The 1983 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service

RESPONSE of Su Nan-cheng
Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
31 August 1983 Manila, Philippines

As a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, I consider August 31, 1983 the most precious and memorable day in my life.

The Magsaysay Award, internationally renowned and hailed as the Nobel Prize of Asia, is a distinctive honor. On this auspicious occasion, therefore, I would like to thank the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, my parents, and the 620,000 residents of Tainan City, who have directly or indirectly made this memorable event happen. I would also like to express my gratitude to His Excellency, Chiang Ching-kuo, President of the Republic of China, who vigorously supports the doctrines of democracy. Public elections held for mayorship have given me the opportunity twice to serve the residents of Tainan and thus receive recognition by the Magsaysay Foundation.

The Magsaysay Award, however, is not merely an honor, but also a charge. I pledge that I will do my best to deserve the honor you have given me and I can assure you that it will be both an encouragement and moral support in my future public service. I will endeavor to serve my very best, with honesty, enthusiasm and courage, in the cause of justice and freedom.

I would like once again to thank President Chiang who visited my office in Tainan upon learning of the achievements of my Prompt Service Center. He presented me with a figure of a smiling Buddha inscribed with Chinese characters meaning literally: "always with a smile, welcome everyone with an open mind." This has not only become my motto and guide, but also that of my colleagues. In Tainan City Hall you will be met by smiling faces and served with devotion and sincerity.

I was born in a poor family, a son of a sidewalk vendor. Though poor, surrounded with obstacles, I lived with my head up and strove with only one solid ambition, to serve the public unselfishly and devotedly. Since my assumption of public office—ten years as city councilor and two terms as city mayor—I have abided by the old Chinese virtues and traditions and by the sacrificial spirit of Christianity, to serve my country and my countrymen.

Today, millions and millions of my compatriots behind the "bamboo curtain" long for freedom and dream of democracy. This had made me realize more and more the value of freedom. So I have decided to donate the Award stipend, totaling US$20,000, to the six Chinese freedom fighters who recently fled from Mainland China to seek freedom but were detained in South Korea. We have the same blood and are descendants of one ancestry. I have asked our embassy in Seoul to set up a special bank account for them, and use this money to engage the best lawyers until they are set free.

I am very happy to come back to this beautiful country, the Philippines. Before I conclude, therefore, I would like to express my utmost appreciation to the Trustees of the Magsaysay Foundation who gave me the honor, and I would like to share this honor with Tainan's four Philippine sister cities: Cavite, Tagaytay, Trece Martires and Pasay.

Mabuhay to the Republic of the Philippines and more productive years to the Magsaysay Foundation! Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat (Thank you very much everyone).