Former President Corazon Aquino (second, right) and U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone presented the 2005 Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino, Jr. Fellowships for Professional Development awards to Yasmin Busran-Lao (left) for public service and to Jose A. Torres, Jr. (right) for journalism in a ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy in Manila on February 16. The award, established by the Embassy in 1988 to commemorate the late senator's accomplishments and public service, includes a study-tour of the U.S. for Busran-Lao and Torres to meet and exchange views with professionals in their fields. Busran-Lao, founder of the Marawi City-based non-government organization Al-Kujadilah Foundation, was cited for her efforts to foster development in the impoverished communities of Muslim Mindanao and to uplift the status of women in community building and peace initiatives. Torres, a senior editor of the abs-cbnNews.com writes for several Manila and Mindanao-based publications and is author of two books that won the National Book Award for Journalism. He is working on several books on terrorism, human rights, politics and church affairs while producing investigative documentaries for television.