The 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts

CITATION for Radio Veritas

Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
Manila, Philippines

History does not teach fatalism. It teaches that there are moments when the will and work of a handful of free men and women can break through and shape a new society. Between 1983 and 1986 those in charge of RADIO VERITAS played a key role in mobilizing the people's power for a remarkably peaceful transition in authority. This performance encourages the Foundation to recognize a collective effort in a category normally restricted to individuals.

The Philippines is heir to the great tradition of freedom of the press and airwaves. Although frequently abused, this freedom remains the ultimate guardian of human liberty. During both Japan's military occupation in World War II and the harsh era of President Ferdinand Marcos' authoritarianism, expectations of free expression shaped the actions of writers and their audiences. Many suffered for this, either through incarceration or self-chosen banishment. Some merely endured with frustration or anger.

The beginnings of RADIO VERITAS were not auspicious. Other religious groups were active in broadcasting when in 1962 the University of Santo Tomas—with the approval of the Philippine Congress—transferred its license and equipment to the Philippine Radio Educational and Information Center, under the chairmanship of Rufino Cardinal Santos, to establish a Catholic Asian broadcasting system. The Federal Republic of Germany provided for three-fourths of the initial cost (shortwave equipment and installation) and later gave additional assistance, as did Australian bishops and others. Customs delays, loss of equipment and materials enroute, and bad weather slowed construction, but RADIO VERITAS was finally inaugurated in 1969. It pledged to broadcast "everything true, noble, good and pure or worthy of praise."

In 1973 its overseas shortwave transmitters broke down and were offlcially closed. The previous year martial law had been declared in the Philippines, which inhibited free expression by the media.

There was a new beginning for RADIO VERITAS in 1974-75 under the leadership of then archbishop and now cardinal, Jaime Sin. He was financed by the German Catholic Social Aid Fund and the Pontifical Society for Propagation of the Faith and by a large number of Asian and Philippine bishops. By 1979 the overseas sector was broadcasting in six languages and receiving 45,000 letters annually from listeners. Today it broadcasts in 14 languages. RADIO VER11AS in the Philippines, however, continued to struggle with programming and budgetary constraints.

It was the coverage of the assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino—when he was landing at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983-that made the reputation of RADIO VERITAS. Listeners to the station, which was broadcasting live from the airport, heard the immediate news of the shooting of Aquino on the ramp, and listened to an on-the-scene interview with his brother-in-law, an experienced broadcaster, who had been accompanying him. VER1TAS continued to report on the public revulsion that grew over the ensuing days and years. Other radio and television stations, for the most part controlled by the administration or presidential "cronies," failed or feared to match this bold candor.

Coverage by RADIO VERITAS during and after the presidential election on February 7,1986, provided much of the public exposure which enabled the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections to challenge the tabulations of the government's Commission on Elections. It also aroused the anger of Filipinos who learned how they were being cheated of their franchise. Most of the other media outlets remained captive of the administration.

As the drama of the people's revolt unfolded over the next 18 days, it was RADIO VERlTAS, with its dedicated editorial staff, broadcasters and technicians, which kept the public informed. It motivated the hundreds of thousands of citizens who marched the streets and blocked the movement of army tanks. After its powerful transmitters were wrecked, it used a backup facility to relay the message "that the people would triumph." And so they did.

In electing RADIO VER1TAS to receive the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts, the Board of Trustees recognizes its crucial role in using truth to depose an oppressive and corrupt regime and restore Filipino faith in the electoral process.