The Quezon Service Cross is the highest national recognition of the Republic of the Philippines. The award was created by a joint resolution (No. 4) dated October 21 1946 of the First Congress of the Republic of the Philippines. A joint resolution of the Philippine Congress has the force of law. The Quezon Service Cross is a decoration conferred by the President of the Philippines with the concurrence of the Congress of the Philippines on Filipino citizens for exemplary service to the nation in such a manner and such a degree as to add great prestige to the Republic of the Philippines, or as to contribute to the lasting benefit of its people. The decoration was proposed by President Manuel Roxas. Nominations for the Quezon Service Cross need to state the services meriting the award and are made only in cases where the service performed or contribution made can be measured on the scale established by what the joint resolution terms "the benefaction" of the late President Manuel L. Quezon after whom the decoration is named. The Quezon Service Cross is also known as the Congressional Quezon Service Cross, as conferment requires the approval of the Philippine Congress and is seldom awarded. Only four Filipinos have been conferred this decoration: Carlos P. Romulo in 1949; President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1953, President Ramon Magsaysay (posthumously) in 1957 and Benigno Aquino, Jr. (posthumously) in 2004. Awarding was paused between 1973 and 1986, when the Philippine Congress was temporarily abolished.
