The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) continues to strengthen and deepen its ties with the Magsaysay Laureates as RMAF President Susan B. Afan meets with representatives of 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from the Philippines, Radio Veritas Asia (RVA).
RMAF President Susan B. Afan shared, “As we celebrate 65 years of the Ramon Magsaysay Award this year, we at the Foundation aim to ensure that we work together with our incredible Ramon Magsaysay Awardees in our shared mission of inspiring people, interconnecting them with other thought leaders in Asia and beyond, and igniting action that can further expand the impact of their work.”
As part of the continuing efforts of the Foundation to amplify the work of the Magsaysay Laureates, RMAF and RVA signed a mutually beneficial partnership to share stories of good news, hope and inspiration through their respective digital platforms.
Fr. Victor F. Sadaya, CMF, General Manager of Radio Veritas Asia said, “What began in 1969 as a non-profit short-wave Catholic radio station, Radio Veritas Asia is now a non-profit digital media platform of the Catholic Church in Asia. While we have evolved with the times, Radio Veritas Asia has remained faithful to our mission of offering inspiring reflections, motivational quotes, and information to its readers. We always engage both ‘global’ and ‘local’ Asians in continuous dialogue on religion, culture, and solidarity with the poor.”
Afan continued, “For so many decades, Radio Veritas Asia has been witness to history as it unfolded. It has established its credibility in chronicling Asian stories both big and small truthfully, and in mobilizing its audience to fight for truth and advocate for the greater good. With the partnership between RMAF and RVA, we are expanding the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s audience in two major ways: 1) Radio Veritas Asia has presence in multiple countries in the region, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam and even certain parts of China, and 2) Radio Veritas Asia has the capacity to translate our content into various languages. The possibility of reaching an untapped audience across Asia truly excites us!”
Top row, left to right: RVA Vietnamese Service Head Coordinator Fr. JohnThe, Mandarin Chinese Service Head Coordinator Fr. Francis Han. Middle row, left to right: RMAF President Susan B. Afan, RVA Assistant Program Director Arlene A. Donarber. Bottom row, left to right: RVA General Manager Fr. Victor Sadaya,CMF, RVA Member of Editorial Board from India Fr. Anbu Selvam, RVA Editorial Board OIC Fr. Kasmir Nema, SVD, RVA Social Media Coordinator Cindy Grospe.
During the meeting with Radio Veritas Asia, Afan also shared the Foundation’s plans for the 65th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Award including the publication of the limited edition 7-volume book series “Greatness of Spirit,” featuring all of the Ramon Magsaysay Laureates from 1958 to 2023, including Radio Veritas Asia. A special feature of the remarkable commemorative book collection are special messages for the youth from the Ramon Magsaysay Awardees themselves.
“For the 65th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Foundation is reaffirming its commitment to amplify the inspiring stories and hopeful messages of the Magsaysay Awardees to a global audience. To do this, the Foundation continuously taps into Asia’s vast media landscape through partnerships and collaborations,” concludes Afan.
Radio Veritas Asia’s General Manager Fr. Victor F. Sadaya, CMF was joined by other members of Radio Veritas Asia: Fr. Kasmir Nema, SVD, OIC Editorial Board; Fr. JohnThe, Head Coordinator of the Vietnamese service; Fr. Francis Han, Coordinator Head of Mandarin Chinese service; Fr. Anbu Selvam, Member of Editorial Board from India; and Ms. Arlene Donarber, Assistant Program Director.