Asia’s Nobel Prize-Ramon Magsaysay Awards cancelled

A Manila, Philippines based foundation that gives out Ramon Magsaysay Award announced that the awards are being cancelled due to COVID-19.

Highlights

The Ramon Magsaysay Award has been cancelled thrice in 6 decades. The awards were cancelled for the first time in 1970 due to financial crisis. It was cancelled again in 1990 due to disastrous earthquake. The award has been named after a popular Philippine president that died in a plane crash in 1957.

About the Award

The award is considered as the Nobel Prize of Asia. It was established in 1957. The Award recognizes and honours individuals that have achieved distinction in their field and help others generously.

The Award has been given in five categories namely journalism, government service, public service, literature and creative communication

Ramon Magsaysay

Magsaysay became the president of Philippines in 1953. The administration years of Magsaysay are cited as Golden Years of Philippines. He was well known for his generosity and agrarian reforms.