Some of our choices may be famous, but we focused more on what they have done or are doing to change their immediate communities.
The world faces tough challenges in the year ahead from the financial crisis to climate change and global terrorism, among others, and we need idols who can offer hope, dynamism and allow Asia to say “yes we can”.

VOLUNTEERS AND RESCUE WORKERS
China

Ten-year-old Gui Caiyun lost her father in the Sichuan earthquake, the 19th deadliest earthquake of all time, that struck on May 12 last year. Five of her classmates also died in the disaster, but she and her six-year-old brother survived. Nothing is known of her mother.
Gui was one of the youngest volunteers that helped fellow victims rebuild their lives in the earthquake that killed more than 69,000 people, saying she wanted to cheer up her “little friends”.

Such was the extent of devastation in Sichuan that an entire nation rose up on its feet, young and old and from all walks of life.

Chinese leaders paid tribute to the heroes of the disaster; soldiers, police officers, grassroots workers,teachers, medical workers, journalists, construction workers and volunteers, among others, were honoured at the Great Hall of the People.

Chinese President Hu Jintao called it a “great test of Chinese people’s will, courage and strength”, especially since it happened three months before the Beijing Olympics.
There have been countless of stories about selfless deeds: of cabbies heading to the quake-battered city of Dujiangyan, some 50 km from Chengdu, to transport injured victims on their own accord and free of charge; of a 28-year-old high school philosophy teacher leaving her family behind to help in the rebuilding efforts in Pingwu county, Sichuan; of strangers taking people in their homes; of volunteers braving the cold and trodding through mountains on foot to bring water and food to victims; of medical volunteers doing spontaneous operations on site; even pregnant teachers helping in evacuating their students.

Indeed, volunteerism, especially among China’s young generation—often described as spoiled and self-centred—has been revived.

But it would take gargantuan efforts to reconstruct the disaster area. More than the roads and the buildings, it is the lives of those left behind that need a whole lot of rebuilding.
Chen Yan, a 36-year-old Chengdu resident, was one of the first volunteers to enter two of the disaster zones driving his car to take dozens of quake victims to their relatives and friends.

Described as a daredevil who saved more than 20 children and slept only five of the 80 hours of the three-day rescue operations he was a part of, he said he helped “because I am alive”.

JET LI, 45, Actor
China

A narrow escape from death triggered actor Jet Li to found One Foundation.

On Dec 26, 2004 while Li and his family were vacationing in the Maldives, they had a narrow escape from death at the hands of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 225,000 people in 11 countries.

“I thought if God has saved me, it must mean something. That day in the Maldives I wanted to do something right away,” Li says.

He immediately gave about US$158,000 in tsunami aid but felt he had to do something more significant and long-lasting. That was how the Jet Li One Foundation was born.

“The Jet Li One foundation is my life and movies just one of my hobbies,” says Li, downplaying his box office superstar status. He says he has made up his mind to focus on humanitarian work.
Li built the One Foundation after studying carefully how philanthropic foundations in other countries were managed and after taking advice from a host of professionals, including medical workers, lawyers and bankers. He said he was committed to not only building a sustainable, professional and trustworthy foundation but also to bringing Chinese NGOs up to international standards.

The One Foundation’s name comes from Li’s belief that even one individual, giving as little as one yuan or donating one hour of their time every month, is part of a family of others doing the same elsewhere in the world. Or, as he puts it, “One plus one plus one equals one family. The whole world is actually one big family.

“We should never stop caring for each other, and we should make compassion a part of our everyday lives.”

The One Foundation, says Li, “is not just about raising money but also about changing people’s beliefs and spreading a culture of love”. He adds that it is still an infant and is confident it will grow into a giant that could shoulder great burdens.

He has also initiated the ‘One Foundation Philanthropy Awards’ to fund domestic NGOs in five major areas of philanthropic work: environment, education, health, poverty and disaster relief. “My own effort is quite limited; I would like to unite everyone.”

Li says he has studied Buddhism for more than 10 years and it has given him a much better understanding of life. In Buddhist thought, “true love is a gift and the highest level of love is selfless unconditional giving”.

Li says his two young daughters and his wife also support his work. “Every generation should be responsible for the next—what we have to pass on is not wealth but the spirit and value of giving.” — Fu Yu/China Daily

JIGME KHESAR WANGCHUCK, 28, King
Bhutan

His grandfather opened Bhutan to the world; his father preserved its independence.

Now, at 28, Jigme Khesar Wangchuck who took on the title of Fearless Lightning Lion has the task of making the tiny, landlocked Himalayan kingdom a fully democratic 21st century Asian state. With the first three kings not having survived to 50, he will probably feel a sense of urgency to fulfil his mission.

In taking his tiny state into the new century and managing the demands of the democratic politics introduced by his father, the king’s education will no doubt also be a boon.

While steeped in Bhutan’s culture, the king is very much a modern man. In his early years, he was bunched with Bhutanese children, learning Dzongkha, Buddhism and local dances. Later, he was sent to Phillips Academy in Andover, in the United States, Wheaton College in Massachusetts and eventually, Oxford University’s Magdalen College. He did a stint at New Delhi’s National Defence College, connecting with India’s elite, and seeking out dignitaries visiting New Delhi.

People say the new man is very much the father’s son, inheriting some of his austere aloofness. “Even at 20, when you went before him, you got the feeling of being in the presence of someone much older,” says a senior government official. “There is so much of the father in him.” — Ravi Velloor/The Straits Times

LEA SALONGA, 37, Artist
Philippines

Many Filipinos admit there are only a few reasons to be proud of given the Philippines’ bleak economy and the seemingly helpless political situation. It is not surprising that people look up to celebrities or sports heroes instead of their leaders. Renowned stage actress-singer Lea Salonga is often cited as an ‘inspiration’.

“It’s nice to hear but it’s also sad to hear. You know when you hear that (boxer) Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga gives us reason to be proud,” she says citing an entry in the Philippine Yearbook chronicling 20 years of the Philippines where it said, “she gives us reason to be proud” after playing the lead role in the musical Miss Saigon in 1989. The yearbook was published in 2006.

“This is 1989, this thing was written in 2006 and it’s now 2008 coming in to 2009...Twenty years is a significant amount of time and to still hinge one’s hope on certain individuals and to say that these are people who give us reasons to be proud,” she tells AsiaNews.

But that Filipino hope obviously hinges on the likes of Salonga as shown during her lead role performance in the stage adaptation of Cinderella in Manila, Hong Kong,  Shanghai, Beijing and Thailand. The Filipinos led the standing ovation and shouted “Mabuhay and Pilipinas!” (Long live the Philippines!).

“I’m thankful and I’m grateful and all that but it also makes me tell myself, we really need more than just Pacquiao or me or anyone else...coz when you say, one person gives hope, it means that there must be an overwhelming ocean of negativity for one’s part of light to shine so bright...meaning there’s not much light.”

She believes that in order for the Philippines to grow as a nation, everyone has to do his share and not rely so much on the government and pretend that it doesn’t exist.  

“I’m not saying this out of disrespect. But, if it’s within your scope to fix, as a private citizen in this country, try to fix it...It’s about being your brother’s keeper, taking care of other people around you, and not have the me-myself-and-I, every man for himself mentality...”

Although she admits being apolitical, Salonga openly supports the reproductive health (RH) bill, which is facing an uphill battle in the predominantly Catholic country because of the opposition from the Church.

“The RH bill is a common sense bill...It’s also giving dignity to the poor...allow them to have the free will to decide for themselves if they want to use birth control or not...Right now a lot of them feel very powerless by their circumstance already so to give them some power over their lives, over the decisions that they make, it’s an empowering thing... I think one should think about the greater good first and this bill has the greater good in mind.” — Jofelle P Tesorio/Asia News Network

AUNG ZAW, 40, Political Activist
Burma

Aung Zaw is an exiled Burmese political activist and editor of the Irrawaddy news magazine, an independent monthly based in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.

Zaw started advocating for democracy in Burma in 1985. Two years later, he became a part of an underground network, formed to oust the repressive regime of army general Ne Win.
During that year, Burmese people’s discontentment against the authoritarian regime had reached its peak after it withdrew several currency denominations—a move that depleted the savings of many Burmese. Several groups, like Zaw’s, then started organising massive demonstrations protesting junta’s handling of the economy. While participating in one of the protest programmes, Zaw was arrested and detained for a week in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison, where he was severely tortured.
An undeterred Zaw again participated in another anti-junta protest in June 1988, following which he had to go into hiding to escape from the hands of country’s brutal administration. From June to September, he hid in remote villages in the countryside, sometimes joining anti-government rallies which by then had spread throughout the country. In September, he finally decided to leave Burma. Since then, he has been living in Thailand documenting human rights violations in the country, through whatever means possible. Since 1993, he has been using his Irrawaddy magazine as a platform to expose the brutality of the reclusive military regime against Burmese citizens and the way it is exploiting the country’s resources. — Asia News Network

SOMALY MAM, 38, Social Activist
Cambodia

When Somaly Mam was 10, she was sold to a travelling trader, whom she called ‘grandfather’. She had to cook and clean for him and if he was drunk she also had to endure his beatings. Then at the age of 14, the ‘grandfather’ forced her to marry a soldier, who beat and raped her. When her husband did not return from a war, the ‘grandfather’ sold her to a brothel in Phnom Penh. She was 16 at the time. She then spent six tormenting years in different brothels, where she and other girls were physically and mentally abused.

At 38, however, this sex trade victim, who never saw her parents, is spearheading the battle against sex trafficking in Cambodia. Through the Acting for Women in Distressing Situations (AFESIP), an NGO she established in 1996, Somaly has been rescuing sex victims from brothels and offering them refuge to ensure their lives do not get exploited as hers. To date, AFESIP, which runs three shelters, has given new life to more than 3,000 sex workers and offered them psychological and medical treatment and vocational training. Through AFESIP, Somaly has also launched numerous campaigns against child prostitution.

The job of saving the lives of sexually exploited girls and giving them a better life, however, has not been an easy one for this mother of three. Her 14-year-old daughter was kidnapped, raped and sold to a brothel two years ago by those who were infuriated by her works. She was later rescued and now works with Somaly to fight against trafficking.

For her relentless fight to create a world without slavery, she was recognised by German-based Roland Berger Foundation and given the Human Dignity Award on December 4. She also received Prince of Asturias Award in 1998 for her struggle against child prostitution and was named Glamour’s Woman of the Year in 2006.
—With a report from Christina Schott/The Jakarta Post

ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, 44, Politician
Thailand

Dubbed Obamark, Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose nickname is Mark, has been hailed as polarised Thailand’s great hope. Abhisit, Thailand’s 27th prime minister, has always wanted to be a politician since he was 10.

The British-born politician said his country’s bloody October 14, 1973 uprising was the main motive. He first ran for election in 1992, when he became the Democrat’s only Bangkok MP. He was a government spokesman at the age of 27.
It is eight years since the Democrats (which Abhisit has led for four years) have held power. His election as premier comes with the hope that, as a fresh “clean” face, the Oxford-educated politician may be able to end the bitter divisive conflicts that have wracked Thai politics in recent years. The public has grown increasingly tired with anti- and pro-government protests that have hurt them financially by eroding the economy and tourism industry.
— Kornchanok Raksaseri/The Nation (Thailand)

HANNAH YEOH, 29
NURUL IZZAH ANWAR, 26
ELIZABETH WONG, 37
Politicians
Malaysia

The three Malaysian legislators are young, agents of change, inspiring, refreshing and good looking plus with massive brain power. Like Barack Obama, all three had the audacity to stand despite insurmountable odds and in the process they became giant-slayers. But unlike Obama, as opposition candidates, all three like had to face tougher obstacles in the country’s general election that was far from free and fair.
Like Obama, they are all in the minority (in this case women). And like Obama, they had no big campaign purses so they resorted to the internet to bring in the funding. All three are net savvy and have their own blogs, Facebook and party websites.

All three rode on the wind of change that was blowing hard against an increasingly unpopular government and were swept into office promising to bring change to a political culture, tainted with scandals, corruption, arrogance, greed and simply bad governance.
All three are professionals with university degrees, articulate, urbane, foreign trained and English speaking. All three won their seats on their home turf in the affluent Klang Valley – the nation’s power house. Nurul became MP for Lembah Pantai, beating an incumbent minister and senior ruling party leader. Hannah became state assemblywoman for Subang Jaya unseating the stand-in of the incumbent, while Elizabeth defeated the popular incumbent state assemblywoman for Batu Lanjan. All three won with unprecendented landslide victories.
— Bob Teoh/Sin Chew Daily

JOHN WU, 39, Politician
Taiwan

John Wu, a Harvard-educated legislator, is a rising star in Taiwan. Young and handsome, he has the charisma of his father, seasoned politician Wu Po-hsiung who is now chairman of the ruling Kuomintang.

Born in Taoyuan in 1969, the younger Wu has a masters in law from Harvard. His longer education delayed his political debut, getting elected in 2004 at the age of 35.

He has been voted best-performing parliamentarian by at least four congressional watchdog bodies, including the Citizens’ Alliance for Parliamentary Oversight and Taiwan Society, which is a group of liberal political science academics.

Asked what his next aim is, the popular lawmaker just grunts “hum-hum” but should he run for president in 2012, John Wu has a much better edge than Ma Ying-jeou early this year. John is a native Hakka. Ma is a mainlander. If voters in 2012 vote for youth and hope like the Americans with Obama, then John Wu may be their only choice. — The China Post

MANNY PACQUIAO, 30, Boxer
Philippines

In their desperate need to find a hero, the Filipino people have so identified with Manny Pacquiao, the world’s greatest boxer pound for pound today, that it seems fitting he should wear the Philippine flag.

His so-called ‘dream match’ with American boxer Oscar dela Hoya last December 8 was his biggest fight.

Pacquiao, a former bakery helper from General Santos City, just went on to become one of the most colourful rags-to-riches stories in the Philippines and his success has planted hopes in the hearts of Filipinos grappling with poverty and bad politics.

Everytime he has a match, it is as if life in the entire country stops to watch him fight. And if only for less than an hour, Pacquiao is changing his countrymen’s divided outlook and uniting them even briefly. — Philippine Daily Inquirer

YI SO-YEON, 29, Astronaut
South Korea

Yi So-yeon was the 49th woman to reach space and the 158th person to visit the International Space Station.

During her nine days in a Russian spacecraft, Yi conducted 18 scientific experiments and promotional demonstration. The biosystems engineer studied and photographed meteorological phenomena when the station passed the night side of earth and did some educational experiments involving various physical phenomena such as water drops, surface tension, plant growth and the use of an ink pen.

Upon returning from her space mission, Yi hopes to do her best as a researcher and contribute in her country’s space development.
— The Korea Herald

VISWANATHAN ANAND, 39, Chess Grandmaster
India

Viswanathan Anand is an Indian chess grandmaster and the current world chess champion. Born on December 11, 1969, Anand got his first taste of success at the age of 14 after he won 1983’s national sub-junior chess championship. By 16 Anand was the national chess champion and in 1987 he became the first Indian to win the world junior chess championship.  Displaying his lightning fast moves, Anand went on to become the king of chess in 2000, after winning the world chess championship. That year the world title was split. But in 2007 he became the undisputed world champion and defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008. This king of black and white squares has motivated a generation of serious-minded young people to take up the sport and excel in it.  — Asia News Network

SRI MULYANI INDRAWATI, 46, Politician
Indonesia

Indonesia’s first female finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who is among  Asia’s most powerful women, is perhaps the most suitable candidate for the region’s  “Obama”.

Sri Mulyani is also on the board of the World Bank as its governor for Indonesia, and  served as the International Monetary Fund as executive director for Southeast Asia when she was 40, from 2002 to 2004.

Now 46, she is among minorities in a bureaucracy still dominated by elderly males whose habits were molded under more than 30 years under an authoritiarian ruler. These well known habits have frustrated even governors and presidents – mainly being resistant to attempts at professionalism, and corrupt to the core.

The announcement of the mother of three as one of the recipients of the Bung Hatta Anti Corruption Award in December this year came just as politicians and business people were reported to be maneuvering to have her removed from office – following her refusal to use the state budget to help save an influential business group. — Marian Dewi/The Jakarta Post

COMMANDOS
India

On 27 November, a day after armed gunmen launched series of bloody attacks on Mumbai, Indian commandos stormed into a Jewish centre and five-star hotels - Taj and Trident-Oberoi. The elite Black Cat commandos fought room-to-room battles with the terrorists and saved hundreds of people trapped inside the buildings or held hostage by the Islamic militants. During the course of action, 20 policemen and soldiers were also killed. Although the Mumbai attacks raised serious questions about the performance of the Indian security establishment, many said more lives would have been lost had it not been for these soldiers who fought a brave battle with the terrorists. — Asia News Network

NAZIR RAZAK, 41, Banker
Malaysia

Nazir Razak is seen as one of the shrewdest bankers in the region.

Since helming CIMB Group in 1999, Nazir has built it into a premier investment bank and the second largest lender by assets in Malaysia. The youngest son of Malaysia’s second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and the younger brother of deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, he earned a degree in political science and economics from Bristol University and masters in economic development from Cambridge.
A career banker, he joined CIMB Investment Bank almost 20 years ago, rising through its executive ranks to become its CEO in 1999.
Via acquisitions, Nazir transformed Commerce International into CIMB Group.

His buying spree included the 2005 purchase of BumiputraCommerce Bank (BCB) and a 2006 controversial takeover of Southern Bank Bhd (SBB). BCB and SSB were later merged.

CIMB Group is a product of Malaysia’s banking consolidation that involved dozens of other financial institutions including Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Bhd, Bank of Commerce Bhd and SBB.

Very early on, Nazir had expanded the bank’s range of services, introducing bond underwriting and secondary bond trading, pioneering them in Malaysia. He continues to be bold in his approach.