Six deserving people from different walks of life were given and cited Ramon Magsaysay Award last August 30 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

 

The Ramon Magsaysay Awards deemed as Asia’s version of the Nobel Peace Prize is the Asia’s most coveted award giving to chosen people who created powerful awareness and advocacies to its nation and people.

 

The six awardees came from Burma, China, Philippines, Thailand and India.

 

First is Krisana Kraisintu of Thailand. She is awarded for “her placing pharmaceutical rigor at the service of patients, through her untiring and fearless dedication to producing much-needed generic drugs in Thailand and elsewhere in the developing world.”

Two individuals from China is also cited, they are:

 

Yu Xiaogang for “his fusing the knowledge and tools of science with deep sense of social justice, in assisting dam-affected communities in China to shape the development projects that impact their natural environment and their lives.”

 

Ma Jun for “his harnessing technology and power of information to address China’s water crisis, and mobilizing pragmatic, multi-sectoral, and collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable benefits for China’s environment and society.”

 

Burma’s Ka Hsaw Wa is awarded for “his dauntlessly pursuing nonviolent yet effective channels of redress, exposure, and education for the defense of human rights, the environment, and democracy in Burma,” and lastly

 

Antonio Oposa, Jr. from the Philippines for “his path-breaking and passionate crusade to engage Filipinos in acts of enlightened citizenship that maximize the power of law to protect and nurture the environment for themselves, their children and generations still to come.”

 

The six awardees were given certificates, a medallion bearing the likeness of the late Philippine president Ramon Magsaysay and a cash prize.