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Robredo celebrates hope, warns of change for the worse at Ramon Magsaysay Awards
Introduced as the "duly elected and truly honorable" Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo delivered a message championing hope and empathy at the 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies on Thursday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Robredo noted that the grave threats of violence in diverse forms and the worsening problem of social inequality have made the rise of populism and demagoguery possible, with forces at work declaring "democracy has failed mankind."
"Perhaps it is time for change, they say," Robredo said. "And so populism, protectionism, and nationalism started to gain support. But are we willing to give up our principles because of this?"
"Are we really willing to throw out freedom and rights for change that goes against old values of empathy and collaboration?" she added.
In the current political climate, Robredo said, the work of the six Ramon Magsaysay awardees have taken on a different meaning.
"The job of keeping darkness at bay continues. Our world today has great need of you," the Vice President said. "What I find most admirable [in the awardees] is how they show respect for human dignity and faith in the power of collective endeavor."
The work of the awardees highlight the fact that we are all connected, Robredo continued. "What we do will have an impact on others, whether we like it or not. We must accept the fact that we cannot move forward without taking care of each other."
"Progress that leaves people behind is not real progress."
Robredo drew inspiration from the awardees' determination amidst great adversity and reflected on the same thoughtful, transformative leadership that the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation recognized in her husband.
Robredo's late husband Jesse received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2000.
Robredo asserted what she learned from him as well as her work as a human rights lawyer: "Empathy matters and it works."
"I know that despite all of the challenges we face, we will not give up. We will make the impossible possible," the Vice President continued. "I believe that hatred and divisiveness will not be the ethos of our time. Empathy and transformative leadership will yet win the day."
"It is not yet too late, as along as there are RM awardees, inspiring the world with their selfless acts of service," she said.
The 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awards were given to Yoshiaki Ishizawa of Japan, for his work in restoring the cultural heritage of the Cambodian people; Lilia de Lima of the Philippines, for her work at PEZA and her commitment to good governance; Abdon Nababan of Indonesia, for championing the rights of Indigenous Peoples; the Philippine Educational Theater Association of the Philippines, for their use of the theater arts for social change; Gethsie Shanmugan of Sri Lanka, for the invaluable support she provided for the victims of war in her country; and Tony Tay of Singapore, for his simple act of providing hot meals to those who need it most. — BM, GMA News
