The Gold Cross Medal (GCM) is a decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which recognizes gallantry in action.The AFP Adjutant General, AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook, 1997, OTAG, p. 17.
Requirements It is the third highest military award of the Philippines for heroism, higher only to the Distinguished Aviation Cross (of the Philippine Air Force), and the Distinguished Navy Cross (of the Philippine Navy).
It is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or other senior commanders, to members of the AFP for "singular personal acts of gallantry in action not warranting the award of the Distinguished Conduct Star" (the second highest military award in the AFP for heroism).
Description
Obverse The medal is a golden Maltese cross with grooved between each arm (i.e. flanges). At the center is a dark blue disc, with a left-facing golden profile of Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon. The disc is encircled by a laurel wreath of laurel leaves in gold, superimposed on the cross.
The medal is of similar appearance with the Distinguished Navy Cross, with the only difference being the profile of President Quezon is replaced with the seal of the Philippine Navy.
Reverse In an arc, the phrase "FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION" is written; the space inside the arc is reserved for the engraved name of the recipient.
Symbolism and Significance Manuel L. Quezon - President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935-1944); the achievement is worth a presidential endeavor
Navy blue background - sincerity and devotion to duty
Laurel wreath - the honor given for gallantry and courage displayed
Gold cross - the risk of life and sacrifices in rendering the conspicuous act/s warranting the GCM
Grooved border - brilliantly shining performance
Service Ribbon The ribbon is cornflower in color and has three small white lines at the center.
They share the same ribbon as the aforementioned DNC.
Appurtenances Every subsequent award of the GCM to an individual shall be appurtenant with an Anahaw Leaf, and is awarded as follows:
Bronze Anahaw Leaf - for the first, second, third, and fourth succeeding award Silver Anahaw Leaf - for every fifth succeeding Bronze Anahaw Leaf Gold Anahaw Leaf - for every fifth Silver Anahaw Leaf
These devices are to be worn on the GCM's ribbon bar in dress uniforms, with the tips of the leaf pointed upward.
The "Laughing Quezon" Gold Cross Medal After the Second World War, the Philippine Heraldry Committee (led by Secretary Gilbert S. Perez) needed an award to honor the nation's war veterans, and the result was the Gold Cross (then known in official documents as the Quezon Cross; not to be confused with the Quezon Service Cross awarded to distinct Filipino citizens).
As factories around the Philippines were in ruins, they outsourced production of the medals to a Washington-based medal maker, A.M. Dondero. First strikes of the medal resulted in a right-facing profile of President Quezon in "a strange blend of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln", with an unsettling and "un-presidential" grin.
This resulted in a harsh critique by Secretary Perez of Dondero's work as "atrocious" and a "travesty of medallic art that is undignified and desecrates instead of honoring" the memory of the first Chief Executive of the Philippine Commonwealth.
The medal was never officially approved, never mass-produced, and never distributed in the Philippines. El Oro, a Pasig-based engraver owned by Jose Tupaz, Jr., was then given the authorization to produce GCMs locally.
A copy of the "laughing Quezon" GCM was auctioned at Leon Gallery in December 2025.
See also Orders, decorations, and medals of the Philippines
References Citations
Bibliography The AFP Adjutant General, AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook, 1995, 1997, OTAG.