Norman B. Baloro, RSW, MSSW

This is the life principle of a social worker who achieved his dreams despite poverty and being ridiculed because he is gay. Wearing a silver necklace and neat polo shirt and a smile to match, you’ll never know that Norman Baloro, 33, was once a streetchild in the 1990s, selling sweepstakes tickets around San Pedro Cathedral. “When I was seven years old, I wanted to sell tickets sa Cathedral for my survival since gusto nako tabangan ang akong lola nga diha sa San Pedro Cathedral namaligya ug refreshments (When I was seven years old, I wanted to sell tickets because I want to help my grandmother who was selling refreshments there),” he said. Being a vendor at the Cathedral, he not only earned money, but was also exposed to people with disabilities, the beggars. This fanned an ambition to be a social worker, to be of help. I really want to be of help, that's the reason, why I became a social worker. That is really my dream,” Baloro said. Seeing the city hall every day, he said, he dreamed he will work there someday. This dream came true as he was taken in by City Hall as a volunteer, a Youth Services Coordinator under the Davao City Social Services and Development Office, in a Badjao community at Isla Verde. After a year, he was given a regular plantilla position. “I’ve been in the City Government for 15 years. I did not expect to be assigned as district head and also to be awarded as the most outstanding district head in Davao City in 2014,” he said. Baloro said he was also the only registered social worker sent out by the city to help in Leyte after Typhoon Yolanda hit. Now in the new administration of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Baloro was given task to lead the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender group of the city. They will be joining the Araw ng Dabaw celebration for the very first time, he said. Baloro’s inspiration in all his achievements is his grandmother. “Ang akong lola nakit-an nako maskin pag kanang survival of the fittest mi, maningkamot jud siya mangutang mangita jud siya ug paraan makaeskwela ko or makabayad sa tuition fee (I saw in my grandmother the determination. Even if we seemed to be in a survival of the fittest race she'd find a way to send me to school, to have money for my tuition),” he said. Growing up, his grandmother told him he does not want to see him ridiculed by others. “Gusto ko niya makit-an nga respetado ko (She wants to see me become a respected person),” Baloro said. His grandmother constantly reminded him to remain humble. Baloro, who will soon sit as assistant head of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), said he also dreams of heading the office someday. “It might me ambitious but my only desire in life is to become the CSSDO head not because I dream of popularity, but what is important is I want to make a bolder step, I want to make an initiative to influence many people especially the vulnerable sectors of the community, I want them to be good leaders at the same time an inspiration to other people in the community,” he said. Baloro said that he has been gay for as long as he can remember, and that earned him ridicule.

“This is a struggle for me and at the same time a challenge to become more responsible and most importantly to show others that I am worthy of respect,” he said. He added that he was inspired by one of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quotes: “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” There is but to walk the talk, he said, so that others will follow him. “Not because you have power but because you have the ability to inspire them,” he said.