The Association of Friends of Children and Barra Theater among the winners of the COPE Popular Awards

PalmThe Son Mut Nou estate, the athlete Esperanza Cladera, the cultural initiative Teatro de Barra, the Friends of Children Association, and Dr. José Ignacio Ramíez have been named winners of the COPE Popular Awards.

This was announced on Wednesday by the radio station's director, Xavier Bonet, director of COPE Baleares, who also announced the Journalism and Communication Award, which recognizes the work of technicians Nicolau Tous and Toni Ortiz.

According to COPE, the winners of this 46th edition stand out for bringing their passion to Mallorcan society and for setting a unique example of commitment and tenacity. The presentation of these awards aims to be a great round of applause of admiration to people who stand out for their contribution to society and their ability to put the best of our Mallorcan identity at the service of others.

The awards ceremony will take place on November 24th at 8:00 PM at the Molí del Comte. The Bishop of Mallorca will preside over the ceremony, with the presence of the main regional and local authorities and a broad representation of Mallorcan society. The radio station has noted that since its first edition in 1980, the Popular Awards have recognized the excellence of individuals and institutions that "surpass" in their courage and efforts to improve the reality they have known. Today's announcement culminates the work of two juries: that of the heads of departments of COPE Mallorca, and that of a group of advisors made up of Biel Mulet, Nicolás Pomar, Andrés Genovart, Kety Isern, Luis Piña, José Luis Roses, and Apolonia Ramis.

Dr. José Ignacio Ramírez

José Ignacio Ramírez holds a degree in Medicine from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a PhD 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 UIB Faculty of Medicine and a professor of Nursing at CESAG. 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 physicians.

Friends of Children's Association

Friends of Children is a non-profit association founded in Mallorca in 1996 that works for the rights and well-being of children in vulnerable situations. Its origins date back to the need to support the Hogar del Templo in Palma, a foster home for minors run by the Red Sisters, who later joined the Trinitarians. When the Mallorcan Council took over, Friends of Children expanded its scope of action to Bolivia, Peru, India, Africa, and other countries with extreme poverty. It develops educational, healthcare, and protection projects both in the Balearic Islands and in developing countries, promoting solidarity and equal opportunities. It does not receive public funding; its work is funded through donations, memberships, and charity events.

Son Mut Nou

In the heart of the Marina de Llucmajor lies the Son Mut Nou estate. Owned by Monserrat Pons i Boscana, she is dedicated to the conservation and study of the photogenic resources of fig trees. The experimental field has 2,834 fig trees and 1,308 varieties, more than two hundred of which are Balearic varieties. The Son Mut Nou project is unique and one of the largest fig tree experimental centers in the world. Ancient varieties at risk of genetic erosion are being recovered at the estate, and unknown varieties are being discovered. The estate does not receive public subsidies and is supported by its own resources obtained from the visits it organizes.

Esperanza Cladera

Mallorcan athlete Esperança Cladera (Muro, May 14, 2002) is the big sensation of Balearic athletics in 2025 and one of the emerging athletes in Spain. The young sprinter has burst onto the national scene as part of a historic relay in Spanish athletics. Cladera, with the Spanish 4x100-meter team, achieved the world runner-up position at the World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China, alongside Jaël Bestué, Paula Sevilla, and Maribel Pérez. She ranked among the top eight in the world at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (Japan). This same year, she won the Spanish Indoor Championships in the 200 meters, breaking the 23-second barrier.

Barra Theater

Teatro de Barra is a pioneering cultural initiative in Mallorca that transforms Palma's bars and venues into small theater stages, bringing the performing arts to the public in a direct, fun, and participatory way. Each edition, this year's 27th, brings together various playwrights, actors, and directors who present short plays—around 15 minutes long—performed in small spaces, creating a unique experience of proximity between artists and audiences. The project, promoted by Javier Matesanz and his production company, Produccions de Ferro, has revitalized the local theater scene and established itself as a must-attend event on the island's cultural calendar, promoting Mallorcan talent and the enjoyment of theater 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.