Rappler Talk: Ramon Magsaysay Awardee on healing the wounds of war

MANILA, Philippines – MovePH editor Voltaire Tupaz talks to Gethsie Shanmugam, one of the awardees of the prestigious 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awards, on Wednesday night, August 30. 

Shanmugam, a counselor and teacher, trained hundreds of psychosocial practitioners and thousands of teachers, building the capacity of Sri Lanka’s psychosocial sector. She is recognized for “her compassion and courage in working under extreme conditions to rebuild war-scarred lives.”

The rest of the 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees are:

Lilia de Lima (Philippines) is the former Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director. She was recognized by the foundation for her “unstinting sustained leadership in building a credible and efficient PEZA, proving that the honest, competent, and dedicated work of public servants can, indeed, redound to real economic benefits to millions of Filipinos.”

Philippine Educational Theater Association (Philippines) is cited for its “bold, collective contributions in shaping theater arts as a force for social change.”

Yoshiaki Ishizawa (Japan) is a Japanese scholar who devoted 50 years of his life to help assure that Angkor Wat survives and remains a living monument for Cambodians. He is recognized for “his inspiring leadership in empowering Cambodians to be proud stewards of their heritage.”

Abdon Nababan (Indonesia) is acknowledged as the single most important person in Indonesia’s indigenous people movement. He is recognized for “his brave self-sacrificing advocacy to give voice and face to his country’s IP communities.”

Tony Tay (Singapore) organized “Willing Hearts,” a fully volunteer-based, non-profit organization that operates 365 days a year, distributing hot, packed meals daily to the needy. He is recognized for “his quiet, abiding dedication to a simple act of kindness – sharing food with others.”

The awarding ceremony for the 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awards will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on August 31, the birth anniversary of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.

Created in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to people who address issues of human development in Asia “with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions that have transformed their societies for the better.” –Rappler.com