Ramon Magsaysay awardee, fisherman Roberto Ballon files COC for senator

Ramon Magsaysay awardee and fisherman Roberto Ballon files his certificate of candidacy for senator. (INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza)

MANILA, Philippines — Fisherman and 2021 Ramon Magsaysasy awardee Roberto Ballon on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy for senator at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

Ballon went up the podium to introduce himself without garnering much attention at first.

However, all eyes were on him when he enumerated all his awards and accolades.

“The highest honor bestowed upon me was the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021 because of the programs we pushed for the environment and our livelihood for the benefit of our citizens and the next generation,” he said in his speech in Filipino.

Ballon won the Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize for his key role as the secretary of Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion, a fisher’s confederation in Capiz, which focused on rehabilitating the mangrove forests and pushed for the end of destructive fishing methods in the hope of restoring the breeding ground of fish there.

Due to his efforts in protecting the environment, he also won the Equator Prize of the United Nations Development Programme in 2023, while also receiving recognition from the office of former Vice President Leni Robredo.

“PhD”

Despite these achievements, there are those who are still questioning his capacity to run for Senator due to his lack of formal education, according to Ballon.

“They all tell me, ‘Why are you running for Senate? Did you go to school?’ I told them, at least I am a proud high school graduate and graduate of a vocational course. And I have a course—kursonada. And even if I am not a University of the Philippines graduate, I am a graduate of UAE: University of Aquatic Experience. And I have a PhD—Person with High Dedication,” he said in jest.

West PH Sea defender

Ballon is also among the convenors of the Atin Ito, the civilian-led mission in the West Philippine Sea last May, where fishermen and civilian volunteers attempted to reach Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

He said also that the people should embody the spirit of the Edsa People Power Revolution in asserting its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

“If we did the Edsa one and two before with our unity and our resolve, we could do another ‘People Power’ revolution in Scarborough to assert that the West Philippine Sea is ours,” Ballon said.