19 August 2015 – Ambassador Ma. Teresita C. Daza welcomed the two Indian 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, Mr. Sanjiv Chaturvedi and Mr. Anshu Gupta in the Embassy recently.

Mr. Chaturvedi is being recognized for Emergent Leadership due to his exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in exposing and investigating corruption in public office as well as crafting improvements to the system to ensure that the Government of India serves corruption-free.

Mr. Gupta was chosen for his creative vision in treating clothing as a basic need for the dignity of every human being and turning it into a sustainable development resource for the poor. Mr. Gupta commented that his organization has achieved various awards previously but the Ramon Magsaysay Award has “one of the most beautiful processes of choosing someone.”

Ambassador Daza commented that Mr. Chaturvedi’s goals were in line with the Aquino Administration’s “daang matuwid.” When asked on whether he was afraid of making too many enemies, Mr. Chaturvedi explained, “Indian democracy is still very robust. The judiciary is supportive of honest officers. If one is on the path of truth, then a divine power takes care of you.”

They are the latest in the list of 53 Indian nationals who have received the Ramon Magsaysay Award since its inception in 1957.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, celebrates greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. In the past five decades, the award has been bestowed to over three hundred outstanding men, women and organizations whose selfless service has offered their societies, Asia, and the world successful solutions to some of the most intractable problems of human development.

The 2015 Awards will be formally presented in Manila, Philippines on August 31st, the birth anniversary of the late President Ramon Magsaysay.