Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Three leaders whose work has advanced international diplomacy, climate resilience, education and human rights have been named recipients of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely regarded as Asia&#x27;s highest honor and often described as the region&#x27;s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.</p><p>The Ramon Magsaysay Foundation announced this year&#x27;s laureates during a hybrid ceremony on Monday; Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh, Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan, and Myanmar human rights advocate Bo Kyi.</p><p>The annual award recognizes individuals and organizations across Asia whose leadership, integrity, and service have brought lasting and transformative change to their communities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/31/filipino-priest-maldivian-conservationist-indian-ngo-named-2025-ramon-magsaysay-awardees-1458">Filipino priest, Maldivian conservationist, Indian NGO named 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees</a></div><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Ramon Magsaysay Foundation president Susan Afan said this year&#x27;s awardees embody a &quot;greatness of spirit&quot; by responding to some of society&#x27;s most pressing challenges with compassion, courage, and unwavering commitment.</p><p>&quot;But what strings them all together is that moral compass to keep fighting, not just for yourself, but for the good of others,&quot; Afan said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE AWARDEES</strong></div><p>For more than five decades, Koh has been one of Singapore&#x27;s most respected diplomats and international legal experts. A professor at the National University of Singapore, he has represented the city-state in major international negotiations and served in key leadership roles in multilateral organizations.</p><p>Among his most enduring contributions was presiding over negotiations during the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), helping broker an agreement that continues to serve as the legal framework governing the world&#x27;s oceans.</p><p>In a statement, Koh said he was &quot;humbled and happy&quot; to receive what many regard as Asia&#x27;s Nobel Prize.</p><p>Bangladesh&#x27;s Runa Khan is being recognized for transforming the lives of some of her country&#x27;s most marginalized communities. After years of working with char dwellers—families living on temporary islands and sandbars formed by the shifting Brahmaputra River—she realized that conventional government services rarely reached them.</p><p>She responded by launching a floating hospital and eventually establishing Friendship Bangladesh, an organization that now delivers healthcare, education, climate adaptation programs, women&#x27;s empowerment initiatives, livelihood opportunities, and legal assistance to isolated communities vulnerable to poverty and climate change.</p><p>&quot;I receive this award on behalf of the unaddressed communities, my Friendship family and all those who have walked beside me on this journey for 25 long years with just faith,&quot; Khan said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Myanmar&#x27;s Bo Kyi has spent decades documenting human rights abuses and advocating for political prisoners.</p><p>A former political prisoner himself, he co-founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in 2000. Since then, the organization has documented arrests, torture, and other abuses while providing assistance to detainees and their families amid Myanmar&#x27;s prolonged political crises.</p><p>&quot;I dedicate this award to the Burmese people fighting injustice, especially political prisoners who continue to stand strong with their brothers. We will continue to work together in solidarity in seeking release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi,&quot; Kyi said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOLUTIONS IN OUR OWN AREAS</strong></div><p>Afan said honoring the three laureates comes at a time when many people feel overwhelmed by global conflicts, inequality, and climate-related crises. Their stories, she said, show that meaningful change often begins with individuals addressing problems within their own communities.</p><p>&quot;We have to find the solutions in our own areas, because sometimes it gets too big. It&#x27;s not attainable when you start thinking, &#x27;Kaya kong bigyan ng solusyon lahat ng problema ng Pilipinas.&#x27; Hindi naman natin kaya &#x27;yon. Or all the problems in Asia. But what we try and do is we just say, &#x27;What can I do in my own space?&#x27;&quot; she said.</p><p>Established in 1957 in honor of the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, the Ramon Magsaysay Award celebrates individuals and organizations across Asia whose integrity, courage, and selfless service have inspired positive social change. </p><p>Since its inception, the foundation has honored more than 300 laureates whose work spans government service, public service, community leadership, journalism, literature, creative communication, peace, international understanding, and emergent leadership.</p><p>The Philippines has produced 66 Ramon Magsaysay laureates, including national artists, public servants, human rights defenders and educators whose work has left a lasting impact both nationally and across the region.</p><p>This year&#x27;s laureates will participate in public lectures and dialogues before formally receiving their award during the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies in November.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Edz2hICXjw4?si=p6s45L0z90rjN6Qj" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Ramon Magsaysay Foundation announced this year's laureates during a hybrid ceremony on Monday; Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh, Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan, and Myanmar human rights advocate Bo Kyi.</p>

The Ramon Magsaysay Foundation announced this year's laureates during a hybrid ceremony on Monday; Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh, Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan, and Myanmar human rights advocate Bo Kyi.

Ramon Magsaysay Foundation names 3 laureates for 2026 Asia's premier prize

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Ramon Magsaysay Foundation names 3 laureates for 2026 Asia's premier prize

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 31, 2026 06:20 PM PHT

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Ramon Magsaysay Awards

Ramon Magsaysay Foundation

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