Order of Sikatuna

Order of Sikatuna
Awarded by  Philippines
Type Order
Awarded for rending exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines; to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines
Status Currently constituted
Sovereign President of the Philippines
Grades (w/ post-nominals) Grand Collar
Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Member
Established 27 February 1953
Precedence
Next (higher) Quezon Service Cross
Next (lower) Order of Gabriela Silang
Related Order of Lakandula
Philippine Legion of Honor
Ribbon bar of the order

The Order of Sikatuna (Filipino: Orden ni Sikatuna) is the national order of diplomatic merit of the Republic of the Philippines. It is 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.

History

The Order of Sikatuna as already pointed out was established by President Elpidio Quirino as the "Order of Sikatuna" through Executive Order No. 571 dated February 27, 1953.[1] Section 2 of the executive order states, “The Order of Sikatuna [...] commemorates the first treaty (Pacto de Sangre) between the Philippines and a foreign country...” In the Quirino order, the Order of Sikatuna commemorates the pacto de sangre or blood compact, more popularly known as sandugo. This was, according to the Executive Order, the first international treaty of friendship between Bohol native chieftain, Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi, between a Filipino and Spaniard.[2] Lately, however, the Executive Order's premise has been put to question. The event was not the first blood compact since the first recorded happened 44 years before between Ferdinand Magellan, representing the Spanish crown, and raia Siaiu, king of the island-port of Mazaua. Magellan called the ceremony "casi casi", a Malayan term meaning "to be one and the same thing" or to be blood brothers.[3] At the same time the first recorded Treaty of Peace was entered into on Tuesday, April 9, 1521 by datu Humabon of Cebu and Magellan.[4]

The Order of Sikatuna's 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 which codified the civilian orders, decorations and medals of the Republic of the Philippines.[5] Among its provisions was one renaming the order as simply, "The Order of Sikatuna," and clarifying its protocolar standing.

Malacañang Palace and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines have been notified of the historical infirmity behind the award. Instead of scrapping it, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo even added new ranks.

Ranks

Order of Sikatuna Ribbon Bars
Member
Officer
Commander
Grand Officer
Grand Cross

Awardees

Ambassadors

Heads of State

Others

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Philippines: The Ancient Order of Sikatuna www.medals.org.uk Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  2. ↑ History of Bohol www.bohol.gov.ph Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  3. ↑ "The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 : explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic Missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century / edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne ; translated from the originals. [Vol. 33, no. 1]". umich.edu. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 33]". umich.edu. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Manuel L. Quezon III. Medals Girondists off-duty rants Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  6. ↑ "Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Philippines". Office of the President of the Philippines. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  7. ↑ PGMA confers Sikatuna award to Chinese convoy Gov.ph News Retrieved 22 December 2006
  8. ↑ "photo 9 - 120511". pcoo.gov.ph. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Manuel L. Quezon III.Ricciardone moves on The Daily Dose Retrieved December 22, 2006.
  10. ↑ President Arroyo Confers Order of Sikatuna award on Ambassador Ricciardone Embassy of the United States in Manila. Retrieved 22 December 2006
  11. ↑ Phl ambassador to Vietnam leads 2012 Outstanding Fernandino honorees Philippine Information Agency, Central Luzon Region. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  12. ↑ PGMA confers Order of Sikatuna to outgoing Malaysia Ambassador Gov.ph News Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  13. ↑ PGAM confers Order of Sikatuna to outgoing Portuguese Ambassador Gov.ph News Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  14. ↑ PGMA confers order of Sikatuna on outgoing Czech Republic envoy Gov.ph News Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  15. ↑ "President’s Day: August 5, 2013". www.gov.ph. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "PNoy says goodbye to US envoy". Yahoo Philippines News. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Their Majesties Virtual Malaysia's Tribute to the 48th National Day Celebration Retrieved 23 December 2006.
  18. ↑ philippine diplomatic visits. "Philippine Diplomatic Visits". philippinediplomaticvisits.blogspot.com.es. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  19. ↑ PNoy fetes 'Bapa' Yudhoyono
  20. ↑ PJEE's Speech at the Conferment of the Order of Sikatuna on Jaime Cardinal Sin www.opnet.ops.gov.ph Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  21. ↑ Pacquiao proves too classy, but Mexican foe displays grit The Manila Times Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  22. ↑ Philippines Confers Order of Sikatuna on Former Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Gov.ph News Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  23. ↑ PGMA confers Sikatuna Medal on EC official Positive News Media:Philippines Retrieved 23 December 2006.
  24. ↑ PGMA confers Order of Sikatuna on DFA official Positive News Media: Philippines Retrieved 23 December 2006.
  25. ↑ ADB President Chino Conferred the Philippines' Highest Honor Asian Development Bank Media Center. Retrieved 23 December 2006.
  26. ↑ PGMA confers ‘Order of Sikatuna’ on UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-Moon , 2008.
  27. ↑ Profile - Jose T. Almonte
  28. ↑ "FOR FIGHTING FOR FILIPINO VETERANS Order of Sikatuna conferred on US senator". INQUIRER.net. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  29. ↑ Malacanang Photo Bureau http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/photos-jan2012/photo2-011812.htm

External links