A Filipino priest and activist is among the recipients of the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s premier prize and highest honor.
The announcement was made at a global event on August 31, which also marked the opening of the 67th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season, a celebration of transformative leadership and greatness of spirit that continue to shape Asia and inspire the world.
Fr. Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva, SVD, from the Philippines, was honored for his lifelong mission of restoring dignity to the poor and oppressed, daily proving with unwavering faith that in serving “the least of their brethren, all are restored.” He joins awardees from India and the Maldives in this year’s roster of transformative leaders recognized by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF).
The other 2025 awardees are:
- Foundation to Educate Girls Globally (Educate Girls), India – cited for its tireless commitment to breaking cultural stereotypes by educating girls and young women, empowering them with literacy, skills, and confidence to reach their full human potential.
- Shaahina Ali, Maldives – recognized for her unwavering dedication to protecting the fragile marine ecosystem of her island nation. Her work, marked by passion, vision, and inclusivity, has mobilized a new generation of Maldivians to seek local solutions to global environmental challenges.
First presented in 1958, the Ramon Magsaysay Award celebrates the greatness of spirit of individuals and organizations across Asia whose selfless service uplifts lives, strengthens communities, and advances justice and human dignity.
“For sixty-seven years, the Ramon Magsaysay Award has celebrated transformative leaders who have become enduring beacons for Asia and the world,” said RMAF Chairperson Edgar O. Chua. “This year’s recipients stand firmly by that proud tradition. Their stories affirm that the leadership values embodied by President Ramon Magsaysay remain as urgent and as vital today, guiding us in a world where the need for principled action and moral clarity has never been greater.”
This year’s theme, “Illuminating Our Future,” highlights how the awardees’ contributions shine as beacons of hope and direction for building a more resilient and just society. RMAF President Susanna B. Afan noted that their lives and work not only address present-day challenges but also spark hope for generations to come.
The 67th Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies will be held on November 7, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila. Each awardee will receive a medallion bearing the likeness of President Ramon Magsaysay, a certificate of citation, and a cash prize.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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