Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City
31 August 2012

 

President Benigno S. Aquino III hailed the transformative contributions of the six 2012 Ramon Magsaysay Award (RMA) recipients in a presentation ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“As President of this country, let me tell you, I admire your work, and I am hopeful that you continue helping improve the world we collectively live in,” the President said.

He recognized the 2012 awardees including Chen Shu Jui, a vegetable vendor from Taiwan; Romulo Davide, a Filipino agricultural scientist; Kulandei Francis, a leader of Indian women empowerment; Syeda Rizwana Hasan of Bangladesh and Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto of Indonesia who are both environmentalists; and agronomist Yang Saing Koma from Cambodia. All of them have shown unselfish remarkable efforts that changed people’s lives in their respective communities for the better.

President Aquino also remembered the exemplary public service of the late Secretary Jesse Robredo who was also a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee in year 2000.

“Whenever I hear these stories about President Ramon Magsaysay, I cannot help but remember Jesse. Like Magsaysay, Jesse was unassuming, unpretentious and very effective. He kept himself grounded.”

The family of the late Secretary headed by Mrs. Leni Robredo was present during a special tribute presentation in the ceremony.

The President ended his speech by saying that the greatest tribute for Ramon Magsaysay and the past awardees of RMA is “getting back to work, and fulfilling, in our own small ways, their grand vision for the world.”

 

*  *  *