Danilo Ramos

Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos (born September 17, 1956) is a peasant activist from the Philippines who is the Chairperson of the militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the largest farmers association in the country. In the 2025 Philippine Senate election, he is running under Makabayan.

Danilo Ramos
Ramos at the Senate announcement of Makabayan for the 2025 Philippine general election.
Chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Personal details
Born	Danilo Ramos (1956-09-17) September 17, 1956 (age 68) Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines
Political party	Makabayan
Other political affiliations	Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Occupation	Peasant leader, activist

Early life

Ramos had to struggle and he experienced poverty during his early years, born to a farming class and grew up in Brgy. Dakila, Malolos, Bulacan. His father was both a carpenter and a peasant, while his mother was a farmer as well. He was active in catechetical activities during his youth as part of the Kristiyanong Kapatiran (Christian Brotherhood) in Sta. Isabel Parish. He said that it was in church that he was first exposed to the social realities in the Philippines. His first rally was when their parish was invited to mobilize against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.^[1]

Activism

He became part of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan in 1983 as its secretary-general. He then became the Spokesperson of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon in 1988 and its secretary-general from 1989 to 1993 He became the secretary-general of the KMP in 1997.^[1]

Ramos was a survivor of the 1987 Mendiola Massacre.^[2]

He has been a victim of other human rights violations, including red-tagging and surveillance by alleged state agents who looked where he lives in Malolos, which KMP said has escalated since 2023. However, Ramos has remained steadfast and outspoken against abuses and incompetencies by the government.^[3]

As a progressive-thinking peasant activist, he has also articulated to students and other audiences the relation of urban struggles having rooted in feudalism in the Philippines.^[1]

2025 Senate run

Ramos, speaking in front of Central Luzon farmers who camped out outside the Department of Agrarian Reform

Ramos was revealed as part of Makabayan Senatoriable slate on, August 22, 2024, near their small family farm with fellow farmers. He said that he vows to champion genuine agrarian reform, food self-sufficiency, and strengthening of local food production. He said that it is time 'to plant' a farmer in the Senate.^[4] He has challenged the likes of Cynthia Villar with very large landholdings in the Philippines and opposed the Rice Tariffication Law (Republic Act 11203).^[2][5]