Philippine Liberation Medal

The Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on December 20, 1944. The award was presented to any service member, of both Philippine Commonwealth and allied militaries, who participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands between the dates of October 17, 1944 and September 2, 1945

The Philippine Liberation Medal is intended to recognize military service in the last days of World War II when the military of Japan was driven from the Philippines and then to eventually surrender in September 1945. To be awarded the medal, a service member must have served in the Philippines for at least thirty days during the eligible time period, or must have participated in one of the following actions:

• Participation in the initial landing operation of Leyte and adjoining islands from October 7 to October 20, 1944
• Participation in any engagement against hostile Japanese forces during the Philippine Liberation Campaign of October 17, 1944 to September 2, 1945

Personnel who are awarded the medal for participation in the above mentioned operations are authorized a service star to the Philippine Liberation Medal. Personnel who earned the medal for general service during the eligible time period are awarded the medal without device.

Members of the United States Armed Forces entitled to the Philippine Liberation Medal were usually also eligible to receive the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, often with a service star, for participation in the freeing of the Philippines.

Upon its creation, the Philippine Liberation Medal was awarded as the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and it was not until July 1945 that a full-sized medal had been established. The Philippine Liberation Medal was one of the most commonly bestowed awards to allied militaries, awarded primarily to the forces of the Philippine Commonwealth, United States armed forces and the military of the British Commonwealth.

In the UK in 2003, 3 ex-servicemen: Glyndwr Thomas Evan Collins, who fought in the World War II liberation of the Philippines; Mr Constantine Shiels and Mr Frank Broomhead, were awarded with the special honour by the Filipino ambassador His Excellency Mr Edgardo B Espiritu, under General Orders Number 1090.

Other common Philippine military awards of the Second World War include the Philippine Independence Medal and the Philippine Defense Medal.