3 humanitarians named 2026 Magsaysay awardees

Recipients of Asia’s premier prize and highest honor were Runa Khan from Bangladesh, Tommy Koh from Singapore and Bo Kyi from Myanmar.

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — Three international humanitarians were recognized on Monday by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) for their contributions to nation building, education, health care and human rights.

Recipients of Asia’s premier prize and highest honor were Runa Khan from Bangladesh, Tommy Koh from Singapore and Bo Kyi from Myanmar.

“What is emulated in the three awardees and what brings them together is greatness of spirit. All these three awardees bring solutions to certain problems,” RMAF president Susan Afan said. “These people are chosen because of their inspirational stories.”

Khan, sole 2026 female awardee, was recognized for establishing Friendship, a nongovernmental organization that provides a three-tier health system from primary to specialist care in communities.

Through her leadership, Khan expanded Friendship’s capacity to serve communities affected by climate-related challenges with “movable schools for climate migrants” that can be dismantled in hours and rebuilt when erosion threatens areas.

Koh, a diplomat, was recognized for his “steadfast faith in dialogue, the rule of law and international cooperation.”

RMAF cited Koh’s role in the negotiations among 150 nations in the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1982, paving the way for the adoption of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Bo Kyi, a former political prisoner, was cited for his commitment to the “pursuit of truth, accountability and justice.”

Kyi was detained for seven years after Myanmar’s pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988.

He fled to the Thai border to evade rearrest and co-founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in 2000.

Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the organization has provided support and advocacy for victims of arbitrary arrest, political imprisonment and violence.

“I dedicate this award to the Burmese people fighting injustice, especially the political prisoners who continue to stand strong behind bars,” Kyi said in his acceptance speech.

“If we continue to work together in solidarity to secure the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, I believe we can build a Burma that brings peace, prosperity and stability to its people and the region,” he added.

The three new laureates join the long list of Ramon Magsaysay Awardees in its 68th year, bringing the total to 359.