The Distinguished Conduct Star, is the second highest military award of the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

, preceded in precedence only by the Medal of Valor

Philippine Medal of Valor

The Philippine Medal of Valor is the highest military award given to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and allied military personnel. It is awarded by the President of the Republic of the Philippines to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including recognized...

. The award was established in 1939, by President

President of the Philippines

The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...

 Manuel L. Quezon

Manuel L. Quezon

Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...

. With its establishment the award replaced the Philippine Constabulary

Philippine Constabulary

The Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...

 Distinguished Conduct Star.

Criteria

This decoration is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, distinguishes themselves by an extraordinary act of heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Valor; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed enemy. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades. The award is made by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Appearance

The medal is a red enameled, downward pointing star. Centered on the star is a disc of gold. The disc contains the relief of a gold heraldic sea lion, holding a dagger in the dexter

Dexter and sinister

Dexter and sinister are terms used in heraldry to refer to specific locations in an escutcheon bearing a coat of arms and by extension also to a crest. "Dexter" means to the right from the viewpoint of the bearer of the arms, to the left of that of the viewer...

 hand. It sits on the muzzles of two cannons, which occupy the sinister and dexter flanks. Two bows are at the base of the disc and rest horizontally across arrows between the breeches of the two cannons. Spears are placed vertically point up and superimposed over the crossed arrows. The star is attached to a bar in gold with engraved with the phase For Gallantry. The bar is attached to the base of a wreath made up of Sampaguita

Jasminum sambac

Jasminum sambac is a species of jasmine native to South and Southeast Asia. It is a small shrub or vine growing up to in height. It is widely cultivated for its attractive and sweetly fragrant flowers. The flowers are also used for perfumes and for making tea. It is known as the Arabian jasmine in...

white flower buds and green leaves. The award is worn suspended from the neck by a red ribbon with the blue stripe at the center.