The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced this year’s awardees in a global announcement ceremony. The 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees are Sotheara Chhim (Cambodia), Bernadette J. Madrid (Philippines), Tadashi Hattori (Japan), and Gary Bencheghib (Indonesia).

Cambodian Sotheara Chhim, a mental health advocate and leading voice in healing baksbat (broken courage), a trauma-based cultural syndrome in Cambodia, was recognized for “his calm courage in surmounting deep trauma to become his people’s healer.” As a child, he was forced to work in Khmer Rouge camps for more than three years until their rule ended in 1979.

Tadashi Hattori, a sight-saving humanitarian from Japan, was acknowledged for “his simple humanity and extraordinary generosity as a person and a professional.” He decided to become a doctor at age 15 when he witnessed the rude treatment that his cancer-stricken father received in a hospital.

Bernadette J. Madrid, a children’s rights crusader from the Philippines, was honored for “her unassuming and steadfast commitment to noble and demanding advocacy.” Since 1997, she has led the country’s first child protection center at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila. It has served more than 27,000 children as of 2021.

Frenchman Gary Bencheghib, an anti-plastic pollution warrior in Indonesia, was awarded for Emergent Leadership for “his inspiring fight against marine plastic pollution.”

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, established in 1957, is Asia’s premier prize and highest honor. Named after Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the Philippines, the award is regarded as ‘Asia’s Nobel Prize.’ Since 1958, the prize has been presented annually to new laureates at ceremonies on August 31 in Manila (Philippines).

Source: Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation