- Time Period: Post-WW2 Period
- Year of Institution: 27 February 1953
- Country: Republic of The Philippines
The Order of Sikatuna (or Orden ng Sikatuna in Filipino) serves as the Republic of the Philippines’ premier national order of diplomatic merit. It is bestowed upon individuals who have exhibited exceptional and commendable service to the nation, diplomats, officials, and citizens of foreign countries who have made significant contributions to fostering, developing, and enhancing relations between their respective nations and the Philippines, as well as personnel of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), both domestically and abroad.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs is authorized to confer the Order of Sikatuna on behalf of the President, recognizing individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to diplomatic relations.
History of the Order of Sikatuna
President Elpidio Quirino established the “Order of Sikatuna” through Executive Order No. 571 on February 27, 1953. Section 2 of the executive order explains that the Order of Sikatuna commemorates the first treaty, known as the Pacto de Sangre, between the Philippines and a foreign country.
According to President Quirino’s order, this treaty symbolizes the historic blood compact, commonly referred to as the sandugo, between Bohol native chieftain Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. However, recent scrutiny has questioned the accuracy of this premise, as historical records indicate that the first blood compact occurred 44 years earlier between Ferdinand Magellan, representing the Spanish crown, and Raia Siaiu, the king of the island-port of Mazaua.
The Order of Sikatuna Classes
The Order of Sikatuna has six classes (which changed in 2003). At the time of writing this, these are:
Grand Collar (GCS) (Raja) – Awarded to a former or current Head of State and/or government.
Grand Cross (GCrS) (Datu) – The Grand Cross is divided into two categories:- (i) Gold (Katangiang Ginto) and
- (ii) Silver (Katangiang Pilak).
It may be conferred upon a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice, or individuals holding equivalent positions, as well as foreign ministers, cabinet-level officials, ambassadors, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, or individuals of similar rank or status.
Grand Officer (GOS) (Maringal na Lakan) – Granted to Chargé d’affaires, e.p., ministers, minister counselors, consuls general overseeing consular posts, executive directors, or individuals of comparable rank.-
Commander (CS) (Lakan) – Bestowed upon Chargé d’affaires a.i., counselors, first secretaries, consuls general in the consular section of an Embassy, consular officers with a personal rank higher than Second Secretary, directors, or individuals holding similar positions. 
Officer (OS) (Maginoo) – Conferred upon Second Secretaries, consuls, assistant directors, or individuals of similar rank.-
Member (MS) (Maharlika) – Awarded to Third Secretaries, Vice Consuls, Attachés, Principal Assistants, or individuals holding comparable positions.
