Context: On the 119th birth anniversary of Ramon Magsaysay, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced the 68th batch of Ramon Magsaysay Award laureates, comprising Tommy Koh, Runa Khan and Bo Kyi.
About The Ramon Magsaysay Award:
What It Is?
- The Ramon Magsaysay Award is widely regarded as Asia’s Nobel Prize and the region’s highest honour and premier prize. It celebrates persons and institutions in Asia who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, courage, and integrity in public life, selflessly transforming their societies regardless of race, creed, sex, or nationality.
Established In:
- Year of Establishment: 1957, created by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) based in New York City with the concurrence of the Philippine government to commemorate Ramon Magsaysay, the 7th President of the Philippines, who died in a plane crash in March 1957.
Aim: To honor and perpetuate the legacy of President Ramon Magsaysay by recognizing greatness of spirit shown in selfless service to the peoples of Asia, and to spotlight innovative, humanitarian solutions to the most intractable problems of human development.
Key Features of the Award:
- Category Evolution: From 1958 to 2008, awards were conferred across six distinct fields: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism/Literature/Creative Communication Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership.
- Category-Free Format: Starting in 2009, fixed categories were abolished (except for Emergent Leadership), allowing the Foundation to evaluate candidates flexibly across intersecting domains of social development, governance, human rights, and environmental protection.
- Rigorous Independent Selection: Laureates are selected through an independent, confidential nomination and vetting process executed solely by the RMAF Board of Trustees.
- Permanent Insignia: Awardees receive an embossed medallion bearing the right-facing profile of President Ramon Magsaysay, a formal calligraphy certificate, and an institutional cash grant.
- Continental Scale and Pedigree: Over six decades, the award has recognized more than 350 outstanding leaders and organizations across Asia.
2026 Winners & Contributions:
- Tommy Koh (Singapore): Recognised for six decades of diplomacy and international law, notably leading negotiations for UNCLOS and promoting global environmental cooperation.
- Runa Khan (Bangladesh): Recognised for delivering floating healthcare, education and disaster relief to climate-vulnerable communities through her NGO Friendship.
- Bo Kyi (Myanmar): Recognised for defending political prisoners and human rights, documenting abuses and providing legal, medical and psychological support through Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
