Sacred Heart Parish Shrine Congratulates Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD, Recipient of the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award

[photo credit: Mark Saludes]

The Sacred Heart Parish Shrine joyfully congratulates Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva, SVD, Founder of the St. Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, on being chosen as a recipient of the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award—Asia’s premier prize and highest honor.

Award Citation

Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, SVD, has been elected to receive the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award for “his unwavering service and unyielding commitment to upholding the dignity of the marginalized; for his courage and compassion in creating pathways of justice and healing for those most in need; and for transforming his personal wounds into an empowering narrative.”

A Moment of Grace

As a community of faith, we celebrate this moment of grace, recognizing how Fr. Flavie’s witness to the Gospel of compassion and justice shines as a beacon of hope—not only in our Church but also in the wider society of Asia and the world.

We take pride that Fr. Flavie, SVD, who has stood with victims of injustice and often leads the funeral rites for those killed in extrajudicial violence, is now honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the highest recognition of greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. Truly, his life and mission embody the Heart of Christ—burning with love for the poor, the wounded, and the excluded.

A Gift to the Church and the SVD

This recognition is also a gift to the Church, especially as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD)—the congregation to which Fr. Flavie belongs, founded by Saint Arnold Janssen, whose name the Kalinga Center proudly carries.

Heartfelt Congratulations to Fr. Flavie and to AJKC his team!

From:

Fr. Randy Flores, SVD – Parish Priest & Rector

Fr. Raul Caga, SVD – Assistant Parish Priest

Fr. Sedfrey Nebres, SVD

Fr. Gerry Donato, SVD

Fr. Ryu Ishikawa, SVD

Fr. Judy Bañez, SVDFr. Vhen Yator, SVD

Parish Pastoral Council (PPC),

Parish Finance Council (PFC),

and the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine Community