Ramon Magsaysay Award 2024
The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced this year’s recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prize and highest honor. The announcement also marks the beginning of the 66th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season, a continuing celebration of transformative leadership and greatness of spirit that shape Asia and inspire the world. The 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees are:
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (Vietnam)
A dedicated Vietnamese physician has championed the fight against the devastating effects of Agent Orange, seeking justice for victims while pioneering reproductive health solutions and offering hope to affected families.
The board of trustees honors not only a woman and physician of extraordinary dedication and talent, but also the spirit of public service and the message of hope she continues to propagate among her people. At the same time, her work serves as a dire warning for the world to avoid war at all costs as its tragic repercussions can reach far into the future. She offers proof that it can never be too late to right the wrongs of war, and gain justice and relief for its hapless victims.
Phuntsho, Karma (Bhutan)
A Bhutanese scholar and thought leader who bridges tradition and modernity by promoting education, social entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation.
The RMAF board of trustees recognizes his invaluable and enduring contributions towards harmonizing the richness of his country’s past with the diverse predicaments and prospects of its present, inspiring young Bhutanese to be proud of their heritage and confident in their future. Beyond his immediate horizon, his work engages all peoples and cultures around the world facing the same challenges, reminding them to look back even as they move forward.
Farhan, Farwiza (Indonesia)
A passionate environmental advocate who leads efforts to protect Sumatra's Leuser Ecosystem, empowering local communities and women to safeguard their future.
The RMAF board of trustees recognizes her profound understanding of the vital connection between nature and humanity, her commitment to social justice and responsible citizenship through her work with forest communities, and her promotion of greater awareness of the need to protect the beating heart and lungs of her country’s and Asia’s rich but endangered natural resources.
Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand)
A group of dedicated Thai physicians who has championed universal health coverage, significantly improving rural healthcare access and quality through relentless activism and advocacy.
The RMAF board of trustees recognizes their historic and continuing contribution to their people’s health—and perhaps just as importantly, to their recognition and fulfilment as citizens with basic rights. By championing the rural poor, the movement made sure to leave no one behind as the nation marches forward to greater economic prosperity and modernization.
Miyazaki Hayao (Japan)
A Japanese master filmmaker, creative genius, and co-founder of Studio Ghibli who uses animation to explore complex human issues, inspiring audiences with thought-provoking films that champion nature, peace, and humanity.
The RMAF board of trustees recognizes his lifelong commitment to the use of art, specifically animation, to illuminate the human condition, especially lauding his devotion to children as the torchbearers of the imagination, to whom he has passed the light and spark of his own.
