Former Philippine ambassador Howard Dee led five other “Heroes of Hope in Asia” yesterday in the Ramon Magsaysay Awards at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.
The awardees were Vo Thi Hoang Yen of Vietnam, Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz of East Timor, Sonam Wangchuk and Bharat Vatwani of India, and Youk Chhang of Cambodia.
Dee served as ambassador from 1986 to 1990 under former president Corazon Aquino. He was also lead convener of the National Peace Conference in 1990.
Dee, who also worked closely with indigenous people of the country, was Cabinet secretary under the Office of the President in 2002 as adviser on Indigenous Peoples Affairs. He also served as chairman of the government negotiating team for peace talks with communist rebels.
He was honoured for his “quietly heroic half-century of service to the Filipino people” which was carried by his pursuit of social justice and peace for the poor.
Dee said that the country was faced with dark times today but said peace was not impossible to be attained.
“I detect a general sense of discouragement and even despair during these difficult times, but do not be discouraged for it is in these times that justice and peace will reign in our land,” Dee said in his speech.
Hoang Yen was cited for her “brave” work in breaking down physical and mental barriers that have discriminated persons with disabilities in Vietnam, despite her own.
Chhang was honoured for his efforts to preserve the truth and the memory of the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s. Cruz had an all-embracing humanitarian effort in uplifting Timor Leste’s marginalised.
Vatwani was recognised for having a big heart for the mentally-ill who idly wandered the streets of India by giving them shelter, food and psychiatric assistance and helping them return to their families who have abandoned them.
Wangchuk’s community-driven reform of learning systems in remote Northern India, which helped improve the lives of the young, was recognised by the award-giving body.
The six awardees were selected for addressing issues of human development in Asia “with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions that have transformed their societies for the better.”
Vice President Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who presented the awards, said the awardees embodied the rich legacy of leadership that was well known in Asia.
“The Asia we know carries a rich legacy of leadership where leaders inspire courage rather than fear, bringing the best in our people,” she said.
She said the courage of the oppressed was what made a country resilient, which is manifested by the people that the awardees were able to help.
“The age that we know carries a rich legacy of humanity that despite the threats and attacks on humankind we remain resilient. Ensuring that no tyrant may snuff out these rights. We have had a long history of bloody struggles in dark times and I refuse to believe that we suffer them for nothing,” she added.
The six awardees joined 324 others. Each of them received a certificate, a medallion bearing the likeness of President Magsaysay, and a cash prize.
Ramon Magsaysay Foundation President Carmencita Abella said the 60th year of the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize was made special by the awardees who were “unafraid to take on large causes.”
Created in 1957, the awarding takes place annually during the birthday of the late president Magsaysay.