The 1992 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service

RESPONSE of Chamlong Srimuang
Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
31 August 1992 Manila, Philippines

It is indeed a great honor for me to be selected and invited to receive the Magsaysay Award today.

President Magsaysay was a very a courageous person who worked with great honesty and devotion for the Philippines all his life. This foundation has established this award in the name of this great president of the Philippines not only to honor him but to remind everyone of his magnificent performance as a public servant. This award inspires great determination and willpower among professionals to follow in his footsteps, and work with honesty and devotion toward the growth and development of the nations in this region. So I am deeply pleased to have succeeded in his ideal of working for one’s country with great dedication.

I never expected to become a reputable politician or to pursue popularity and fame. I work with the sense of responsibility of an ordinary man being a member of the community who serves the public in order to create a better society.

My success in performing my duties and responsibilities as the governor of Bangkok derives from the remarkable cooperation of the officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the citizens of Bangkok Metropolis. They deserve all the credit for this award. No development project can succeed without the cooperation of the public. The public must do its part from the beginning to the end of each project. I am just a part of the development process.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation board of trustees and everyone who had a hand in giving me this great honor. Once again, I confirm my determination to serve the public with great honesty and devotion in order to create a better society for the future.