Ramon Magsaysay awardees for 2018 lauded for ‘quiet bravery’

On it’s 60th year of spreading the good news of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation (RMF) officially conferred what is known as the “Nobel Prize” of the region to six heroes of hope.

Youk Chhang (Cambodia), Maria De Lourdes Martins Cruz (Timor Leste), Bharat Vatwani (India), Vo Thi Huang Yen (Vietnam), Sonam Wangchuk (India), and Howard Dee of the Philippines each received the award from RMF Board of Trustees director Senen Bacani and Vice President Leni Robredo.

In her brief speech, Robredo commended the typically unsung heroes like Howard Dee, who she said helped feed over a million children through the “Hapag-asa” project.

Robredo lauded the six awardees for their “quiet bravery” in the face of crisis, man-made or otherwise.

“You are proof that quiet bravery is the most potent kind of strength,” Robredo said.

“Quiet courage and empathy and leaders [who] put in the hardwork of actually transforming the lives of people are rarities in these times when dictatorship is claimed by some to be better," she added.

Robredo’s husband Jesse received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2000.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday claimed that Butch Robredo, brother to Jesse, turned Naga into a hot spot for drug dealers.

Duterte has repeatedly questioned Robredo's competence as his constitutional successor.

Robredo has Duterte's remarks as rehashed rants meant to deflect the public's attention from the alleged failures of the administration. —NB, GMA News