蜜桃工作室

The Philippines鈥� Randy聽Halasan聽received the聽Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership, a category for outstanding leaders under the age of 40, for his work as a聽teacher in the hinterlands of Davao City.

Hu Shuli of China, Saur聽Marlina聽Marunong聽of Indonesia,聽Omara聽Khan聽Masoudi聽of Afghanistan, Wang聽Canfa聽of China, and The Citizens Foundation also received Asia鈥檚 equivalent of the Nobel Prize at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

President Aquino graced the event and gave a message to the awardees.

Hu, a media practitioner from China, was cited for her 鈥渦nassailable journalism, her fearless promotion of transparency and accountability in business and public governance, and her leadership in blazing the way for more professional and independent-minded media practices in China.鈥�

Hu said that while Chinese journalists face 鈥渕any obstacles,鈥� 鈥渟pecial moments鈥� such as receiving a Ramon Magsaysay Award make their efforts worthwhile.

鈥淟ending a voice to the unheard, illuminating a path where everyone is searching for direction鈥�These moments never come easy but it will come [as long as you] never give up,鈥� she said during her acceptance speech.

Manurung, on the other hand, is an anthropologist from Indonesia who formed a 鈥淛ungle School鈥� for the indigenous peoples living in the country鈥檚 rainforests.

She said that although many people see her work as challenging and difficult, for her it is 鈥渓ike a dream鈥� since she always wanted to work in the middle of the jungle like Indiana Jones.

President Benigno Aquino III gives his message at the Ramon Magsaysay Awards rites in Manila on Sunday. Behind him is Inquirer CEO/Magsaysay trustee Sandy Prieto Romualdez. PHOTO by KRISTINE SABILLO/蜜桃工作室

Manurung, who has taught members of the Orang聽Rimba聽tribe how to compute and read so they may learn how to trade and make informed decisions, said indigenous peoples are often left out in dialogues that tackled their future.

鈥淭o all IP around the world I hope the time has come when you can represent yourself and determine your own faith,鈥� she said.

Masoudi, who was recognized for courageously protecting Afghanistan鈥檚 cultural heritage amid Taliban rule, said the award was not for him alone but also his colleagues.

鈥淐ulture is an essential component of human development,鈥� he said, adding that preserving culture meant strengthening cultural identity and national integrity.

He said their work was dedicated to future generations of Afghans.

Like the other awardees, The Citizens Foundation was lauded for its work in education. The non-government organization was cited for its success in making quality education available to many children, regardless of class, in Pakistan.

From setting up a couple of schools in 1995, the organization, first set up by six Pakistani leaders, recently reached its milestone of having 1,000 schools.

鈥淲e see that there is much more good than bad in this world鈥� [and that] There are innumerable people and NGOs working towards a better Pakistan,鈥� the organization鈥檚 representative said.

鈥淲e dream to see a day where no child in Pakistan or elsewhere is deprived of quality education,鈥� another representative added.

Protecting the environment through litigation, Chinese lawyer Wang and his Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims has since filed more than 550 cases to hold companies accountable for destroying the environment.

鈥淲e will continue to try and play a greater role in environmental rights protection and rule of law in China,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e have only one earth and environmental harm knows no boundaries; so I ask you, please, let鈥檚 all work together to protect our home planet,鈥� he added.

Like聽Manurung,聽Halasan, the lone winner from the Philippines, was recognized for serving indigenous peoples.

Halasan聽has been teaching children from the聽Matigsalug聽tribe at the聽Pegalongan聽Elementary School in Davao City. In addition to pushing for the school鈥檚 expansion, the 31-year-old teacher has also spearheaded efforts to make the local community food-sufficient by encouraging the planting of fruit trees and vegetables.

He said he had wanted to become a lawyer or a doctor but was forced to take up education because of financial constraints after his father died.

When he was assigned to聽Pegalongan, most remote school in the province,聽Halasan聽said he immediately wanted to be transferred elsewhere.

鈥淏ut as the day passed when I saw [the children and the residents]. I began to love who they are and their simple lives,鈥� he said.

Halasan聽not only stayed to teach the children of the聽Matigsalug聽tribe, he also thought of ways to improve the situation of the farmers in the community by helping set up programs that allowed them to plant fruit trees and vegetables. He wanted the community to become food-sufficient to address hunger and poverty in the area.

鈥淚 truly believe that we can build a strong Philippines if we open our hearts to the people without expecting anything in return,鈥� he said after accepting the award.