Philippines, Republic. A Legion Of Honour, Officer, C.1950

(Lehiyong Pandangal ng Pilipinas, Pinuno). Instituted in 1947. Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with red, white and green enamels, measuring 42 mm (w) x 69 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath suspension, intact enamels, Philippine Sun clasp affixed to its original ribbon with dual push pins, accompanied by its 52 mm (w) x 13.5 mm (h) ribbon bar with single push pin on the reverse, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Philippine Legion of Honour was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honour was patterned after the Legion of Merit of the United States of America, and was meant to honour both civilians and members of the military, Filipino or foreign. Originally, like the U.S. Legion of Merit, the Philippine Legion of Honour only had four classes, known as degrees, with Legionnaire being the basic rank, and Chief Commander being the highest. With the reform of the Philippine system of orders and decorations in 2003, the Philippine Legion of Honour's classes were renamed "ranks" instead of "degrees", and the ranks expanded. Today, it 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. It is thus the primary order of military merit of the Republic of the Philippines. To signify the importance of the civil service in military affairs in the preservation of the honour of the Republic of the Philippines and in nation building, the Philippine Legion of Honour is conferred on the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence. It may be awarded by the Secretary of National Defense in the name and by authority of the President of the Philippines.

The civilian division of the Philippine Legion of Honour is composed of the following ranks: Chief Commander (CCLH) (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 (GCLH) (Marangal 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 (GOLH) (Marangal na Pinuno) – Conferred upon a civilian for acts of exemplary merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Chargé 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 (CLH) (Komandante) – Conferred upon a civilian for acts of conspicuous merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Chargé 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 (OLH) (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; and Legionnaire (LLH) (Lehiyonaryo) – Conferred upon a civilian for acts of merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attaché, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has its own regulations governing the conferment of the Philippine Legion of Honour.