A Filipino lawyer led six recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards, conferred Monday in time for the 102nd birth anniversary of the Philippines’ third president, who is said to have embodied greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia.

Filipino lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr., Thai scientist Krisana Kraisintu, Indian social worker Deep Joshi, Chinese watershed expert Yu Xiaogang, Burmese human rights advocate Ka Hsaw Wa, and Chinese potable water activist Ma Jun were conferred the Magsaysay Award, considered as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in an afternoon ceremony at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Like their 271 predecessors, each of the six awardees received a certificate, a cash prize, and a medallion featuring the face of the late President Magsaysay in recognition of their contribution to remarkable change and achievement in areas as diverse as rural and urban development, poverty alleviation, public health, the environment, governance, education, business, human rights, culture, and the arts.

They were chosen by the Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF), composed of its chairman, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala from the Ayala Corporation; vice chairman, Emily Abrera from the McCann-Erickson Philippines; president, Carmencita Abella from the Peace and Equity Foundation; treasurer, Emmanuel de Dios from the University of the Philippines; and members, UP Prof. Cynthia Rose Bautista, journalist Cecilia Lazaro, economist Federico Macaranas, agrarian activist Christian Monsod, and fundraiser Marianne Quebral.

“The Magsaysay awardees of 2009 are true Asian heroes, putting their advanced knowledge and skills at the service of critical needs of their people. They are addressing major issues affecting the growth and preservation of their respective societies. They are each using calibrated strategies to craft lasting solutions to problems besetting their people,” Abrera.

Abrera also described as a victory of worldwide environmental advocacy the inclusion of four environment activists in this year’s roster.

“These six awardees share a greatness of spirit which infuses their leadership for change. They all build collaboration and seek consensus wherever possible. They all refuse to give up, despite adversity and opposition. Four of them share a passionate concern for the environment, which the Foundation wishes to give special attention to at this time,” she added, referring to the global problem of climate change.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award was created and named after President Magsaysay, who died in a plane crash on March 17, 1957. With the concurrence of the Philippine government, the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) established the Award to honor his memory and perpetuate his example of integrity in public service and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

The RMAF was first organized in May 1957, with a generous endowment from the RBF and has since implemented the Magsaysay Award program, pursuing the mission of “honoring greatness of spirit in selfless service to the peoples of Asia.”

The first set of Ramon Magsaysay Awards was given on Aug. 31, 1958.

In conferring the awards, Chief Justice Reynato Puno described the Ramon Magsaysay laureates as path-breakers who pursued genuine public service despite the scarcity of support aggravated by blunt opposition.

"All of our awardees are privileged with pedigreed education, abundant blessing and talents who could have chosen a life of comfort. Instead they chose to use their blessings to bless others. They offered their time, talent and treasure to lift others even if it meant lowering themselves. To be sure, they must have endured the cost that greets those who take the road less taken," he said.

Puno likewise said the awardees' conviction, selflessness, science, commitment, sustainability and faith remind Asia that "only with a firm belief in the impossible can success be possible."

"We thank our awardees for setting the precedence for others to follow and serving as inspiration for us to be reminded that it is our moral obligation to make our society just and good," he added.

Aside from the RMAF trustees, the VIPs seen at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo included former President Fidel V. Ramos, Senator Manuel Villar, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, and members of the family of the late former President Magsaysay.