ILOILO CITY – Fisherfolk leader Pablo Rosales of Pangisda Pilipinas reminded graduates of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UP Visayas) that harmony is only achieved through social justice.

“Walang tunay na harmoniya kung wala munang katarungan (There is no true harmony without justice first),” Rosales said during the July 10 graduation ceremony at the UP Visayas’ main campus in Miag-ao, Iloilo.

Rosales is the third fisherfolk leader who became commencement speaker of UP Visayas which has Bachelor of Science in Fisheries as its flagship program.

Rosales told graduates that he only finished third grade and stopped going to school in his native Samar. He worked in the farm and sea to help support his family.

His family would move to Cavite to attain a better life and be closer to Metro Manila where Rosales worked odd jobs. Rosales later moved to Mariveles town in Bataan province.

Rosales was able to reconnect with his fishing roots but it was in Mariveles where he began to see social ills, social injustice, and environmental abuse.

“Posible bang maayos ang lipunan kung ang ating ilog ay marumi, ang ating kagubatan ay kalbo, at ating mga dagat at unting-unting namamatay? (Is it possible for society to be in order if our rivers are polluted, our forests are denuded, and our seas are slowly dying?)” Rosales asked graduates.

“Para sa akin, ang pagkakasundo ay nakaugat sa katarangan, para sa tao, para sa kalikasan, para sa sunod na mga henerasyon (For me, harmony is rooted in justice, for the people, for nature, and for future generations),” Rosales said.

Rosales said his personal hardship did not stop him from leading a group giving a voice to marginalized fisherfolks and giving back their dignity.

He said Pangisda Pilipinas was born out of the idea to protect the livelihood of everyday fishermen and their communities negatively affected by the growth of commercial fishing and the degradation of fishing grounds.

Rosales challenged graduates to use their education for the common good, especially Filipino fisherfolk.

Top UP Visayas graduate James Philgrey T. Lim, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry magna cum laude graduate, also echoed Rosales’ message. Lim reminded fellow graduates to use their education to bring social change.