Philippines, Republic. An Order Of The Golden Heart, Grand Collar

(Orden ng Gintong Puso). Instituted in 1954. Badge in bronze gilt with green enamels, in the shape of a Maltese cross, with an oval medallion in the centre which illustrates a pair of hands with a golden shining heart emitting rays, along with the inscription "MANUM TUAM APERVIT INOPE" below, the medallion framed by a wreath of laurel leaves, with lacing and leafing between the arms, reverse with a centrepiece bearing the Seal of the President of the Philippines in bronze gilt with red, white and blue enamels, along with being maker marked "C. ZAMORA & SONS" (Angel Zamora & Sons), the badge measuring 66 mm (w) x 80.2 mm (h). The neck chain bears sixteen disks in bronze gilt, eight on either side, each disk with a central oval surrounded by a thatched design and measuring 29.2 mm (w) x 25.7 mm (h) inclusive of its loops, the badges connected to one another via two strands of six-link chain, the collar chain completed by a badge consisting of an oval frame housing the Philippines coat-of-arms in bronze gilt with red, white and blue enamels and placed on the chain where it rests behind the wearer's neck, the badge measuring 57.5 mm (w) x 31 mm (h) inclusive of its loops, the collar chain measuring approximately 1,060 mm in length. Intact enamels, very light contact, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of the Golden Heart was created by Executive Order 40-A dated June 21, 1954 as the Golden Heart Presidential Award by President Elpidio Quirino. It was initially awarded for meritorious services to the state, particularly in economic and social development of rural areas. The Golden Heart Presidential Award was upgraded to the Order of the Golden Heart by Executive Order 236 on September 19, 2003 and gives official recognition to Filipino or foreign citizens who have rendered distinguished services or given noteworthy monetary or other material aid, encouragement to the campaign for the amelioration and improvement of the moral, social, and economic conditions of the Filipino masses, and for volunteerism in the service of the Filipino masses. The badge of the order was originally designed as a medal by Gilbert Perez and later modified into the badge of the Order by Galo Ocampo. The Order of the Golden Heart is issued in six grades: Grand Collar (GCGH) (Maringal na Kuwintas): conferred upon a former or incumbent head of State and/or of government (as per this example); Grand Cross (GCrGH) (Maringal na Krus): conferred 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; or upon an Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing; Grand Officer (GOGH) (Maringal na Pinuno): conferred upon a Chargé d'affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing; Commander (CGH) (Komandante): conferred 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 (OGH) (Pinuno): conferred upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing; and Member (MGH) (Kagawad): conferred upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attaché, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.