MANILA - National Artist and multi-awarded Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab is one of the recipients of the prestigious 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Awards.

According to the foundation website, its board of trustees recognized Cayabyab's compositions and performances that have defined and inspired Filipino popular music across generations.

They also acknowledged "his indomitable, undeterred confidence to selflessly seek, mentor and promote young Filipino musical genius for the global stage; and his showing us all that music can indeed instill pride and joy, and unify people across the many barriers that divide them."

For over four decades, Cayabyab's contributions as composer, arranger, music director, conductor, performer and educator have been huge.

His signature song "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" won the grand prize in the 1978 Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and an international song festival in South Korea that same year.

Cayabyab went on to win in other competitions and performed widely in the Philippines and abroad.

He was also involved in training singers and music groups that bagged recognitions.

Cayabyab was conferred the National Artist for Music award in October 25, 2018.

• Business as usual for Ryan Cayabyab after being named National Artist

Cayabyab is also joined by this year's other awardees namely Kim Jong-ki of South Korea, Ravish Kumar of India, Angkhana Neelapaijit of Thailand, and Ko Swe Win of Myanmar.

Now on it 61st year, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to persons who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better.