Marking its 65th year, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) formally presented the highest honor to four laureates who have made remarkable contributions to Asia's peacebuilding, environmentalism, healthcare, and education.

The presentation ceremonies for this year's Ramon Magsaysay Awards were held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Saturday, Nov. 11.

The RMA is regarded as Asia's premier prize.

The awarding ceremony highlighted the remarkable impact of the works of Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Eugenio Lemos, Ravi Kannan, and Korvi Rakshand.

In his opening speech, RMAF Chairman Aurelio Montinola III emphasized the unwavering spirit and compassion for humanity that the awardees embody.

He pointed out that the awardees are "the transformative leaders who illuminate the darkness" and "the public servants, the activists, and the humanitarians who gather precious kindling and light the spark for peace and social justice."

"Today, we live in a stressful and troubled geopolitical world. May these laureates shine through Asia and illuminate the world with greatness of spirit and role model. Thank you all for celebrating the 65th Ramon Magsaysay Awards with us," he added.

The 2023 awardees

This year, another Filipina was honored for her persistent belief in the transformative impact of nonviolent peacebuilding strategies — Miriam Coronel-Ferrer has devoted her life to the pursuit of peace, not just in her home country but in many places of conflict around the world.

Her intelligence and courage in overcoming challenges to convey the truth have made her a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a just and peaceful world.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/4/miriam-coronel-ferrer-filipina-peace-builder-2023-ramon-magsaysay-awardee

In her speech during the awarding, she expressed gratitude for the recognition by emphasizing the collective efforts of women and men dedicated to building peace worldwide.

"I thank you for this encouragement to promote the stories of courageous women and men who never tired of building peace every day, everywhere, for every person," she said.

Coronel-Ferrer pointed out their empowerment within an ever-growing movement of peacebuilders, mediators, negotiators, conflict preventers, and transformers, expressing her firm belief in the strength and capabilities of this sisterhood.

She then extended her recognition to those often overlooked, particularly women in marginalized communities, who are now empowered to believe in their capabilities.

Lastly, Coronel-Ferrer stressed the significance of a growing sisterhood by saying, "Sisterhood rocks."

Meanwhile, a musician and environmental activist from Timor-Leste, Eugenio Lemos, was honored for his dedication to harnessing indigenous knowledge for food security and environmental preservation, contributing to a sustainable future for his community.
 

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/5/eugenio-lemos-ally-of-food-secure-future-from-timor-leste

Lemos, during his speech, emphasized how human activities have severely damaged natural resources, threatening food sovereignty and future generations.

"For many generations, humans have pondered Mother Earth's resources in the name of capitalism. In doing so, we have robbed future generations – our own children, and children's children – of water security, of food sovereignty, and a life free of climate change," he said.

He expressed extreme concern for the future of the youth, which he described as "a life filled with uncertainty, danger, the threat of displacement, and extreme weather events."

Despite these challenges, Lemos believes the youth are "key to achieving sustainable development and restoring the long-term viability of our environment across the globe."

Thus, honing their awareness of the current worsening of global food production and availability is essential to addressing these issues.

"Through environmental advocacy, skill training, and awareness rising of ecosystem literacy, permaculture, and traditional knowledge, we can build a new generation of citizens who have the understanding, capacity, and confidence to tackle climate change and its effect effectively," he said.

Moreover, he urged everyone to act urgently and join forces to stop climate change and ecosystem destruction.

"The time to mobilize everyone, especially the youth of the world, to rise above the environmental challenge ahead is now," he said.

"The impact we create together will not only restore local environment and offer sustainable livelihood but will multiply and spread far, the entire country, and our planet now and in the future," Lemos added as he ended his speech.

Recognized for his exceptional contributions to healthcare, particularly in the challenging world of cancer care, Ravi Kannan was awarded the ''Hero for Holistic Healthcare Award.''

His dedication to holistic healthcare, focusing on "pro-people health care and cancer care," has made him a beacon of hope, particularly in Northeast India.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/6/ravi-kannan-hero-for-pro-poor-cancer-care-1

As he spoke, he emphasized the collective effort behind the success, acknowledging over 450 colleagues in the hospital who shared his vision of inclusive cancer care.

Kannan expressed his appreciation for the commitment and support from numerous individuals and organizations across India and globally.

Most significantly, he recognized the patients and their families who entrusted their lives to the care provided, emphasizing their significance in the healthcare journey.

Another recipient was Korvi Rakshand, the first Bangladeshi who received the prestigious award and was recognized for the "Emergent Leadership" award in making education accessible through the JAAGO Foundation, inspiring youth to volunteer for societal progress.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/6/korvi-rakshand-to-be-honored-for-building-bridges-for-education-in-bangladesh-1

In his speech, he said that education is widely regarded as crucial in alleviating poverty while prompting sustained economic progress in Bangladesh.

However, with the help of the JAAGO foundation and volunteering for Bangladesh, they brought like-minded youth together to volunteer for the causes they believe in.

Rakshand highlighted the potential impact of a similar volunteer program in the Philippines, envisioning a collaborative space where young minds unite, share ideas, and take action to enhance the country.

"Imagine if we volunteer for a Philippine program where young people can come together, discuss their ideas, and take action to make the Philippines even better," he said.

Moreover, he urged a collective effort across all Asian countries to "join hands and promise to stand beside the people of our country, Asia, and humanity together."

"Let's make this world a better place for you, me, and the future generation," he added.

The Philippines has received 65 awards, making it the highest among all Asian countries, followed by India having 59 awards—making them the pride of their nations and their inspiring stories provide a beacon of hope for a brighter future for all.