Features
IIRR attends the 2010 Ramon Magsaysay presentation ceremonies
“Symbols of human high ideals”, this is how President Benigno S. Aquino III described the 2010 Magsaysay Awardees during the presentation ceremonies in CCP Manila last August 31. As previous recipient of the prestigious honor giving body, IIRR was invited to grace the occasion. Dr. James Yen and IIRR were both awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding in 1960 and 1986 respectively.
Awardees this year include two Filipinos who crafted a revolutionary way of teaching science and non-science subjects through student-driven activities, well designed lesson plans and performance tracking tools in a small, struggling high school in a remote province in the Philippines. Three gentlemen from China focused their work in environmental protection through supporting environmental friendly policies for China, setting up environmental standards for industries at the local level, and campaigning for the conservation of a “dying river”. In Japan, a Mayor initiating a global campaign against the perils of nuclear proliferation having seen his city experienced the terrifying consequence of nuclear power. And a development professional from Bangladesh addressing disability as a community concern through building community capacities to serve the needs of their disabled members.
These selfless and unrelenting modern heroes serve as an inspiration and symbols of ideals especially for the staff of IIRR who chose to follow the road Dr. Yen has set.
