Date: 4 March 2008
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 NN
Venue: Global Distance Leaning Center, Asian Institute of Management
Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s Premier Prize: Launching of the 50th Year Celebration (Videoconference)
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary last March 4, 2008 at the AIM-WB Global Distance Learning Center with the support of the AIM Policy Center and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. As master of ceremonies, journalist Ms. Cheche Lazaro said “this event bears two marks of distinction—we are marking the 50th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards and we are joined in this celebration by two of our distinguished Ramon Magsaysay laureates, and by men and women of distinction and accomplishments in various fields.” Lazaro was taking about laureates Mr. Jon Ungphakorn of Thailand who was the 2005 awardee for government service and Mr. Arvid Kejriwal of India who was the 2006 awardee for emergent leadership. Both laureates joined the audience from their home countries via videoconference.
Ungphakorn, who was a son of a Ramon Magsaysay awardee (they are the first father and son pair awardees, 40 years apart), started the dialogue. The former Thai senator who was involved with non-governmental organizations fought against social injustice and abuses to human rights. Ungphakorn used his position to advance the concerns of Thailand’s marginalized citizens. He was most especially concerned with those suffering from HIV/AIDS. He also described the democracies of Asia as young democracies. Kejriwal, the second speaker, sought for people empowerment through the right to information. He founded Parivartan, meaning “change,” to make the tax department transparent and less capricious. The Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Emergent Leadership also won CNN’s Indian of the Year on 2006.
Following the dialogue was an open forum where young people and the media participated. Among them were ABS-CBN News’ Maria Ressa, AIM’s Professor Jay Bernardo, GMA 7’s Howie Severino, Studio 23’s Paolo Benigno Aquino and student leaders from different universities. The announcement of the foundation’s calendar of activities for the year-long celebration followed. Then the “Democracy and Good Governance” DVD was launched. Finally, Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, Chair of the RMAF Board of Trustees brought the event to an end through his closing remarks.
Among the notable guests in the audience were musician Jaime Paredes, AIM Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Federico M. Macaranas, RMAF Trustee Mr. Christian Monsod, AIM Chairman Mr. Washington SyCip, and former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
