PHILIPPINES: ANNUAL RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARDS UPDATE

(1 Sep 1996) English/Nat

The award ceremony for the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize was held in the Philippine capital Manila on Saturday.

The annual Ramon Magsaysay awards, named after a former Philippine president, were presented to five outstanding Asians by President Fidel Ramos.

The prestigious regional award has previously gone to such notables as Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The five award recipients arrived at a special ceremony in Manila, Saturday.

They'd come to receive the much-coveted Ramon Magsaysay awards, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

The award, which acknowledges Asian individuals and organisations who have excelled in various fields, was named after former Philippine President Magsaysay who died in a plane crash in 1957.

Presenting the 1996 prizes was the current Philippines President Fidel Ramos.

The first went to Tirunellai Narayanaiyer Seshan, India's chief election commissioner, who presided over India's recent parliamentary polls.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This award will only reiterate our resolve to stick to democracy and to continue to be a source of inspiration to all people who love freedom."
SUPER CAPTION: Tirunellai Narayanaiyer Seshan, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner for Government Service

Korean John Oh Woong-Jin secured his award for public service; he was cited for encouraging compassion for the poor among Koreans.

A second Indian award recipient came next, the Reverend Pandurang Shastri Athavale, who was awarded for community leadership.

The awarding body chose Athavale because he had tapped 'the ancient wellsprings of Hindu civilisation to inspire spiritual renewal and social transformation in modern India.'

Next up was Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, cited for his contributions to journalism, literature and creative communications art.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"My career seems to have been one steady harvest of laurels. And yet today, although having so much to be thankful for in the past, I can still say, but thou has got the good wine until now! Happy the senior who can say that. So I say long live the Philippines."
SUPER CAPTION: Nick Joaquin, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts

And finally, the Reverend Toshihiro Takami of Japan, who won the Ramon Magsaysay award for International Understanding.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"My deepest appreciation for this great honor. I appreciate this award particularly because it recognises the importance of doing common ordinary things by ordinary people everyday."
SUPER CAPTION: Toshihiro Takami, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner for International Understanding

Takami was honoured for having established the Asian Rural Institute, an ecumenical rural training school in Japan which has trained people from 50 nations.

After the president handed over the awards, each award recipient was given a chance to give a short speech.

Each winner receives a certificate, medallion, and prize money of 50-thousand (US) dollars.

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