A lawyer-diplomat in Singapore, a founder of a grassroots development organization in Bangladesh, and a former political prisoner in Myanmar are the recipients of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely regarded as Asia’s premier prize and highest honor.
The announcement made on Aug. 31 by the board of trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) marks the beginning of the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season, which the foundation called “a continuing celebration of greatness of spirit and selfless service that transform Asia and inspire the world.”
This year’s theme is “A World for All.”
Here are the 2026 awardees:
• Tommy Koh of Singapore, who is being recognized for “his exemplary leadership in international diplomacy and in the formation of a new generation of advocates devoted to the advancement of justice and human dignity the world over,” the RMAF said.
Koh, a law professor at the National University of Singapore, played a significant role in the adoption in 1982 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or Unclos, on which the Philippines bases its legal claim of sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“Through his steadfast faith in dialogue, the rule of law, and international cooperation, he has helped make peaceful coexistence possible in a world of unequal power,” the RMAF said.
• Runa Khan of Bangladesh, who is being recognized for “her profound empathy for the poorest of the poor in her country, and her courage, vision, and tenacity in building and leading [the organization] Friendship to accomplish her mission.”
As founder of Friendship, Khan led efforts in promoting education, health care, livelihoods and disaster preparedness in the poorest areas of Bangladesh. “In her hands, privilege became not an entitlement, but a responsibility; not a family legacy to protect, but a gift to be shared so that others, too, might have the chance to live with hope, opportunity, and dignity,” the RMAF said.
• Bo Kyi of Myanmar, who is being recognized for “his life’s work as a steadfast pursuit of truth, accountability, and justice.” A former political prisoner, Kyi is the cofounder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners that, as its name indicates, provides support to those arrested as well as their families.
“His enduring commitment reflects extraordinary moral courage, personal sacrifice, and an unwavering belief that democracy and human dignity are always worth defending—and that even in the face of oppression, the truth must be told, justice must be pursued, and the freedom to believe must be upheld and defended at all costs,” the RMAF said.
In a statement, RMAF chair Edgar O. Chua said that for 68 years, the Ramon Magsaysay Award named after the late revered Philippine president “has celebrated transformative leaders who have become enduring builders of a better future for Asia and the world.”
“Each generation of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees has shown us that integrity, courage, and compassion can shape societies for the better. This year’s recipients stand firmly by that proud tradition. Through their examples, we see that the leadership values embodied by President Ramon Magsaysay remain as urgent and vital today as ever, especially in a world where the need for principled action and moral clarity has never been greater,” Chua said.
First given in 1958, the award has been conferred on 331 individuals and 28 organizations from 24 countries and territories in Asia. The awardees each receive a medallion bearing Magsaysay’s likeness, a certificate inscribed with their citation, and a cash prize.
RMAF president Susanna B. Afan remarked: “At a time when the world continues to confront uncertainty, division, and increasingly complex challenges, this year’s theme, ‘A World for All,’ invites us to reflect on the kind of world we want to build together. The lives and work of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, remind us that the choices we make and the work we do can reach far beyond our own lives and communities. Their stories show us that while our experiences may be different, we share the same world and the responsibility for the future we leave behind. ‘A World for All’ begins with the belief that no person’s circumstances should determine the limits of their life or deny them the chance to live with hope, happiness, and dignity.”
The 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season culminates with the Festival Week in November, featuring public lectures by the awardees and concluding with the awards presentation ceremony on Nov. 15 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.—CONTRIBUTED
