Ramon Magsaysay Awardees in Japan Honored at Reunion Marking Philippines-Japan 70th Anniversary

Ramon Magsaysay Awardees in Japan Honored at Reunion Marking Philippines-Japan 70th Anniversary

Posted on 09 Oct 2026 • Categorized as 70 Years of PH-JP Friendship,News

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (5th from left) and RMAF President Susan Afan (4th from left), together with the Ramon Magsaysay Award laureates and their representatives from Japan during the Magsaysay Laureates Reunion at the International House of Japan (IHJ).

TOKYO, 09 October 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) co-organized the Magsaysay Laureates Reunion on 07 October 2026 at the International House of Japan (IHJ) in Tokyo, to honor the legacy and selfless service of the 28 distinguished Ramon Magsaysay Award recipients from Japan, together with their families and representatives.

With the theme “Celebrating the Greatness of Spirit”, the reunion coincided with the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Japan and paid tribute to Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay for his pivotal role in forging the path to reconciliation between the two countries. His administration witnessed the ratification of the Philippines-Japan Reparations Agreement in July 1956.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano delivers her opening remarks.

“Seventy years later, our countries enjoy a friendship that President Magsaysay could perhaps only have imagined. It is especially meaningful that we are here in Tokyo, in his name, to honor Japanese individuals and organizations whose efforts have improved lives, strengthened communities, and committed themselves to noble causes greater than themselves,” Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano said in her opening remarks.

The reunion showcased the laureates’ lasting contributions to communities across Asia through a panel exhibit unveiled in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony at the IHJ’s Iwasaki Koyata Memorial Hall. The exhibit introduced new generations and stakeholders to the spirit of the Award, its strong and longstanding connection with Japan, and RMAF’s advocacies on transformative leadership and youth empowerment.

(L-R) Dr. Tadashi Hattori, 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee; Mr. James Kondo, IHJ Chairman and RMAF Trustee; Ambassador Garcia-Albano; Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) representing the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, 2016 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee; and Ms. Susan Afan, RMAF President, during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the exhibit featuring the Ramon Magsaysay Award laureates from Japan.

“Today reminds us that the [Ramon Magsaysay] Award recognizes a moment in a person’s journey, but its meaning continues long afterward. It brings us into a fellowship across countries, generations, and fields, united by a belief that courage and compassion can change lives. That is what we mean by Greatness of Spirit – it lives in the willingness to serve, the courage to face difficult circumstances, the persistence to keep going, and the humility to build solutions alongside communities” Ms. Afan said in her message.

RMAF President Afan delivers her message.

The event was made possible through the generous support of IHJ Chair and RMAF Trustee, Mr. James KONDO. The IHJ was established by Mr. Shigeharu MATSUMOTO, who received the Award in 1980 for his efforts in fostering goodwill between Japan and the international community in the postwar era through cultural and people-to-people ties.

“The Magsaysay Award does more than simply honor the achievements of the individuals and organizations that receive it. I believe there is great value in the award recipients learning from, supporting, and encouraging one another as they cultivate a circle of friends that will continue across generations,” Mr. Kondo remarked while welcoming the guests to the IHJ and its serene traditional gardens.

IHJ Chairman and RMAF Trustee Kondo welcomes the guests of the reunion.

The Japan-based recipients of the Award include notable figures and institutions in Japanese history and society, such as UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako OGATA, suffragist and politician Fusaye ICHIKAWA, animator and Studio Ghibli founder Hayao MIYAZAKI, and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV).

“The theme of the Philippines-Japan anniversary, ‘Weaving the Future Together,” reflects the very philosophy that has guided our volunteer program for the past sixty years. We hope to carry forward the trust that has been built over generations and further strengthen the positive cycle linking Japan and the world, as well as the Philippines and Japan,” President Tanaka said in his message on behalf of the Japan-based laureates present in the reunion.

JICA President Tanaka delivers his response on behalf of the laureates in Japan.

The reunion also featured a panel discussion among awardees and representatives who reflected on the contexts and motivations that shaped their advocacies, as well as how receiving the Award deepened their sense of responsibility to their communities and beyond. The panel was composed of 2022 Awardee Dr. Tadashi HATTORI, Professor Kenichi KUBOTA on behalf of JOCV, and Peshawar Association Chairman Yuichi HARA representing 2003 Awardee Tetsu NAKAMURA. Ms. Aiko DODEN, Executive Vice President of the Japan Foundation, moderated the insightful panel.

“Learning from past failures and currently teaching young doctors, I always teach them to ask for help during difficult times. I observed that young doctors tend to avoid asking for aid, but they grow quickly in their profession when they learn how,” Dr. Hattori said, reflecting on his advocacy of extending compassion to patients through eye treatments.

(L-R) Ms. Aiko Doden, Peshawar Association Chairman Yuichi Hara, Professor Kenichi Kubota, and Dr. Tadashi Hattori during the panel discussion.

Partners from the Japanese government and civil society, members of the diplomatic corps, Embassy officials, and media representatives also attended the event.

In addition to the laureates reunion, RMAF organized a Youth Forum entitled “Youth, Japan, and the World: Advancing International Exchange and Cooperation” in partnership with Sophia University and with the support of the Embassy on 06 October 2026.

During its visit to Japan, the RMAF delegation reconnected with laureates and their institutions through immersive visits to appreciate their current programs and initiatives, including the Ghibli Museum and the Ichikawa Fusae Center for Women and Governance.