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GUSI PEACE PRIZE HONORS 2007 LAUREATES
Tet Andolong
Business Mirror
November 26, 2007
THE 2007 Gusi Peace Prize Awards, Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, were given to 15 eminent personalities from all over the world, including three Filipinos, in ceremonies held at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City on November 21.
The recipients were feted by Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro, who just flew in from the 13th Asean summit in Singapore, as well as Manuel L. Morato and Barry S. Gusi, president and chairman, respectively, of the Manila-based Gusi Peace Prize Foundation.
The awards were inspired by the chairman’s father, the late Captain Gemeniano Gusi, a World War II veteran- turned-politician, who became popular for his fight for human rights.
The Gusi Peace Prize Awards was established seven years ago by Barry S. Gusi, a renowned internationalist in his own right, to champion human rights and recognize individuals from all over the world who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields in addition to their outstanding commitment to humanitarianism, peace and democracy.
The awardees are chosen based on their contribution to goodwill, solidarity and respect for human rights. They are also renowned people from various fields such as medicine or physiology, journalism, humanities, scientific discoveries, politics, academe, performing arts, literature, physics, religion, education, internationalism, chemistry, economics, business, philanthropy and more.
This year’s Filipino laureates are former senator Heherson T. Alvarez for public service and environment; lawyer Persida V. Rueda-Acosta for social justice; and the chief of the Presidential Antigraft Commission (PAGC), Constancia de Guzman, for antigraft and corruption.
The foundation honored Alvarez for his visionary leadership and commitment to protecting the environment as well as his persistent, courageous struggle to restore Philippine democracy, modernizing its economy and advancing social justice.
Acosta, appointed chief public attorney of the Department of Justice in 2001, was cited for helping to bring about a just and humane society. Acosta received the woman of distinction award from Soroptimist International as well as the Highest Presidential Award for outstanding public service in 2004 and for heading free legal aid, access to the courts, justice and human rights.
De Guzman, who served in the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of National Defense, and is now PAGC chairman, had registered remarkable accomplishments while at the forefront of reform measures to improve the quality of governance and give the best public service.
The international laureates are Sen. Ney Robinson Suassuna of Brazil for political governance; Thomas Cheng Wai Yu of Hong Kong for sports; Dr. Shigeru Suganami, M.D., Ph.D. of Japan for medicine; Dr. Phet Phongternith of Thailand for education; American Peter M. Schantz, V.M.D., Ph.D. for veterinary medicine; Michalos Constantine of Greece for poverty alleviation and job creation; George Bistis of the USA for broadcast journalism; Vice President Elias Camsik Chin of Palau for humanitarian law; Dr. Farland H. Stanley of the USA for archeology; Mr. Yu Pang Lin of China for philanthropy; Dr. Tae Sup Lee of Korea for public governance and humanitarianism; and Lt. Gov. Elmo Johnson of the Federated States of Micronesia for poverty alleviation and indigenous rights.
During his speech, Vice President de Castro commended the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation for its conscious effort to recognize individuals from all nations who have excelled in the same endeavor. He acknowledged the organization for its service through medical missions, outreach programs and counseling to the underprivileged, particularly to the deprived, the abused, the humiliated and the sick.
“Our government is for peace and unity. We will not stop working until those guns and violence are shut down. We continue to have peace talks and we will put an end to the bloody strife in Mindanao. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the government have been working hand in hand and we have been alleviating poverty in the country. We will not stop until all Filipinos are in peace with the whole world. To the laureates tonight, may there be more people like you,” de Castro said.
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