Philippine E-Journals

REMARKS

Jesus Vargas

Discipline: History

 

Abstract:

Six years ago today before a distinguished audience of some 400 guests and under the chairmanship of the late Justice Pedro Tuason, the first Ramon Magsaysay Awardees were honored. This afternoon, we Trustees of the Award Foundation are privileged to welcome the sixth group of awardees, the representative of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and some one thousand guests. We regret that Dr. Helen Kim because of illness cannot be with us this afternoon.

Fifty-six years ago today Ramon Magsaysay was bom in a small town of Zambales, frail in health and in danger of dying young. But his breast was pronounced and he bore an overgrowth of skin on his head. And the old folks saw in these signs that, if he survived, he would be a great man. Simple in their beliefs they nevertheless made a true prophecy, for Ramon Magsaysay became a source of strength and confidence not only to his own people but to those everywhere who are sincerely concerned about the well-being of their fellow men.