26-04-2023 : After a span of 64 years, the esteemed Ramon Magsaysay Award was ceremoniously bestowed upon the revered Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, by members of the award foundation on Wednesday. The Ramon Magsaysay Award, established in August 1959 by the Ramon Magsaysay Prize Foundation of the Philippines, was the first international accolade for leadership, recognizing the valiant struggle of the Tibetan community in safeguarding their sacred religion, which has been the guiding light of Dalai Lama’s life and culture, as stated by the office of Dalai Lama.
President Susanna B. Afan and Trustee Emily A. Abrera of the Ramon Magsaysay Prize Foundation personally met with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dalai Lama, to personally present him with the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Prize, marking a significant milestone after six decades. In 1959, the award was accepted on behalf of Dalai Lama by his elder brother Gallo Thonden in Manila, Philippines, as Dalai Lama had been forced to flee Tibet and has been living in exile in India since then, according to the statement from Dalai Lama’s office.
Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Asia,” the Ramon Magsaysay Prize is an annual honor that upholds the legacy of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, who was known for his unwavering integrity, dedicated service to the people, and pragmatic idealism in democracy, as highlighted by Dalai Lama’s office. The award was established in April 1957 by the Trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in New York City with the consent of the Philippine Government, and it continues to be a prestigious recognition of exemplary leadership in the region.