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      • American Samoa
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      • Bhutan
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      • Cambodia
      • Central Asia
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      • Pakistan
      • Palau
      • Palestine
      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar
      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • Solomon Islands
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      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey
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Asia Society Honors Manny Pacquiao, Other 'Asia Game Changers' at United Nations

October 13th, 2015
The 2015 Asia Society Asia Game Changers: (L to R): Shuji Nakamura, Aasif Mandvi, Mariam al-Mansouri, Kiran Bir Sethi, Li Cunxin, Manny Pacquiao, Chanda Kochhar, and Lei Jun. Photographed on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Boxer and Game Changer of the Year Manny Pacquiao is interviewed by a reporter at the Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Asia Game Changer awardee Shuji Nakamura (L) shares a laugh with Asia Society Policy Institute President Kevin Rudd at the Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Opera singer and Asia Society Trustee Renée Fleming poses with Asia Game Changer awardee Li Cunxin on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Orville Schell, Arthur Ross director of Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations, poses with Asia Society Trustee Charles Foster at the Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
The Asia Game Changer award for LED light scientists Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
The band Playing for Change entertains the crowd at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Asia Society President Josette Sheeran gives opening remarks at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Tennis star John McEnroe introduces the Asia Game Changer of the Year awardee Manny Pacquiao on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Tennis star John McEnroe poses with Asia Game Changer of the Year Manny Pacquiao on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Boxer Manny Pacquiao speaks after being awarded the Asia Game Changer of the Year award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
LED light scientist Shuji Nakamura speaks after receiving an Asia Game Changer award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Asia Society trustees Omar Ishrak (L) and Betsy Cohen (R) pose with Asia Game Changer awardee Kiran Bir Sethi (C). (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Riverside School Founder Kiran Bir Sethi speaks after receiving her Asia Game Changer award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Asia Society trustees Charles Rockefeller (L) and Beth Dozoretz (R) pose with UAE fighter pilot and Asia Game Changer awardee Mariam al-Mansouri on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Xiaomi Founder Lei Jun (C) holds his Asia Game Changer award alongside Asia Society co-chairs Henrietta Fore (L) and Ronnie Chan (R). (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Asia Society trustees Indra Nooyi (L) and Nicolas Rohatyn (R) present Aasif Mandvi (C) with his Asia Game Changer award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Asia Society trustees Mitch Julis and Renée Fleming present an award at the 2015 Asia Game Changers awards ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin speaks after receiving his Asia Game Changer award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Asia Society Policy Institute President Kevin Rudd (R) and Asia Society Trustee Lulu Wang present an award at the Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Asia Society Trustee Stephen Bird speaks at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Asia Society Trustee Stephen Bird presents ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kocchar with her Asia Game Changer award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar speaks after receiving her Asia Game Changer award on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Fashion designer Norma Kamali poses with Asia Game Changer awardee Mariam al-Mansouri on October 13, 2015. (Jared Michael Siskin/Patrick McMullan)
Comedian and Asia Game Changer awardee Aasif Mandvi poses at the Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Xiaomi Founder and Asia Game Changer awardee Lei Jun poses at the Asia Game Changers ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao poses with attendees of the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
(L to R) Anne Chao, Albert Chao, and Lulu Wang at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Luann and Jack Grubman at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Citi's Stephen Bird (L) and awardee Manny Pacquiao at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Tom Nides (L) and Ron Dozoretz at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak at the podium for the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Anuradha Mahindra (L) and Bunty Chand at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Ruth and Harold Newman at the 2015 Asia Game Changers award ceremony on October 13, 2015. (Jamie Watts/Asia Society)
Enlarge Hide captions

In a ceremony held at the United Nations on Tuesday evening, Asia Society honored Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao and nine other dignitaries as its second annual class of Asia Game Changers for making a transformative and positive difference for the future of Asia and the world. Honorees also included Chinese telecommunications magnate Lei Jun, Indian/American comedian and actor Aasif Mandvi, and Emirati fighter pilot Mariam al-Mansouri.

After receiving the award, Pacquiao credited his humble upbringing in a village outside General Santos City, Philippines, for forming his desire to give back to the community. "I've experienced in life not having shelter and having to sleep in the street," he said. "So even with my success I will never forget my past."

Against the backdrop of New York's East River and Queensboro Bridge, Pacquiao and his fellow awardees mingled with Asia Society trustees, officers, and other guests from around the world. Josette Sheeran, Asia Society's President and CEO, began the ceremony by noting that Asians have received insufficient recognition for their contributions to the world. "More than 950 Nobel prizes have been awarded since 1901, and less than six percent have gone to Asians — even though 60 percent of the world's population is in Asia and Asia has 50 percent of the world's patents.

"We at Asia Society want to recognize the brilliance of Asia — those who are changing the world for the better."

In his acceptance speech, Mandvi spoke of comedy's role in eroding negative stereotypes and tackling issues — such as Islamophobia — that often elude more conventional comedians. Recounting a career that began in Off-Broadway productions before achieving widespread recognition a decade ago as the "Middle East Correspondent" for The Daily Show, Mandvi struck a characteristically humorous tone in his remarks. Referring to Pacquiao, his fellow awardee, Mandvi joked: "Little known fact about Manny — he also always wanted to be a fake news correspondent. I guess I won that, Manny. Good luck."

Kiran Bir Sethi, an education innovator whose Design for Change organization has improved learning outcomes across India, spoke of the importance of spotlighting instructors. "It's because of honors like [Asia Game Changers] that the response goes from 'oh, you're just a teacher' to 'teachers are game changers'."

Pacquiao was introduced by John McEnroe, the American tennis great. "I was fortunate enough to meet Nelson Mandela, and one of the things he said to me was that sports have the potential to change the world," McEnroe said. "And Manny Pacquiao is one of the individuals who can do that."

Additional honorees spanned the scientific, artistic, and military world across the continent: Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura, inventors of LED light bulbs and 2014 Nobel Prize winners for physics; Chanda Kochhar, the CEO of ICICI Bank; and Li Cunxin, the Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet.

Check back soon for more photos and videos.

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