A Filipino priest who helped the widows and orphans of the war on drugs and the poor find a place to live is one of the winners of the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award on Sunday.

In a statement, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation named Father Flaviano Antonio Villanueva as one of the three recipients of the awards.

"Father Flavie is being honored for his lifelong mission to uphold the dignity of the poor and the oppressed, daily proving with unwavering faith that by serving the least of their brethren, all are restored," said the foundation

In a statement, Villanueva said he is humbled over his inclusion as one of the recipients of the award often called as the "Nobel Prize of Asia".

He said he is sharing the award with the people that they helped at the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, which is based in Tayuman, Manila.

"I accept this honor on behalf of the countless homeless people in search of a fraction of space in the street to call 'home'; and on behalf of the courageous widows and orphans victimized by the 'war on drugs'," said Villanueva.

"May we persevere in drawing strength from his example and, in so doing, recreate a better world and a brighter future for us all and the next generation," said Villanueva.

The other two recipients of the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award are Shaahina Ali from the Maldives, and the Indian organization Foundation to Educate Girls Globally or Educate Girls.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, named after the late Philippine president, is given to individuals and organizations, who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity.

The awardees will receive their medallions and certificates during the 67th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies on November 7 at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila. DMS