What change was made to the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2009, and which category survived the change?
- All six categories were discontinued; award now given only to organisations, not individuals
- The award was expanded to non-Asian recipients in 2009
- Prize money was doubled in 2009 alongside the category restructuring
- Five fixed categories discontinued; Emergent Leadership (age 40 or under) retained
Answer: Five of the six original fixed categories were discontinued in 2009; only the Emergent Leadership category (for those aged 40 or under) was retained
From 1958 to 2008, the Ramon Magsaysay Award was given in six specific categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism/Literature/Creative Communication Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership. From 2009 onwards, five of these fixed categories were discontinued and the award began to be given without prescribed categories — judges simply look for the best exemplars of the award's spirit. Emergent Leadership, which was added only in 2000 via a Ford Foundation grant and is limited to individuals or organisations aged 40 or under, was retained as a distinct track.