- Time Period: Interwar Period
- Institution: 15 November 1935
- Country: Republic of The Philippines
The Medal of Valor (or Medalya ng Kagitingan in Filipino) stands as the highest military honor bestowed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, recognizing acts of exceptional bravery and selflessness that surpass the call of duty, setting the recipient apart from their comrades.
Defined within the Philippine Army Awards and Decorations reference material FC 1–0062, adapted from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Awards and Decorations Handbook, Second Edition published in 1997, this prestigious award is reserved for “heroism in combat” and holds paramount importance in the order of precedence of awards and decorations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Conferred by the President of the Philippines, the Medal of Valor is presented to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and allied military personnel, including recognized guerrilla forces. Such is the esteem in which the medal is held that the President is required to salute both the medal and the individual adorned with it.
According to Philippine Republic Act No. 9049, recipients of the Medal of Valor are entitled to a lifetime monthly gratuity of ₱20,000, separate from any salary or pension provided by the government. President Rodrigo Duterte increased this monthly gratuity to ₱75,000 in 2016, underscoring the nation’s enduring gratitude for acts of extraordinary courage and sacrifice.
The Philippines Armed Forces Medal of Valor Design
The medal features a disc adorned with a raised golden sea-lion clutching the eight-rayed Philippine sun, surrounded by water waves depicted as five blue ripples. Positioned atop a red cross with golden borders are crossed golden swords, with the uppermost section of the cross adorned with three golden stars arranged in a triangular pattern.
Connecting the medal to a sampaguita wreath, comprised of ten white buds and twenty-two green leaves, is a golden bar inscribed with the phrase “For Valor.” This wreath serves as a link to the crimson neck ribbon, adorned with eight golden stars arranged horizontally in two parallel lines. Similarly, the service ribbon, worn in lieu of the medal itself, features a crimson hue with eight golden stars, aligned horizontally in two parallel lines, with five stars on the top line and three on the bottom.
While some sources refer to the medal as the “Medal For Valor” due to the phrase embossed on the bar, others, including official Philippine government sources, identify it as the “Medal of Valor.”
Symbolically, the sea-lion represents the Office of the President of the Philippines, while the eight-rayed sun signifies the eight Philippine provinces that rebelled against Spanish rule. The blue ripples symbolize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, while the crossed swords represent conflict with the enemy in defense of the nation. The three stars correspond to Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three island groups of the Philippines, and the sampaguita wreath signifies the highest honor for courage and gallantry. The red coloration symbolizes bravery.
