“Greatness of Spirit” Event in New Delhi Pays Tribute to Indian Laureates of
Prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards
Indian Ramon Magsaysay Award laureates and kin of past laureates at the Greatness of Spirit program, with (Backrow) RMAF President Afan, Chair Lazaro, Amb. Ignacio, and other RMAF Trustees. (New Delhi PE photo)
NEW DELHI 27 September 2024 – A celebration of “greatness of spirit” as expressed through leadership and selfless service to the people took place in the Indian capital, as the Philippine Embassy and the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) paid tribute to the legacy of India’s Magsaysay Award laureates.
Dubbed “Celebrating Greatness of Spirit in Delhi”, the special program took place at the India Habitat Centre on 02 September and was attended by several Indian awardees and descendants of those who have since passed on.
Key attendees include Ambassadors, Diplomats, Development Sector Leaders, Filipinos in New Delhi, and representatives of media and civil society organizations. RMAF Trustees and officials, led by RMAF President Susan B. Afan and RMAF Chair Cecilia (Che-Che) Lazaro, flew in for the occasion.
The event commenced with the inauguration of the photo exhibit highlighting the values embodied by the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the work of 58 Indian laureates. Philippine Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio, RMAF Chair Lazaro and RMAF President Afan led the ribbon cutting ceremony. This was followed by the keynote remarks from the same three officials.
A key highlight of the program was the “fireside chat” discussion moderated by RMAF Trustee Mr. Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr with four Indian laureates - Shantha Sinha, a child rights activist,Ravi Kannan R., a surgical oncologist, Neelima Mishra a social worker, and Anshu Gupta, founder of NGO Goonj. The discussion shed light on their transformative work and how winning the Magsaysay Award would open further doors for their respective advocacies. Each laureate also received their commissioned official portraits by the Foundation, being the most recent additions to the Magsaysay pantheon.
The event also serves as a platform for the launch of the RMAF’s book series, “Greatness of Spirit: Stories of Love, Courage, and Service”, a seven-volume collection that features the stories of 300-plus Ramon Magsaysay Awardees since 1958. Then a reception preceded the event.
The Celebrating Greatness of Spirit in Delhi also coincides with the 66th anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, as well as the 75th year of Philippines-India Diplomatic Relations. PCG in Chennai and Kolkata, Honorary Consul Bhimsingh Narendran and Honorary Consul General Deepak Khemka, also extends their valuable support.
On the heels of the 02 September program, the Embassy and the Foundation also held a Youth Dialogue on 05 September, in partnership with the Ram Lal Anand College of Delhi University. Indian laureates Ms. Mileema Mishra and Harish Hande engaged students in illuminating, interactive exchanges of views on youth empowerment, academic excellence and leveraging new technologies to promote social inclusion, interconnectedness, understanding, and pluralism.
“Celebrating the legacy of President Ramon Magsaysay in Delhi and the work of Magsaysay laureates in India drives home the universality of the values of integrity and selfless service”, said Ambassador Ignacio. “It gratifies us that these shared values have committed champions in both our countries, a testament to the strong common fabric on which we build larger Philippine-India relations”.
The Greatness of Spirit photo exhibit has since been moved to the Philippine Embassy premises, where it shall be accessible to the public throughout September. END
Fireside chat with Indian Magsaysay laureates with MAF Trustee Mr. del Rosario moderating. (New Delhi PE photo)
Amb. Ignacio, RMAF Chair Lazaro and President Afan ribbon-cut and inaugurated the “Greatness of Spirit in Delhi” photo exhibit. (New Delhi PE photo)
Amb. Ignacio keynotes the Greatness of Spirit program, 02 September. (New Delhi PE photo)
Greatness of Spirit laureates and attendees. (New Delhi PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.newdelhipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/Philippine-Embassy-in-India-348528665275556/