A former Ramon Magsaysay (RM) awardee leaves a legacy of service and integrity with his passing away on Wednesday, August 21, a day after he suffered a stroke, according to statements from various groups who had been witnesses to his life.
Howard Dee, 99, was RM awardee in 2018, “for his “(quiet) heroic half-century service to the Filipino people, his abiding dedication to the pursuit of social justice and peace in achieving dignity and progress for the poor,” said a statement from the Office of President of the Ateneo de Manila University on August 22.
Dee was former Ambassador to the Holy See and Malta from 1986 to 1990, was conferred with a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa in 2009. He was also a recipient of Ateneo's Ozanam Award in 1986.
His “commitment to human dignity, social solidarity, and integral development was a personal endeavor and a shared mission that resonated with the Ateneo community,” it said.
Ambassador Dee worked tirelessly to champion justice and peace. He played a crucial role in various peace-building and social reform initiatives, such as the peace talks with the New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (1993-1999) and the Bangsamoro Basic Law Peace Council (2015).
He also served as an Adviser on Indigenous Peoples Affairs under the Office of the President in 2002.
According to a statement from UNILAB GROUP where he served as first President, it described Ambassador Dee to be “a man whose leadership, vision, and integrity who left an indelible mark on Unilab and the nation",
Dee "led the company through an era of remarkable growth from 1964 to 1970. His legacy extends to the enduring values he instilled within Unilab. He authored the United Creed, a set of guiding principles that continue to inspire and define our organization - upholding the nobility of our purpose and an unwavering commitment to integrity," it said.
"Ambassador Dee's extraordinary life as a Unilab Warrior and Filipino was characterized by purpose, service, and dedication to others. Let us honor his memory by embracing the values he championed and continuing his legacy of compassion, integrity, and service to our community and country,” said the statement.
In an article from the Philippine News Agency on Aug. 24, it said that the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) said Dee's legacy was enshrined in the numerous institutions he founded and led.
Among them, a founding trustee of the Philippine Business for Social Progress in 1970, founder of the Assisi Development Foundation in 1975 which empowered urban and rural communities through justice, peace, and development initiatives, the Philippine Development Assistance Program in 1984 and ASA Philippines in 2002.
“Through these initiatives and his service as a leader in various NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) such as Tabang Mindanaw, Caritas Manila, and Pondo ng Pinoy, Ambassador Dee exemplified the essence of servant leadership. He led not by the power of position, but through an unwavering commitment to purpose and principle," it said.
There will be a funeral mass tomorrow, Aug. 25, 2 p.m. at Sanctuario de San Antonio, McKinley Road, Makati. There will be novena masses from August 26 to 30, 7 p.m. via Zoom.
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