Ramon Magsaysay Awards

RMAF honors its 2021 laureates

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

"A country is like a pyramid or a tower, it is made up of millions of stone, and the foundation is the common man . . ." - President Ramon Magsaysay

The Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) recently bestowed honors to four extraordinary individuals, and a young media entity, as recipients to the 63rd Ramon Magsaysay Awards (RMA).

"The RMA started in 1957 by recognizing men, women, and organizations mirroring Pres. Ramon Magsaysay's legacy. The greatness in spirit is timeless and this is a virtue shared by all the laureates," intimated RMAF chairman of the board Aurelio Montinola III.

"This reminds me of what our 1962 laureate Mother Teresa once said that 'if you cannot feed a hundred people, just feed one.' This year, three men - one from Pakistan, an American based in the Philippines, and another from southern Philippines, one woman from Bangladesh, and a young organization from Indonesia showed exemplary transformative leadership.

"In 2008, Sri Lankan laureate Ananda Galapati said that if conditions are right, goodwill will be present.' Thus, the goodwill in all the individual stories shared by this year's laureates are quite extraordinary," he added.

Roberto Ballon (KGMC)

A fisherman from a long line of fisherfolk, Ka Dudoy, as he is fondly called, went on a voyage of self-sacrifice to cure the ailing seas and transform their community into a thriving marine sanctuary it has become today.

In 1986, he started the Kapunungan sa Gagmayng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) in his small village in Balongis, Barrio Concepcion in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. The small mangrove reforestation project aimed at resuscitating a severely depleted marine environment soon attracted government support.

In 2015, the once small endeavor has expanded into 500 hectares of rich mangrove forests. The quality of life improved for all and fishermen were now sending their children to school. Thereafter, the pilot project was replicated in other areas of the province. KGMC is also into seaweed farming, one of its many protected and sustained marine projects. De

Ka Dudoy has revived his community's dying fishing industry. He, together with other fishermen, has shown that everyday acts of kindness can be transformative. "Our families depend on the sea for livelihood and not from any politician, Choosing what is good and making a new start exemplifies the choices I continue to make," he proudly stated.

"If we have 3 eats - breakfast, lunch, dinner - I believe we would be contented. But I have also seen hunger that meals cannot satisfy. If the government succeeds, we also succeed. Even the smallest efforts are never futile."

Ka Dudoy dedicates this honor to his wife, Rebecca, and to their brood of eleven.

Steven Muncy (CFSI)

An American national, Steven has lived outside his country for over four decades to help people who have been displaced by war and tragic events. In 1980, he became a Baptist volunteer in Morong, Bataan; driven by his Christian love for others. Together with other volunteers, they helped Indo-Chinese refugees from Vietnam cope with their refugee existence. Soon, their work was extended to Hong Kong.

Communities & Families Service Inc. (CFSI) is a humanitarian organization based in the Philippines responding to crisis in ten Asian countries, including Myanmar and Vietnam. As project manager of the Mindanao Trust Fund, the organization spearheads in wisely using this aid for the literacy and health training of its recipients, as well as the rehabilitation of water resource systems. From relief to recovery, reconstruction to redevelopment, the CFSI has over forty years of rebuilding lives.

Steven has held on to his unshakeable belief in the goodness of men and that every person is a holy place. "There is something of the Divine in each of us. I am so grateful for the opportunity to allow me  to help a little. We've exceeded expectations. This is our 40th anniversary in responding to human's "inhumaneness" to humankind.

"Many have been denied citizenship and have been rendered stateless from the very places they call home. We are focused on solutions to address human suffering wherever it is found. We are all part of a family called humanity. Arms are for hugging and not for shooting others. CFSI enables more ordinary people to bring extraordinary inputs," intoned Steven in his response.

Firdausi Qadri (ICCDDR-Bangladesh)

A biochemist, Dr. Qadri has, for forty years, continued with her lifelong devotion to the scientific profession; showing the vital role of science in preserving life through medical research.

After her post-graduate studies in Liverpool, England, she joined the ICCDDR-Bangladesh in studying and treating cholera and typhoid cases, through oral cholera vaccines that she helped create. In 2017 through 2020, she led the mass vaccination in the largest concentration camp in Myanmar. She also spearheaded Covid research in Bangladesh, as well as in the development of vaccine for e-coli. Dr. Qadri has also been mentoring young scientists to help fellow Bangladeshi and not go abroad.

"I wanted to be bigger in the coming years and self-supportive in the future. At 5 years old, I wanted to be in public health after Florence Nightingale; treating diseases of poverty-stricken people. Last August 31, my husband died, 7 hours after the announcement of this award. He may not be here but his vision for me has come true. I feel more responsible and I dedicate my entire life in saving others," she revealed.

Muhammad Amjad Saqib (Akhuwat)

Mr. Saqib's interest-free micro finance program has puzzled economic pundits to this day. The Akhuwat brotherhood is the largest lending organization in Pakistan. The Akhuwat is based on the Islamic tradition espoused by the prophet Mohammed on his 'Mawakhat' teachings. 

Mawakhat, which means "solidarity," teaches the virtue of sharing to those who have none - a solution written some 1,450 years ago. Its aim is to turn borrowers into donors - to build up one who has lost hope. The borrowers themselves are also the lending program's very supporters.

The Akhuwat brotherhood succeeded because of the optimism to help the very poor. It is a mission of millions. To date, the lending program has helped 4.8-million Pakistanis and the aggregate amount has reached US$ 9-million interest-free loans, with a 99.9% repayment rate. "Poverty is pain. Poverty is poison. Let's be wise for the wiseless, and be a hope for the hopeless. There could be no greater honor. We are working on the ground and take pride in collective risks. It is a validation of a concept and a legacy for the future," enthused Mr. Sadiq.

"I started my career in civil service and that prepared me for the journey ahead, after I parted ways with working for the government. Adversity and skeptics are everywhere. Progress begins where economic wisdom ends, sharing altruism is the spirit of sacrifice and giving," he added.

The Akhuwat brotherhood is currently serving 400 cities in and around Pakistan - from the heights of the Himalayas to the shores of the Arabian Sea.

WatchDoc (media entity)

Indonesia's media landscape has been shaken by two passionate media persons who present their visuals to reflect their causes. They started their investigative pursuits because they felt that public issues have not been presented with peoples' concern.

This young organization offer film distribution, as well as screen films in villages, schools, and indigenous communities. The entity has over 150 film titles, with over 200,000 viewers per video alone. Their documentary "Sexy Killers" has enjoyed 36-million viewership, as of last count. The WatchDoc duo has been filming the lives of ordinary people, as well as the environmental impact of the palm oil industry, while enjoying credibility and journalistic integrity.

"Two years ago, we started WatchDoc. We wanted to promote human rights through documentaries. We are the underground and ground secret movement that exposes the struggles of civil society," revealed Anghy Panca Kurniawan, the group founder.

Its documentary feature "Kinipan" (The End Game) is available and accessible online.

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"Throughout its history, the RMA has only been cancelled thrice: First, in 1970 due to the financial crisis; Second, in 1990 when the island of Luzon was shaken by a massive earthquake; and in 2020, a year of disruption brought about by the global pandemic," shared Philippine Vice-President, Hon. Leonor Robredo, in her keynote speech.

"Uncertainties still remain. So many have lost their loved ones and our economies have yet to recover. The Ramon Magsaysay Awards recognizes the human spirit that cannot be darkened by any of life's uncertainties.

"Four individuals and an organization rose up to the challenges. Empathy is the default. We hurt ourselves when we hurt others. Like Ka Dudoy, let us plant hope seedling by seedling until the sea recognizes our efforts. And let us all salute our laureates - modern-day heroes that make us proud to be Asian," VP Leni said in closing.

Presented in the virtual format, and live-streamed throughout the rest of Asia, this year's awarding ceremonies was hosted by RMAF president Susan Afan.