A former political prisoner, BO KYI has worked for decades on issues related to human rights in Myanmar. He is a co-founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which documents political arrests and detention and supports political detainees and their families.

BO KYI was arrested following Myanmar’s pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 and was imprisoned twice, spending a total of seven years in detention. In 2000, after fleeing to the Thai border to avoid rearrest, he co-founded AAPP with fellow former political prisoners.

For more than two decades, AAPP has documented political imprisonment and human rights violations in Myanmar. Following the military coup in February 2021, the organization has continued to document arbitrary arrests, political imprisonment, and violence, while providing support and advocacy for affected individuals and families.

In a statement on being conferred with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, BO KYIsaid: “It is a great honor to receive this precious Award, which carries forward the legacy of Ramon Magsaysay, a leader of integrity and courage. I feel his spirit with me as we continue to work toward a better future for the people of Burma. I dedicate this Award to the Burmese people fighting injustice, especially the political prisoners who continue to stand strong behind bars. If we continue to work together in solidarity to secure the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, I believe we can build a Burma that brings peace, prosperity and stability to its people and the region.”

BO KYI joins RUNA KHAN of Bangladesh, recognized for her decades-long work empowering marginalized communities living in the country’s remote and climate-vulnerable riverine regions, and TOMMY KOH of Singapore, a career diplomat and public servant recognized for his contributions to international diplomacy, global cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, as recipients of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award.

The formal presentation of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awards will take place during the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines at 4:30 PM on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

For more information on the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards and the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, visit www.rmaward.asia and the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s official social media accounts.

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In 1997, KHAN first visited one of Bangladesh’s remote and shifting river islands, known as chars. This experience led her to begin working with these communities that often face geographic isolation and limited access to essential services. In 2002, she founded Friendship, a grassroots development organization that began with a pioneering floating hospital bringing healthcare to people living in chars.

For more than two decades, KHAN has led Friendship in expanding its work across healthcare, education, climate adaptation, livelihoods, disaster preparedness, and inclusive citizenship. The organization has since grown to serve millions of people across Bangladesh.

Friendship works with communities affected by floods, river erosion, cyclones, displacement, and other climate-related challenges. Its programs combine healthcare and other essential services with initiatives in livelihoods, resilience, and disaster preparedness.

In a statement on being conferred with the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, KHAN said: “It is with great happiness and profound humility that I accept the Ramon Magsaysay Award. There is no leader who walks alone, so it is an honor for me to receive this on behalf of the unaddressed communities, who allow us to walk beside them; and on behalf of my Friendship family whose tireless devotion makes this work possible every day. I thank also those who have trusted and walked this almost impossible path with me for 25 long years, just believing. My children, whose patience and understanding, leave me in awe. This recognition is a wonderful responsibility, and I offer my deepest gratitude to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation for their trust and for honoring the enduring faith and power of humanity.”

Completing the roster of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees are TOMMY KOH from Singapore, a career diplomat and public servant recognized for his contributions to international diplomacy, global cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes; and BO KYI from Myanmar, a former political prisoner and human rights advocate whose work has given voice to political prisoners and survivors of torture while advancing accountability, justice, and human rights.

The formal presentation of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awards will take place during the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines at 4:30 PM on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

For more information on the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards and the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, visit www.rmaward.asia and the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s official social media accounts.

The post From Bangladesh’s Forgotten Frontiers to Building Resilient Communities: Runa Khan Named 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee appeared first on Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Philippines.

For nearly six decades, KOH has worked in diplomacy, international law, education, and public service. A lawyer and legal scholar by training, he has represented Singapore in international negotiations and held leadership roles in major multilateral forums.

Arguably, KOH’s most significant contribution to international diplomacy was his role in the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. As President of the Conference, he helped lead negotiations among more than 150 participating nations and, in 1982, guided the process towards the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which established an international framework for maritime rights and responsibilities.

In a statement on being conferred with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, TOMMY KOH said: “The Ramon Magsaysay Award is a very prestigious Award. Two of Singapore’s founding fathers, Dr. Goh Keng Swee and Mr. Lim Kim San, had won the Award. I feel humbled and happy to join their illustrious company.”

Beyond diplomacy, KOH has devoted his life to education, mentorship, and public service. Through his long association with the National University of Singapore and his work in public policy, he has helped shape generations of Singaporean leaders, scholars, and public servants, while maintaining a bridge between government, civil society, and the wider public. He has also been a strong advocate for the arts, heritage, and humanitarian causes.

Throughout his career, KOH has remained guided by a deep belief in moral principle and the common good. His leadership reflects a commitment to dialogue over coercion, consensus over confrontation, and the rule of law over the exercise of power. Whether in international negotiations or public life, he has consistently championed the idea that even smaller nations and vulnerable communities deserve recognition, respect, and a meaningful voice.

Completing the roster of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees are RUNA KHAN of Bangladesh, recognized for her decades-long work empowering marginalized communities living in the country’s remote and climate-vulnerable riverine regions, and BO KYI of Myanmar, a former political prisoner and human rights advocate whose work has given voice to political prisoners and survivors of torture while advancing accountability, justice, and human rights.

The formal presentation of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awards will take place during the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines at 4:30 PM on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

For more information on the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards and the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, visit www.rmaward.asia and the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s official social media accounts.

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In a statement, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Chairperson Edgar O. Chua commented on the diverse works and advocacies of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees: “The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation looks forward to introducing the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees to the world on 31 August. Their work reflects the enduring values of President Ramon Magsaysay: that transformative leadership finds its highest purpose in selfless service to others. The work of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees reflects this belief in different ways. Though they come from different contexts and pursue different advocacies, they share a commitment to expanding the space of possibility, creating value for others, and making room for more people to participate in shaping their own futures. In doing so, they join a long and storied community of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, whose work reminds us that meaningful change begins when we recognize that progress must create opportunities not only for ourselves, but for others as well.”

First presented in 1958 to honor the memory and legacy of President Ramon Magsaysay, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is widely regarded as Asia’s premier prize and highest honor. The Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose integrity, courage, and selfless service have transformed lives and inspired communities across the region.

As of 2025, the Award has been conferred on 328 individuals and 28 organizations from 24 countries and territories, including last year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, SHAAHINA ALI (Maldives), FOUNDATION TO EDUCATE GIRLS GLOBALLY (India), and FLAVIANO ANTONIO L. VILLANUEVA (Philippines).

Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation President Susanna B. Afan spoke about the selection of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees: “The Board of Trustees has the meaningful task of electing the recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The process of identifying and evaluating individuals and organizations from across Asia is rigorous, guided by the standards and values that the Ramon Magsaysay Award has upheld for nearly seven decades. The Board of Trustees is proud of the three individuals elected to receive the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award. The Foundation looks forward to introducing them to the world on 31 August 2026.”

The Global Announcement of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees will mark the beginning of the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season, culminating in the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies on Sunday, 15 November 2026, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines. The Presentation Ceremonies are open to the public.

The 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees[VP3.1] will be announced through a global livestream on the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel on Monday, 31 August 2026, at 11:00 AM Manila Time.

Follow the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation on Facebook and YouTube for the global announcement and updates throughout the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season.

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The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), through the Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute (RMTLI), officially launched Mangrove FIESTA (Fisherfolk Initiative for Environmental Sustainability of Tinigban Community Associations) on July 22, marking the second phase of the Magsaysay Laureates Community Initiative (MLCI). Through RMTLI, which advances the transformative work of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees by connecting their proven solutions with communities across Asia, the year-long initiative brings the community-led coastal conservation model of 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee ROBERTO “KA DODOY” BALLON to Barangay Tinigban, Carles, Iloilo.

KA DODOY, 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, and Ka Toting, President of the Fisherfolks Association of Tinigban, exchange symbolic gifts, marking the beginning of a year-long partnership founded on mutual learning and community solidarity.

Recognized with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021 for leading his fellow fisherfolk in restoring marine ecosystems through community-led conservation, KA DODOY will mentor the Fisherfolks Association of Tinigban (FAT), together with the Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) and select 4K Project alumni, in environmental stewardship, organizational leadership, and sustainable livelihoods.

The launch brought together members of FAT, local government officials, community leaders, and partner organizations in a shared commitment to strengthen coastal ecosystems and build a more resilient fishing community.

Addressing the community, KA DODOY stressed that the initiative’s success depends on local ownership, “This is your initiative—not RMAF’s, not KGMC’s, not LDS Charities’. This is Barangay Tinigban’s.”

KA DODOY tours the mangrove area with members of the Fisherfolks Association of Tinigban, sharing practical insights on mangrove restoration and nursery management.

KA DODOY adds, “Yung mga taong hindi naniniwala… kaibiganin mo lang. Tuloy tuloy lang yung edukasyon… sa kanila at…patuloy din yung…pagtatanim ng mangroves…hanggang sa maramdaman nila na kinilala at may halaga ito,” [“Befriend the doubters. Just continue on with your education campaign and your mangrove planting until they see the effort is recognized and feel its importance.”]

RMAF President Susan B. Afan echoed this call, emphasizing that lasting transformation begins with communities taking ownership of their own future, “Real transformation begins when communities take ownership of their own future. Mangrove FIESTA is not a project brought to Barangay Tinigban. It is a future that the people of Tinigban are building together.”

KA DODOY, representatives from RMAF, and Latter-Day Saint Charities-Southeast Asia meet with officials of the University of the Philippines Visayas Institute of Fisheries and Development Studies to discuss potential collaboration in research, technical assistance, and capacity building. Representing UPV-IFDS was its Director, Dr. Liberty Espectato (6th from left), Vice Chancellor for Administration, Asst. Prof. Dr. Farisal U. Bagsit (6th from right), and two other professors at the institute.

The launch also featured a symbolic exchange of community gifts. KA DODOY presented mangrove propagules and oysters from Zamboanga Sibugay, while FAT shared handcrafted seashell plaques from Tinigban, marking the start of a partnership rooted in shared learning and mutual responsibility. FAT members also completed baseline surveys that will guide project implementation throughout the year.

For FAT President Leo “Ka Toting” Logronio, the initiative validates years of community effort at restoring the marine ecosystems. “Dati kami rin yung nag-iillegal dito, kami rin yung sumira.. ang ginagawa namin ngayon, it’s payback time na kami naman ang magrerestore.” [“Before, we were the ones breaking the law, we were the ones causing destruction…what we’re doing now, it’s payback time and we’re the ones now restoring [the marine ecosystems].”]

KA DODOY, RMAF representatives, and project partners meet with Vice Governor Natalie Debuque of Iloilo to explore opportunities for institutional support and collaboration for Mangrove FIESTA. Joining her were representatives from the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VI (BFAR-6), and the Provincial Agriculture Office.

Carles Mayor Arnold Betita II reminded participants that the launch “is only the beginning” of a longer journey toward sustainable community development.

The launch also opened opportunities for broader collaboration. RMAF met with the University of the Philippines Visayas Institute of Fisheries and Development Studies to explore research and technical partnerships, and with Iloilo Vice Governor Nathalie Debuque to discuss institutional support for Mangrove FIESTA. Both expressed their commitment to partnering with RMAF, KGMC, and FAT as the initiative moves forward.

Selected FAT members will travel to Zamboanga Sibugay this August for an immersion with KGMC, where they will learn directly from KA DODOY’s decades of experience in community-based coastal resource management.

Anchored on KA DODOY’s principles of Environmental Sustainability, Economic Access, and Community Empowerment, Mangrove FIESTA aims to restore mangrove ecosystems while strengthening local leadership, sustainable livelihoods, and community resilience. Through RMTLI, the Magsaysay Laureates Community Initiative continues to translate the proven solutions of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees into community-led action, enabling communities to learn from one another and build lasting change together.

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As the world marks International Women’s Day and reflects on this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” the legacy of the Ramon Magsaysay Award shows that investing in women has always produced enduring gains for families, communities, and entire societies.

From pioneering feminists and legal reformers to educators, community leaders, and social innovators, these Ramon Magsaysay Awardees demonstrate how advancing women’s rights strengthens the social fabric of nations. Notably, this work has been carried forward by both women and men who recognized that empowering women is not solely a women’s issue—it is a societal responsibility.

The following Ramon Magsaysay Awardees illustrate how this commitment has taken shape across Asia over the past 67 years.

In 1961, Thai feminist NILAWAN PINTONG, a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from Thailand, used journalism as a tool for social change. Through the women’s magazine Satri Sarn, she opened a public space where women—particularly those in rural communities—could encounter new ideas about civic life, education, and participation. Her work expanded into youth publications, news weekly, and radio programming that encouraged broader engagement in public affairs.

More than a decade later, FUSAYE ICHIKAWA, a1974 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from Japan, helped reshape the political landscape of her country. A central figure in Japan’s women’s suffrage movement, she campaigned tirelessly to secure women’s right to vote and to run for public office. Even after suffrage was achieved, she continued advocating for women’s participation in political leadership, ensuring that the democratic process reflected women’s voices.

Breaking barriers in the legal profession, LEE TAI-YOUNG, a 1975 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from South Korea, became the country’s first woman lawyer and devoted her career to reforming discriminatory family laws. Through legal advocacy and the establishment of legal aid services for women, she worked to secure equal rights in marriage, inheritance, and child custody—protections that continue to shape Korean society today.

Economic empowerment for women took a transformative turn in 1980s when MUHAMMAD YUNUS, a 1984 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from Bangladesh, pioneered the concept of microcredit. By extending small, collateral-free loans primarily to poor rural women, he enabled millions to build small enterprises, educate their children, and stabilize their households. His work demonstrated that women are among the most reliable drivers of economic resilience.

In China, 2001 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee WU QING, an educator and legislator, devoted her career to advancing women’s rights through education and policy reform. She introduced one of the country’s earliest university courses on women’s studies and established programs that equipped rural women with literacy, legal awareness, and livelihood skills. By linking grassroots education with legislative advocacy, she strengthened women’s ability to participate fully in civic life.

Across the Philippines, financial inclusion became a powerful pathway for women’s advancement through the work of the CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MUTUALLY REINFORCING INSTITUTIONS (CARD MRI), a 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee. Built on the belief that “nanays” (mothers) are the backbone of families and communities, CARD-MRI developed microfinance programs tailored for women—combining credit, savings, insurance, and training. What began as a modest rural initiative has grown into one of the country’s largest microfinance networks, enabling millions of women to become entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.

Education also became a powerful equalizer through HASANAIN JUAINI, the 2011 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from Indonesia. In West Lombok, he established a girls’ Islamic boarding school that integrates religious learning with science, environmental awareness, and life-skills training. In communities where opportunities for girls were often limited, Juaini chose to challenge convention—not by discarding cultural values, but by expanding them to include women’s education and leadership. His work reminds us that advancing women’s rights is not only the work of women; it is a responsibility shared by men who recognize that communities thrive when girls are given the chance to learn and lead.

In Nepal, survivors of human trafficking organized themselves to support others facing the same trauma. Their organization, SHAKTI SAMUHA, a 2013 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, provides shelter, legal assistance, education, and livelihood training for trafficked women and girls. By transforming survivors into advocates and community educators, the group has strengthened both prevention and protection efforts against trafficking.

Education for marginalized children—particularly girls—has been the driving mission of THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION (TCF), a 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from Pakistan. Through a nationwide network of purpose-built schools in underserved communities, TCF has created learning environments where girls can pursue education safely and confidently. By recruiting female teachers and actively engaging families, the organization has helped shift attitudes toward girls’ education across the country.

Most recently, EDUCATE GIRLS, 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from India, has worked to close persistent gender gaps in education across rural communities. Through grassroots engagement, mentorship programs, and partnerships with local leaders, the organization has helped enroll and retain hundreds of thousands of girls in school. Their work addresses structural barriers—from poverty to restrictive social norms—while nurturing confidence and leadership among the next generation of women.

Across decades and diverse contexts, these Ramon Magsaysay Awardees demonstrate that empowering women strengthens societies as a whole. Their work affirms a truth long reflected in the Award’s history: when women are given access to education, economic opportunity, justice, and leadership, communities gain stronger foundations, wider opportunities, and more resilient futures.

Since 1958 the Ramon Magsaysay Award has honored individuals and organizations whose leadership embodies this belief—showing that advancing women’s rights is not only a matter of equity, but a foundation for lasting social progress.

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With the humility of a teacher and the curiosity of a scientist, Dr. Bernido reminded the graduates that AI, like any human invention, is a double-edged tool. “It’s like knives, dynamites, or nuclear power,” he said. “They can be used to harm or to help. The trick is knowing when AI is useful—and when it is harmful.”

From this premise, he offered six maxims—reflections on the limits of technology and the enduring genius of the human mind.
 

AI harvests both the real and the fake.

AI thrives on data—all kinds of data. It collects the true and the false, the profound and the trivial, the sacred and the absurd. 

In doing so, it blurs the line between fact and fiction, making it harder to tell what’s real from what’s merely well-constructed. Dr. Bernido warned that in a world ruled by algorithms, “to see is to believe” no longer holds true. “Our new mantra,” he said, “should be: What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

This insight, borrowed from The Little Prince, is a call for discernment. In the flood of images, data, and simulations, what matters most can’t be seen on a screen. It is found in reflection, empathy, and lived experience—the things AI cannot generate.

The takeaway: The human task is no longer just to see, but to discern. 

AI’s strength carries its own weakness.

The power of AI lies in its speed and scale—it can process vast amounts of information faster than any human mind.

But this very strength hides a flaw: the more it processes, the more noise and inaccuracy it absorbs. 

AI “hallucinates.” It can overgeneralize, misinterpret, or invent information. As Dr. Bernido explained, even large language models—the engines behind modern AI tools—can produce false scientific conclusions or misleading summaries if not carefully checked.

This is why he emphasized that in the AI age, critical verification is not optional. “The faster AI works,” he said, “the more carefully humans must think.”

The takeaway: Let AI be fast—but let humans be wise.

What you feed AI determines what it becomes.

Unlike humans, AI does not understand context or morality. It simply reflects the data it is trained on.

Garbage in, garbage out—or as Dr. Bernido refined it, “not quite garbage in, garbage out, but the reliability and fidelity of the dataset determine the accuracy of the outcome.” 

A wrong prompt or a biased dataset can lead AI astray, generating entire worlds of distortion. “A wrong prompt,” he warned, “can transport us to a different world.” 

This makes human intention critical. The algorithms we build—and the information we share—shape the world AI will amplify. 

The takeaway: Be mindful of your digital footprint. Every click, post, and prompt contributes to the moral DNA of our machines.

Instant answers weaken curiosity.

AI promises convenience, but it can also make us intellectually lazy.

Why struggle to solve a problem when a chatbot can answer in seconds? Why think deeply when a summary appears instantly?

Dr. Bernido called this the “copy-and-paste culture.” It rewards speed over depth, answers over inquiry.

Citing research from MIT, he explained that students who relied on AI performed worse than those who thought independently—not just in writing, but in neural and cognitive engagement. “AI promotes dependence,” he said. “Our creativity and originality in solving problems are at stake.”

AI should assist, not replace, human reasoning. Learning by doing—through mistakes, experiments, and critical reflection—remains irreplaceable.

The takeaway: Curiosity is a muscle. The less we use it, the weaker it becomes.

AI is fast, but imagination leaps further.

AI runs on code—zeros and ones, bound by physical laws and logic gates.

But the human mind runs on imagination, which defies boundaries. “We can imagine things even if there is still no logical way to achieve them,” Dr. Bernido said.

That ability to envision what does not yet exist—to dream, to hope, to invent—is the essence of human creativity.

While AI can calculate faster, it cannot wonder. It cannot love, fear, aspire, or dream of worlds beyond its programming.

“Our thoughts, our imagination, our intuition, are unconstrained. That is what makes us human. That is what keeps us ahead.” he told the graduates.

The takeaway: Machines simulate intelligence. Humans create it.

Logic has limits; creativity does not.

AI operates strictly by the rules it’s given—it thrives in fixed systems. But when those rules change, it stumbles.

Humans, however, can change the premise. We can invent new frameworks and redefine what is possible. Dr. Bernido called this the “second level of creativity.”

“Humans are adept at creating a new premise or a different set of logical rules,” he said. “That is what it means to think out of the box.”

He illustrated this with the evolution of geometry: when mathematicians broke the rule that parallel lines never meet, they created Riemannian geometry—the foundation of Einstein’s relativity.

Machines obey logic. Humans expand it.

The takeaway: The future belongs not to those who calculate, but to those who imagine beyond the calculation.

 
Dr. Bernido concluded his talk with a thought from A Beautiful Mind, where mathematician John Nash reflects that true logic is ultimately found in love.

For the physicist from Bohol, Philippines, this was not sentimentality but science of the soul. 

True intelligence—whether human or artificial—is incomplete without compassion. 

Logic may drive progress, but love gives it purpose. 

The takeaway: The highest intelligence is empathy.

Fifteen years after receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award with his wife, Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido for “their purposeful commitment to both science and nation, ensuring innovative, low-cost, and effective basic education even under Philippine conditions of great scarcity and daunting poverty,” Dr. Christopher Bernido continues to teach not just how to think, but how to remain human in an increasingly automated world.

In an age of machines that can mimic language, art, and reasoning, his message rings clear: what makes us human is not our logic, but our imagination, our discernment, and our capacity to love.

“Our thoughts, our imagination, our intuition—these are unconstrained. That is what makes us human. That is what keeps us ahead.”

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Dr. PRAWASE WASI was a distinguished physician, scholar, and reformer who devoted his life to advancing public health as a moral and social responsibility. Through groundbreaking research, advocacy for community-based health care, and tireless teaching, he strengthened health systems, brought modern medicine to underserved rural communities, and inspired generations of physicians to serve where the need was greatest. His unwavering dedication, transformative leadership, and greatness of spirit left an enduring impact on the health and well-being of countless people across Thailand.

In honoring his legacy, we share a dedication written by Dr. Vichai Chokevivat, co-founder of the RURAL DOCTORS MOVEMENT (RDM), a 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee recognized for its pivotal role in advancing universal health coverage in Thailand. A longtime colleague and fellow advocate for equitable health care, Dr. Chokevivat’s tribute reflects both personal gratitude and the profound influence of Dr. PRAWASE WASI on Thailand’s health reform movement.

Dedication by Dr. Vichai Chokevivat follows.

Ultimately, Professor Prawase Wasi passed away from this world at the age of 93 years, 3 months, and 5 days, on Saturday, 10 January B.E. 2569 (2026), at 8:53 p.m.

Dr. Prawase was truly an illustrious son of the Kingdom of Siam.

Dr. Prawase’s father was a villager in the remote jungle in Kanchanaburi. Dr. Prawase lived through hardship and advanced through the education system, gaining admission to Triam Udom Suksa School. During that time, he had to live, eat, and sleep at Phra Nakhon School of Commerce, using students’ desks lined up together as a bed. Nevertheless, he successfully completed his medical degree , and received the Anandamahidol Scholarship to pursue further studies in the United States and the United Kingdom. While studying in the United States—where Americans are thought to be very diligent in accordance with what is known as a “Protestant work ethic”—the American professor who supervised Dr. Prawase recorded that every morning, when he arrived at his office, he found that Dr. Prawase had already begun working. In the evenings, when returning from work, he would always see the lights still on in Dr. Prawase’s office as the highly motivated student continued working. Upon graduation, most people struggle to have even a single academic article published, but Dr. Prawase had four articles published in leading journals.

After returning to Thailand, he received royal benevolence from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, who graciously had the Ananda Raj Building constructed to serve as a place for work, research, patient care, and the teaching of medical students and medical residents.

Before long, the Dr. Prawase’s reputation became widely known—for his academic excellence, his dedication and compassionate care of patients, his role as a medical teacher, and his upholding of the honor and dignity of the medical profession. Dr. Prawase was, thus, widely accepted, respected, and revered by faculty members and medical students alike, and was selected to confer degree certificates to His Majesty the King for presentation to graduating medical doctors.

After that, Dr. Prawase began to expand his role beyond that of a medical teacher by initiating reforms of the administrative system at Siriraj Hospital together with several progressive colleagues. He fought corruption, and helped to transform a hospital that had been like a “leaking well in sandy soil,” where donations flowed in from benefactors but which, nonetheless, suffered continuous financial losses, into a profitable institution. Subsequent generations of faculty took this matter seriously, resulting in Siriraj Hospital and Mahidol University becoming among the best-endowed universities in the country.

Dr. Prawase then broadened his efforts to reform medical education and the Thai Medical Council, establishing a system of specialist medical training to address the problem of Thai doctors emigrating abroad to study and practice medicine in wealthier settings. Dr. Prawase’s efforts not only resolved the issue but also enabled Thailand to produce a large number of medical specialists domestically at a cost many times lower than sending them to study overseas.

When the Royal Plaza Hotel building collapsed in Nakhon Ratchasima in 1993, Thai doctors were able to crawl down to amputate the leg of a victim trapped beneath the rubble, while an anesthesiologist administered anesthesia through another tunnel which the patient stuck with face downward. The surgery was successfully performed , and the victim’s life was saved. Even when the amputee went into shock at the mouth of the pit after the operation, the team was able to reverse the shock and transport the patient to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, and later transfer her for further treatment to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital.

Thailand’s medical and public health system which, at present, has been able to develop into a medical hub generating substantial income for the country, has in part benefited from the system for producing medical specialists that began some 50 years ago.

After the “reform of the medical system,” which included systematic critique of medical ethics through the publication of the article series “Annals of Thai Medical Practice,” Dr. Prawase came to see that the Thai medical system was merely a subsystem of the broader public health bureaucracy. He therefore expanded his role to work with leading public health figures such as Dr. Somboon Watcharothai, Dr. Pairoj Ningsanond, Dr. Amorn Nontasoot, Dr. Banlu Siripanit, and other senior administrators. Through this collaboration, Dr. Prawase learned about the broader world of the public health system, and found that these progressive public health professionals still lacked sufficient barami (moral authority and influence) to effect needed change . It thus became necessary to seek someone with such barami to serve as the “standard-bearer” or leader of the movement. That person was found to be Prof. Dr. Sem Pringpuangkaew who, together with Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram and Luang Nit Vejjavijit, had established provincial hospitals in ever y province and founded many nursing schools, producing nurses who could be deployed nationwide. Dr. Prawase therefore went to invite Dr. Sem to join the “reform movement.”

At the same time, Dr. Prawase authored a foundational text on public health system reform entitled “Public Health for the Masses,” published in B.E. 2518 (1975) as part of the “Love Thailand” series on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the birth of His Serene Highness Prince Worawongthoe, Prince Narathipphongpraphan. It was published alongside another seminal work, Buddhadhamma, by Phra Sri Visuddhimoli, who is now Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (P.A. Payutto).

Dr. Prawase’s entry into the field of public health occurred at the same time as the emergence of the “Rural Doctors Movement.” By this time, everyone in the field held Dr. Prawase in high esteem and affection for his intellect, knowledge, capability, and his exceptionally high moral and ethical virtues. Dr. Prawase’s barami played a crucial role in enabling senior officials in the Ministry of Public Health to better understand and trust young, highly driven professionals—many of whom were outspoken and intense in both words and demeanor, to the extent of being labeled “rebels” or “troublemakers.” As a result, people of different generations and differing perspectives were able to unite and work together, leading to comprehensive public health system reform. This gave rise to the district hospital development program; the construction of district hospitals in every district; the establishment of health centers in every sub-district; anti-smoking campaigns; the National Health Security system; the Thai Health Promotion Foundation; the National Institute for Emergency Medicine; the National Health Commission Office; the Healthcare Accreditation Institute; and many other initiatives.

The reform of the public health system—which later expanded into reform of the broader health system—faced many problems and obstacles. However, through the wisdom and barami of Dr. Prawase, these crises were successfully overcome. For example, first, when the political authorities used their power to dissolve the National Epidemiology Board, the organization was able to be reconstituted as the National Public Health Foundation. Second, when the Rural Doctors group showed signs of internal conflict, causing concern to Dr. Sanguan Nittayaramphong, he asked Dr. Prawase to help serve as a “bond of unity.” He initially suggested that Dr. Prawase call individuals in to clear up various misunderstandings. However, with his exceptional insight, Dr. Prawase recognized that merely calling people in to talk things over would not succeed. Instead, he advised the dissidents to form a group to think together and work together, guided by the principles of Aparihaniyadhamma (conditions of non-decline) and kalyanamitta (spiritual friendship). As a result, the group of rural doctors who met regularly every month in Sam Phran became a sort of “think tank” that generated numerous changes beneficial to the nation and its people over a span of 37 years. Dr. Prawase sat at the head of the table as chair every month without fail, jointly brainstorming, reaching conclusions, and effectively setting the direction for ongoing collective action.

From the sphere of public health, Dr. Prawase went on to play a bold and continuous role in offering political views in his capacity as an elder statesman of the Thai people. At the same time, this venture made him a political target and placed him at considerable personal risk. On one occasion, someone even threw a dog’s head into the yard of his home, accompanied by a short message: “This time a dog’s head; next time, yours.” Yet he consistently continued to stand firm and defiant in his views.

Later, when Sub-Lieutenant Chalard Worachat declared that he would starve himself to death in front of Parliament “unless there was a constitution written by the people,” Mr. Marut Bunnag, then President of the House of Representatives, demonstrated leadership by announcing the appointment of a Democracy Development Committee, with Dr. Prawase as its chair. As a result, some critics accused him of serving the Democrat Party, but he was in no way shaken by the worldly conditions (lokadhamma) or by such idle chatter. He therefore persevered, spending three years driving the process systematically, culminating in the promulgation of the “People’s Constitution” of B.E. 2540 (1997), one of the finest constitutions the country has ever had. Regrettably, this constitution lasted only nine years before being replaced by the 2007 Constitution and now the 2017 Constitution (B.E. 2560), which has since become a burdensome legacy borne by the Thai people to this day.

The achievements of Dr. Prawase—once a poor boy from a forest village—who rendered such immense service to the nation and the Thai people, constitute a legacy that it is the duty of our generation and those to come to carry forward.

When His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the Father of Modern Medicine in Thailand, passed away on 24 September B.E. 2472 (1929), he had already made great contributions to the medical profession. One of his most important royal admonitions, inscribed at the base of his statue at the Ministry of Public Health, reads:

Let personal gain be secondary;
and the benefit of your fellow humans be your primary concern.
Wealth, assets, and honor will come to you naturally
if you uphold the moral principle of your profession with purity.

A little over two years after the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol, Dr. Prawase was born on 5 August B.E. 2475 (1932). He truly stands as an exemplar of one who followed in the royal footsteps, and faithfully embodied the royal admonition of the Father of Modern Thai Medicine.

May the spirit of Dr. Prawase attain a blissful realm in heaven.

The post Dedication to Dr. Prawase Wasi appeared first on Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Philippines.

Born Florence Lansang Danon, Rosa Rosal first gained public attention as a celebrated actress during the Golden Age of Philippine cinema. Yet it was beyond the silver screen that she made her most enduring impact. For over seven decades, she devoted herself to humanitarian work, particularly with the Philippine Red Cross, pioneering mass blood‑donation campaigns that reached both urban and rural communities. She helped establish regional blood centers, laboratories for safe blood screening, and programs to ensure life-saving services were accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Rosal also harnessed her fame for public good, hosting television programs such as Damayan and Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko, mobilizing support for indigent patients and communities in need. She championed initiatives for unwed and at-risk pregnant women, abandoned children, and other marginalized groups, creating safety nets and amplifying awareness of social issues.

Rosa Rosal received the medallion during the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies held August 31, 1999. Handing the Ramon Magsaysay Award to her is Joseph Ejercito Estrada (center), Philippine President, and Amb. Bienvenido Tan Jr. (right), Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Chairman.

Her selfless service earned her the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service  in 1999, Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, for “her lifetime of unstinting voluntary service, inspiring Filipinos to put the needs of others before their own.”

Rosa Rosal’s life reminds us that fame can be a force for good when paired with a heart committed to others—a life where compassion, courage, and action go hand in hand. She will be remembered not only as an icon of Philippine cinema but as a champion for the marginalized, a steadfast humanitarian, and a guiding light for generations to come.

The post A Tribute to 1999 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Rosa Rosal appeared first on Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Philippines.