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Order of Sikatuna

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The Order of Sikatuna is the national order of diplomatic merit of the Republic of the Philippines. Established by President Elpidio Quirino as the "Ancient Order of Sikatuna," through Executive Order No. 571, dated February 27 1953, its original four-class composition was expanded by Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand E. Marcos. In 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reformed the Philippine system of orders, medals, and decorations, through Executive Order No. 236, known as the "Honors Code of the Philippines." Among its provisions was one renaming the order as simply, "The Order of Sikatuna," and clarifying its protocular standing.

The Order of Sikatuna commemorates 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 Philippine 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 is 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, Attaché, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing

This article incorporates public domain text from the library of the Philippine Congress.

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