Excellencies, Trustees, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great honor for me to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award. To receive the Award is also a source of pride to those who share my work in Public Service.

Also I would like to take this opportunity to join all the people of the Philippines to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, your great leader. His spirit will continue to be an inspiration to all of us.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award has been recognized by the world community. The Foundation's commitment to public service and underprivileged peoples has proven to be a good example for the contemporary and the next generations.

It is my belief that to help people in need, particularly those underprivileged people and children in poor neighborhoods and rural areas, is everyone's responsibility as human beings. To support the rural people by operating businesses together with them through their Community Organizations makes good sense for both humanitarian and business considerations. It is hoped that such cooperation will be beneficial to both business and rural communities. While business flourishes, rural communities also develop and prosper.

Business operations should not simply be "business for business' sake". The business community should also strive to promote the togetherness of family members—children and parents, husbands and wives, young and elderly people—and to provide opportunities for underprivileged people in rural areas to increase their income in a better environment. It should also work to advance social justice. Indeed, if all of us truly devoted ourselves to helping each other, it is certain that the underprivileged and weaker members of society, especially children, will be provided for. This is what we are striving for in creating a strong civil society .

I would like to express my gratitude and sincere thanks to those who have been supportive of my work and all the people of the Philippines, especially members of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation for their warm hospitality.