The 1983 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service

RESPONSE of Fua Hariphitak
Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
31 August 1983 Manila, Philippines

I am an artist who is not very good at speaking and the Award is too overwhelming for me to express adequately my appreciation of the honor you have kindly bestowed upon me. It is in humility that I accept it.

When news of the Award reached the public in my country, I was glad to learn that most people were quite enthusiastic. I think the Award gave much encouragement to artists, especially those who wish to preserve national heritage as well as those who are determined to create something of great value for truth and beauty.

On an occasion like this I cannot help but think with gratitude of the great masters of the past, such as the Venerable Phra Acharn Nak who created a work so profound that I felt I must devote my life to studying his creation in order to understand it and conserve it for the younger generations.

I must also mention my indebtedness to those who taught me the art of painting and the technique of conserving mural paintings. I learned these valuable lessons in my own country, as well as in India and Italy. It is the late Professor C. Feroci (now known in Thailand as Silpa Bhirasri), an Italian by birth who lived as an Asian and died as a Thai, that I owe more than anyone else. Without his encouragement I would not have come this far. I wish to share this honor with all my predecessors and teachers, as well as my pupils and contemporaries, especially those who devote their lives to serve the arts rather than seek personal fame and wealth. Art longa vita brevis.

Last but not least, I wish to thank all trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation for being so generous in understanding our work as artists.