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Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2026
Singaporean lawyer and diplomat Tommy Koh, Myanmar activist Bo Kyi, and Bangladeshi social worker Runa Khan have been named winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2025. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is in the news due to the announcement of this year’s awardees.
Key Facts of Ramon Magsaysay Award:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Description | It is Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, celebrates greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. |
| First given | It is first given in 1958. |
| Named after | It is named after former Philippine president Ramon Magsaysay. |
| Ceremony | It is presented in formal ceremonies in Manila, Philippines, on August 31. |
| Selection authority | The awardees are annually selected by the RMAF board of trustees. |
| Award components | The winners are presented with a certificate and a medallion. |
| Medallion design | The medallion comprises an embossed image of Ramon Magsaysay facing right in profile. |
| Award categories (1958-2008) | From 1958 to 2008, the award is given in 6 categories annually: Government Service; Public Service; Community Leadership; Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts; Peace and International Understanding; Emergent Leadership. |
| Emergent Leadership category: eligibility | Emergent Leadership recognises an individual, 40 years of age or younger, for outstanding work on issues of social change in his or her community. |
| Emergent Leadership category: status and support | The category of Emergent Leadership is inaugurated in 2000 and is supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation. |
| Fixed categories status from 2009 | Starting in 2009, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is no longer being given in fixed award categories, except for Emergent Leadership. |