specifications.
- The Chancellery must promulgate appropriate guidelines to implement the Executive Order subject to presidential approval.
- The Chancellery must perform all other functions necessary to achieve the objectives and consistent with the Executive Order.
Committee on Honors and nomination evaluation
- The Executive Order creates a Committee on Honors composed of:
- 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 assists the President in evaluating nominations for recipients of Honors and also Presidential Awards.
- 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 meets quarterly or as often as it deems necessary.
- The Chancellery must provide necessary technical and administrative support to the Committee.
When Honors are conferred
- Honors are conferred on national holidays.
- Conferment of Honors may be made on other occasions when deemed necessary or warranted by the President.
Discontinuance of previous civilian awards
- Upon effectivity, only Honors enumerated under Section 3 are awarded.
- The Executive Order provides that the following civilian awards shall no longer be conferred:
- Medal of Honor
- Rizal Collegiate Palms
- Mabini Teachers Medal
- Rizal Pro Patria Award
- Presidential Citation for Honesty and Integrity
- Order of the Grieving Heart
- Presidential Award in Education
- Order of Kalantiao
- Republic Cultural Heritage Award
- Presidential Citation for Outstanding Humanitarian Services
- International Artist
- Bayani ng Bagong Republika
- Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service to Philippine Democracy
- Presidential Award for Heroism in Times of Disaster
- Sajid Bulig Presidential Award for Heroism
- Presidential Mineral Industry Environment Award
- Those civilian awards remain extant during the lifetime of the last holder, and holders continue to enjoy rights and privileges of their awards.
- After the lifetime of the last holder, the affected awards cease to exist and are discontinued.
- Other awards not previously mentioned may continue to be awarded as Presidential Awards, but such awards are not treated as Honors for purposes of the Honors Code.
Implementation coordination duties
- The Chancellery coordinates with the Office of Protocol and State Visits (DFA), NCCA, 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 implementing the Executive Order.
Affected issuances; amendment and repeal
- The Executive Order states it is based on:
- Congressional Joint Resolution No. 4 dated October 21, 1946
- Presidential Decree No. 490
- Proclamation No. 1151 dated June 7, 1973
- Republic Act No. 7355
- Executive Order No. 251 dated January 17, 1940
- 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
- Executive Order No. 663 dated December 29, 1953
- Executive Order No. 40-A dated June 21, 1954
- Executive Order No. 429 dated June 2, 1961
- Executive Order No. 9 dated May 12, 1962
- 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
- Executive Order No. 316 dated May 6, 1971
- Executive Order No. 329 dated August 10, 1971
- Proclamation No. 1001 dated April 27, 1972
- Executive Order No. 930 dated January 6, 1984
- Executive Order No. 316 dated January 10, 1988, as amended by Executive Order No. 323 dated April 12, 1988
- Executive Order No. 421 dated September 7, 1990, and Memorandum Order No. 318 dated September 7, 1.990
- Executive Order No. 393 dated January 22, 1997
- Executive Order No. 399 dated February 3, 1997
- Executive Order No. 451 dated October 9, 1997
- Administrative Order No. 362 dated September 30, 1997 is amended.
- All other presidential directives, issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the Executive Order are repealed or modified accordingly.