Philippine Medal of Valor

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Medal of Valor
Highest award given to Military Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Awarded by Republic of the Philippines
Type	Single Grade Neck Order
Eligibility	Military Personnel Only
Awarded for	"For conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty."
Status	Currently Awarded
Description	The medal is a disc with golden sea lion and water waves on its face. The disc is resting on a cross and crossed swords. The sea lion is a relief in gold holding the Philippine sun and placed symmetrically on the disk. Portions of the body and the tail are submerged in water. The water waves is composed of five blue ripples and placed on the center base of the disc. The conventionalized cross is relief in red with gold borders. It superimposes another cross with the edges extended beyond its borders. The edges of the flanges are in arc. The flange at center chief has three golden stars arranged in a triangular pattern. The crossed swords are in gold, placed in level with the cross. The blades are at Dexter and sinister chiefs, and the hilts are at the dexter and sinister bases. Both tangs are tangled to the sides of the cross at dexter and sinister bases. The bar is in gold. The top and lower sides have grooved borders with an embossed phrase "For Valor". It connects the medal to the wreath. The wreath consists of ten (10) white sampaguita buds and twenty-two (22) green sampaguita leaves hinged to the bar and serves as a link to the neckband.
Statistics
Established	1986
First awarded	1940s
Last awarded	Ongoing
Total awarded	41
Posthumous awards	18
Distinct recipients	41
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Same	US Medal of Honor
Next (lower)	Distinguished Conduct Star
Service Ribbon

The Philippine Medal of Valor is the highest military award given by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

This is awarded by the President of the Republic of the Philippines to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including recognized guerrilla forces.

To earn this award, AFP personnel or member of the recognized guerrilla forces must have been involved in actual conflict with armed enemies, distinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. To justify an award of the Medal of Valor, one must perform in action a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty as conspicuous as to distinguish him above his comrades.

It is the equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor of the United States of America. This award is given by direction of the President of the Philippines, in pursuance to paragraph 1-6a, Section II, Chapter 1, Armed Forces of the Philippines Regulations G131-053, General Headquarters, Armed forces of the Philippines, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, dated 1 July 1986.

Douglas MacArthur was decorated with the Medal of Valor by Philippine President Sergio Osmeña.

Filipinos who have earned the Medal of Valor include Jesus Villamor and Danilo Atienza.