justices and an Italian priest Tulio Favali, who was murdered in 1985 by a military-backed fanatic cult. Awards and recognition Salonga received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service on August 31, 2007. He was honored for "the exemplary integrity and substance of his long public career in service to democracy and good government in the Philippines". Other awardees included Kim Sun Tae of Korea, Mahabir Pun of Nepal, Tang Xiyang of China, Palagummi Sainath of India, Chen Guangcheng and Chung To, both of China. At least 256 Asian people have won the award in various categories since its founding in 1957. Each awardee receives a certificate, a medallion and an undisclosed cash prize. Salonga was one of the 7 Asian awardees, from China, India, South Korea, Nepal and the Philippines. He also received the prestigious Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Award, the premier national human rights award on February 26, 2010. Jovito Salonga was also conferred the Order of the Knights of Rizal with the highest rank, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR). Final years and legacy Salonga died on March 10, 2016, due to cardiac arrest at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Salonga has been called by his nephew Rene Saguisag (Saguisag used to call him Uncle Jovy though Salonga is actually the second cousin once removed of Saguisag, as his paternal grandmother Talia Saguisag is the first cousin of Salonga's mother Dinang'' Reyes) as the finest statesman or the best president we never had, while Joker Arroyo called him the most important historical figure who influenced the nation by his words alone. Bantayog ng mga Bayani renamed its main building in its compound as the Sen. Jovito R. Salonga Building. It houses the museum, amphitheater, and the office. While Siliman University's law school houses the Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development. Personal life His spouse was Lydia Busuego whom he married in 1948, who died due to complications from diabetes on April 20, 2010, she was 88. Salonga's children are Patricia, Victoria Regina, Ricardo, Esteban Fernando, and Eduardo. References Further reading External links Jovito Salonga biodata Jovito Salonga bio Jovito Salonga speaks "Jovito Salonga: a Liberal for All Seasons" "Jovito R. Salonga: The Tangible Who Makes a Nation Great" Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development 1920 births 2016 deaths Filipino democracy activists 20th-century Filipino lawyers Filipino Protestants Harvard Law