Established in July of 1945, the Philippine Defense Medal is an award issued by the Philippine government to recognize efforts against the Japanese invasion of the Philippines between the dates of December 8, 1941, and June 15, 1942. Combat in air, land, or water may qualify for the award. To be eligible, individuals must fulfill one of the stipulations listed below:
-Membership in the Bataan Peninsula defense garrison or service at the Manila Bay entrance
-Crew member or passenger on aircraft that came under fire
-Membership in a unit that came under fire when the individual was present
-Service on a vessel that came under fire
-Assignment to a Philippine territory or waters for a minimum of 30 days during the designated period
The ribbon is red with a thin vertical stripe toward each edge and three white stars in the center.