The Order of Lakandula is one of the highest civilian orders of the Philippines, established on September 19, 2003. It is awarded for political and civic merit and in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.

Criteria

The order's administrative basis is the Honors Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 236 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on September 19, 2003). In Section 5, II of the Honors Code, the following is provided as the criteria for the conferment of the Order of Lakandula: The Order of Lakandula is conferred upon a Filipino or foreign citizen: a. who has demonstrated by his life and deeds a dedication to the welfare of society; b. whose life is worthy of emulation by the Filipino people; c. for deeds worthy of particular recognition, including suffering materially for the preservation and defense of the democratic way of life and of the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines, for devoting his life to the peaceful resolution of conflict, or for demonstrating an outstanding dedication to the fostering of mutual understanding, cultural exchange, justice and dignified relations among individuals; or d. for acts that have been traditionally recognized by the institution of presidential awards, including meritorious political and civic service.

Ranks

Grand Collar (Supremo)

Conferred upon an individual who has suffered materially for the preservation and defense of the democratic way of life, or of the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines, or upon a former or incumbent head of state and/or of government.

Grand Cross (Bayani)

Conferred upon an individual who has devoted his life to the peaceful resolution of conflict; upon an individual whose life is worthy of emulation by the Filipino people; 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, Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.

Grand Officer (Marangal na Pinuno)

Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to the political and civic welfare of society; or upon a Chargé d'affaires e.d., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.

Commander (Komandante)

Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated exceptional deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society as a whole; 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 (Pinuno)

Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated commendable deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.

Member (Kagawad)

Conferred upon an individual who has demonstrated meritorious deeds of dedication to the political and civic welfare of society as a whole; or upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attaché, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.

Champion for Life (Kampeon Habang Buhay)

The most recently created rank of the order, it was established in 2006 by President Gloria M. Arroyo. Although this rank was initially positioned after the rank of Pinuno, it was later moved to the level of the Order of National Artists. It is conferred for outstanding achievement in international sports or beauty events and similar fields of competition and achievement. These achievements should foster national pride and serve as an inspiration to others to achieve excellence. The first recipients were boxer Manny Pacquiao, beauty queen Precious Lara Quigaman, Efren "Bata" Reyes a global icon who revolutionized the sport of pool, Paeng Nepomuceno in 2007 for his three unbroken Guinness World Records in 2007, Filipino athletes who won gold medals at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, and the Filipino mountaineers who reached the peak of Mount Everest in 2006.

Notable recipients