COPE Baleares presents the 46 Popular Awards that recognize the work of individuals and organizations

PalmLast Monday, El Molí del Comte hosted the COPE Baleares Popular Awards gala. This year, the radio network recognized the work of the Son Mut Nou estate, athlete Esperanza Cladera, the Teatro de Barra cultural group, the Friends of Childhood Association, and Dr. José Ignacio Ramírez. The event was attended by the President of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens; the President of the Parliament, Gabriel Le Senne; the President of the Council of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés; the Spanish Government Delegate in the Balearic Islands, Alfonso Rodríguez; the Bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull; the General Commander of the Balearic Islands, Fernando Luis Gracia; as well as councilors, mayors, and representatives of civil society. According to COPE, the award winners of this 46th edition stand out for sharing their passions with Mallorcan society and for setting a unique example of commitment and tenacity. The presentation of these awards is intended as a resounding tribute of admiration to individuals who stand out for their contributions to society and their ability to put the best of our Mallorcan identity at the service of others.

Dr. José Ignacio Ramírez

José Ignacio Ramírez holds a degree in Medicine from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He has coordinated the Santa Ponça Health Center for many years. He is an associate professor of Traumatology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and a tenured professor of Nursing at the CESAG (Center for Nursing and Social Services of the Balearic Islands). He was awarded the 2024 Prize for General and Family Medicine by the Royal National Academy of Medicine (RANM) in recognition of his professional, teaching, and research career. This award represents public recognition of community-based physicians.

Friends of Childhood Association

Amigos de la Infancia (Friends of Childhood) is a non-profit organization founded in Mallorca in 1996 that works for the rights and well-being of vulnerable children. Its origins lie in the need to support the Hogar del Templo (Temple Home) in Palma, a children's home run by the Rojas nuns, who later joined the Trinitarias (Trinitarian Sisters). When the Council of Mallorca took over, Amigos de la Infancia expanded its scope to include Bolivia, Peru, India, Africa, and other countries experiencing extreme poverty. It develops educational, healthcare, and protection projects both in the Balearic Islands and in developing countries, promoting solidarity and equal opportunities. It receives no public funding; its work is financed through donations, membership fees, and fundraising events.

Son Mut Nou

In the heart of the Marina de Llucmajor lies the Son Mut Nou estate. Owned by Monserrat Pons i Boscana, it is dedicated to the conservation and study of photogenic resources in fig trees. The experimental field boasts 2,834 fig trees and 1,308 varieties, over two hundred of which are native to the Balearic Islands. The Son Mut Nou project is unique and one of the largest fig tree research centers in the world. The estate recovers old varieties at risk of genetic erosion and discovers unknown varieties. The estate receives no public funding and is self-sustaining, relying on income generated from organized visits.

Esperanza Cladera

Esperança Cladera (Muro, May 14, 2002), from Mallorca, is the breakout star of Balearic athletics in 2025 and one of Spain's most promising young athletes. The young sprinter has burst onto the national scene as part of a historic relay team in Spanish athletics. Cladera, along with Jaël Bestué, Paula Sevilla, and Maribel Pérez, won the silver medal with the Spanish 4x100 meter relay team at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China. She also finished among the top eight in the world at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. This same year, she won the Spanish Indoor Championship in the 200 meters, breaking the 23-second barrier.

Bar Theater

Bar Theatre is a pioneering cultural initiative in Mallorca that transforms Palma's bars and venues into small theatre stages, bringing the performing arts to the public in a direct, fun, and participatory way. Each edition, now in its 27th year, brings together different playwrights, actors, and directors who present short plays—around 15 minutes each—performed in intimate spaces, creating a unique and close-knit experience between artists and audience. The project, spearheaded by Javier Matesanz and his production company, Produccions de Ferro, has revitalized the local theatre scene and established itself as a must-see event on the island's cultural calendar, promoting Mallorcan talent and the enjoyment of theatre in everyday settings.

Journalism and Communication Award

Nicolau Tous was the technical manager of Radio Popular COPE for 44 years, from the station's inauguration in 1959 until his retirement in 2003. Toni Ortiz was the technical manager of Radio Mallorca SER for 25 years, until his retirement.