Award-giving body traces roots to WW2 guerrilla

The Gusi Peace Prize is a charitable foundation based in the Philippines with a main objective of giving proper recognition through the conferment of awards of excellence and distinction to individuals or groups worldwide who have distinguished themselves as brilliant exemplars of society or who contributed toward the attainment of peace and respect for human life and dignity.

The Gusi Peace Prize traces its roots through the efforts of Capt. Gemeniano Javier Gusi, a World War II guerrilla who fought against Japanese oppression, the turned politician before becoming popular for his fight for human rights. He was supported throughout his endeavor by his loving wife, Madame Teodora Sotejo Gusi, who performed various charity works, helping mothers and abused children and wives, the sick and the unemployed, the poor, deprived and humiliated individuals in society throughout the Philippines. A few years before Madame Teodora Sotejo Gusi expired, she knew that their son, The Honorable Barry Gusi, a renowned internationalist, would be the right one to take over what her husband had started, thereby creating the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation based in Manila.

The Gusi Peace Prize was established through the support of the friends of the Gusi family, who share the same mission and vision.

This foundation aims to give honor and awards to distinguished individuals or groups worldwide with exemplary contributions to peace and human rights, in scientific discoveries, politics, academe, performing arts, literature, medicine or physiology, journalism, humanities, physics, chemistry, religion, business and philanthropy, economics, internationalism and others.

The mission of the Gusi Peace Prize is to champion human rights and maintain governance, democracy, equality, international peace and goodwill. Likewise, the Gusi Peace Prize has been working for people’s amelioration for several years through medical missions, outreach programs, and counseling to the deprived, abused, the humiliated and the sick, with considerable assistance from the Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, and other non-government organizations.

Among the prominent Gusi Peace Prize laureates were the following: former Philippine defense secretary turned Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Angelo Reyes and Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos for peace and order; Her Majesty, Gloria Gibbon Salii, Queen of Palau; the president of the Republic of Palau, Tommy Remengesau; former Mr. Universe turned senator of Guam, Jesse Anderson Lujan; educator and Senator of Guam, Carmen Fernandez; Senators of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodolfo Biazon, Robert Barbers, and Aquilino Pimentel; Dean Julita Sotejo, founder of the Philippine College of Nursing and first Filipina named Florence Nightingale awardee; Dr. Fe del Mundo, for pediatric medicine; the Ambassador to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Amb. Enrique Syquia; Maximo Soliven for Philippine journalism and freedom of expression; Teresita Ang See, for human rights; Dr. Mildred Go, for education and children’s rights; Fernando Poe Jr. and Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon for cinematic excellence; Julius Babao and Carmela "Mel" Tiangco for broadcast journalism, Georg Von Dziembowski of Germany for scientific technology; Douglas Maclagan of Great Britain for child welfare and development; Dr. Iichiro Ohhira of Japan for scientific research and discovery; Dr. Peter K.W. Fong of Hong Kong for urban planning and development; Hiro Kundamal of India for business and philanthropy; LeeXiu Mien of China for poverty alleviation through education; Senator John Michael Quinata of Guam for legislation; the Archbishop of Manila, Most Reverend Gaudencio Rosales for religious, moral, and spiritual peace; Mayor Feliciano Belmonte of Quezon City, Philippines for local government administration and leadership; Fundador Soriano of the Philippines for journalism and radio broadcasting; former world chess grandmaster, Eugene Torre of the Philippines for sports.

Among the laureates for 2005 were: Dr. Anthony C.H. Wong of Hong Kong for economics; George Dovellos of Greece, and David Bussau of New Zealand for humanitarianism; US Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo for governance; Regina Paz Lopez of the Philippines for children’s welfare; Sr. Arlene Riccio and the Sisters of St. Mary of Providence from Italy for social services; Alexandra Romualdez of the Philippines for humanitarianism; Malcolm William Prowse of Australia for human rights; Jose Mari Chan of the Philippines for performing arts; Maria Coop of Australia for women’s rights; Professor Li Qi of the People’s Republic of China for visual arts; Dr. Sundaram Natarajan of India for medicine; Archbishop Nikitas Lulias of Greece for religion and humanitarianism; and Mayor Edward Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa City, Philippines for the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Today, the Gusi Peace Prize envisions itself as approximating the honor and respect accorded to the Nobel Peace Prize of Norway, and the Pulitzer of the United States of America. The Gusi Peace Prize will continue to recognize, honor and give pride and dignity to every deserving achiever and peacemaker worldwide.

The Philippine Gusi peace prize committee

For more than 22 years of doing charity, and an annual event of giving plaques of honor, the Gusi Peace Prize is eyeing an international mobilization aimed at meeting the world’s economic, social and environmental challenge.

Through this endeavor, the Philippine Gusi Committee wishes to proclaim that the only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations.

The peace prize is awarded by a committee of eleven. According to the rules, the board of trustees and the committees have only one year in the position, subject to be reappointed. People of different nationalities could be a part of this foundation by which their willingness is necessary to work for peace and unity.

The Gusi committee is completely independent. In its assessment of nomination of awards, it receives no instructions or directives. According to the statutes of the Gusi Peace Prize, there must be no mention in the minutes of any Gusi committee meetings of the contents of discussions relating to choices of candidates for the various awards, nor must any differences of opinion in committees be divulged in other ways.

For that reason, committee members take no part in the public debates that follow the announcement of decisions. All meetings of the Gusi committee are held three times a year in Manila; twice in Hong Kong; and once in Europe.