Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva

Fr Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva’s extraordinary journey from addiction survivor to relentless advocate for dignity has redefined social outreach amid Philippine former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”. In 2015 he founded the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Centre, pioneering a brand of “radical hospitality” that offers not just food but showers, medical check‑ups and intensive psychosocial support to thousands of homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals.

As the drug war escalated, Villanueva launched Programme Paghilom, a holistic initiative delivering funeral services, trauma counselling and legal aid to shattered families. He personally led dangerous efforts to locate, exhume and properly lay to rest the remains of victims whose temporary grave leases had expired. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Dambana ng Paghilom, a memorial shrine at La Loma Catholic Cemetery that now stands as both a final resting place and a sanctuary for public mourning and healing.

His advocacy, conducted at great personal risk, has weathered fierce opposition and legal harassment yet he persists—grounded in the conviction that justice transcends any courtroom. As a member of the Society of the Divine Word religious order, he extends mentorship, education and livelihood training, empowering the marginalised to reclaim self-worth and rejoin society. In accepting the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Villanueva dedicated the honour to the homeless and the bereaved families he serves. His legacy challenges the culture of impunity and reshapes the meaning of compassion in public life.