Ramon Magsaysay Awardees 2022

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prize, and highest honor celebrates the greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. The Ramon Magsaysay Awardees 2022 are:

Chhim, Sotheara(Cambodia)

A Cambodian psychiatrist and mental health advocate who has been healing his countrymen's unique trauma, baksbat.

In electing SOTHEARA CHHIM to receive the 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his calm courage in surmounting deep trauma to become his people’s healer; his transformative work amidst great need and seemingly insurmountable difficulties, and for showing that daily devotion to the best of one’s profession can itself be a form of greatness.

Hattori, Tadashi(Japan)

A Japanese ophthalmologist and humanitarian who has committed his time and resources in providing free eye surgeries in Vietnam.

In electing TADASHI HATTORI to receive the 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his simple humanity and extraordinary generosity as a person and a professional; his skill and compassion in restoring the gift of sight to tens of thousands of people not his own; and the inspiration he has given, by his shining example, that one person can make a difference in helping kindness flourish in the world.

Madrid, Bernadette J.(Philippines)

A Filipino pediatrician who has been championing the Filipino child’s right to protection by creating safe spaces for abused children nationwide.

In electing BERNADATTE J. MADRID to receive the 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes her unassuming and steadfast commitment to noble and demanding advocacy; her leadership in running a multisectoral, multidisciplinary effort in child protection that is admired in Asia; and her competence and compassion in devoting herself to seeing that every abused child lives in a healing, safe, and nurturing society.

Bencheghib, Gary(Indonesia)

A young Frenchman who is on a mission of eradicating marine plastic pollution in Bali, Indonesia one river at a time.

In electing GARY BENCHEGHIB to receive the 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership, the board of trustees recognizes his inspiring fight against marine plastic pollution, an issue at once intensely local as well as global; his youthful energies in combining nature, adventure, video, and technology as weapons for social advocacy; and his creative, risk-taking passion that is truly a shining example for the youth and the world.