MANILA, Philippines — In a ceremony celebrating the “heart of the government,” the 2025 Gawad Lingkod Bayani—the nation’s highest civil service distinction—was conferred upon 24 individuals and six teams at Malacañang yesterday.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., led the Pagpupugay 2025: Parangal sa mga Lingkod Bayani ceremony. The event recognized public servants whose innovations in science, grassroots development, and ethical leadership have fundamentally improved the lives of Filipinos.
In a message delivered by Recto, the President lauded the honorees as the silent pillars of the nation. “Today, we celebrate the heart of the government—the workers who quietly serve the Filipino people and the country,” the President stated. “In the midst of darkness and noise, you are the thread of light that gives hope to our nation.”
Redefining excellence
ADMINISTERED annually by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Gawad Lingkod Bayani rewards government workers who embody the core pillars of Puso, Dangal, at Galing Para sa Bayan (Heart, Honor, and Excellence for the Country).
CSC Chairperson Marilyn Yap formally presented this year’s batch, describing them as “beacons of integrity” for the country’s vast bureaucracy.
“The men and women we honor today are lingkod bayani because they concretized in their work their utmost fidelity to the unremitting ethic of public service,” Yap enthused. “The nation comes first, not the self; service to the citizens comes first, not personal interest.”
Incentives and challenges
Beyond the prestige of the award, the honorees received significant incentives for their dedication, which included gold-gilded medallions and presidential plaques, cash rewards, automatic promotion eligibility to the next higher government position, and scholarship grants for the awardees or their designated beneficiaries.
President Marcos Jr. used the occasion to challenge the awardees to serve as catalysts for a more efficient and responsive “Bagong Pilipinas.” He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, urging them to remain disciplined and patriotic in their duties.
“I believe that as long as there are public heroes like you, our republic will remain strong,” the President’s message concluded.