Undeterred in their Pursuit of Happiness: Inspiring stories of PWD’s

Turning disability into “this ability” requires a conscious choice.

Person with Disabilities (PWD’s) have it harder than most people because they have physical, mental, or developmental impairments that prevents them from being able to do things that most people can do. They also have to deal with stigma and discrimination, mostly from people who do not even have a proper understanding of the gravity of the situation  that a lot of PWD’s have to face every single day.

The issue of PWD's in the country is often not given enough attention by the media, or even by government agencies. Back in 2015, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) came under hot water after excluding PWD statistics in the most recent Population Census. Censuses are supposed to give a complete tally of population statics to guide future government policies so leaving out an already discriminated sector like PWD's only points out to the sad reality that the plight of PWD's continue to go under the radar.

A November 2015 report by Philippine Star quoted the PSA as saying that they would instead do a survey for PWD statistics in 2016 which, according to them, will allow for a more accurate tabulation of PWD statistics. The agency also said that PWD statistics will be included in the 2020 Census.

The hardships that come with being a PWD is being compounded by the seeming lack of urgency on the part of the government to address their issues. Despite this, having disabilities is not, and should not be a reason for a person to stop living their lives in the most productive way possible. According to a 2013 data from PSA, 1.44 million Filipinos or 1.57 percent of the population has or has had a disability. Out of this significant number of people, countless inspiring stories of PWD’s have surfaced, including that of blind broadcast journalist Ronnel del Rio who is also a known champion of the advocacy for the empowerment of PWD’s. Another example is table tennis player Josephine Medina who won a bronze for the Philippines in the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

However, stories of success and perseverance among PWD’s are not limited to those that get covered by the media. This photo essay was done with the purpose of featuring PWD’s from all walks of life that refused to give-in to self-pity and mounted the courage to prove to other people that their disability will not stop them from being productive members of society for the sake of themselves and their families.

The people featured in this photo essay took control of their own lives and manifested in different ways that having disabilities is not the end of the world. While the subjects of this photo essay have different disabilities, they do share one thing in common; they all strive to achieve self-actualization by making the most of what they have, instead of brooding over what they don’t.

“Kung mahihiya ka na lang, wala kang mararating sa buhay eh. Saka hindi naman habang buhay may tutulong sa iyo kaya kailangan mo rin masuportahan ang sarili mo.” Loraine Vea Ventura, 18, was born with underdeveloped limbs but she did not allow the hardships that come with her disability to deter her from pursuing her studies.

Loraine Vea Ventura participates in an after-class brainstorming session with her classmates for a group activity on December 13, 2016 at Colegio de San Lorenzo in Quezon City. Ventura, a second year broadcasting student, aspires to be a radio DJ after finishing school. 

Lorna Ventura, mother of Loraine, takes off the bag from her daughter’s back as they prepare to go down the stairs to get to the exit of the main building of the school. Lorna tries to be at school almost every day to tend to the needs of her daughter, especially commuting back home.

Loraine Vea Ventura climbs the stairs as her mother, follows closely to guide her. Ventura scales several plights of steps every day just to get to the third floor of the main building of Colegio de San Lorenzo where communication classes are being held. 

True to her billing as a millennial, Loraine Vea Ventura spends a lot of time on social media platforms like Facebook where she likes posting photos and status updates. Ventura said she turns to social media to communicate with her friends when she has to stay at home while her mother and brother are away.  

“Sana ang mga katulad kong PWD’s ay hindi madiscourage makiharap sa mga tao at maghanap ng trabaho kasi hindi naman kadahilanan ang disability para mapabayaan mo ang pamilya mo”. Sophia Amparo, 53, was born with club foot, a condition that causes her foot to be pointed towards the other foot yet she has proven that she can still be the family’s breadwinner despite her condition.

A cloud of dust rises as Sophia Amparo sweeps the quadrangle inside Lagro Elementary School, where she works as a utility person. Amparo has been on the job for 25 years, filling the post left by her husband who died in 1991.

Sophia Amparo washes the family's laundry inside the bathroom of their home in Quezon City. In addition to doing her job as a utility person, Amparo also handles the household chores like cooking, cleaning the house and doing the laundry, especially during weekends.

When she has time to spare, Sophia Amparo assists her daughter Sandy, 12, with her school projects. The Amparo matriarch takes pride on the fact that she was able to provide for the education of her children, one of which holds a degree in Education and the other is currently a seminarian.

Sophia Amparo turns to her pet birds when she tries to unwind and relieve stress from her daily duties. Amparo is quite fond of pets as she owns three birds and a cat.

“Nakita ko na medyo nahihirapan si Mama sa pagbabayad ng mga gastusin kaya naisip ko na dapat makatulong na rin ako”.Richard Baslan, 28, who has intellectual disability, lost his father at a very young age so intends to do whatever he can way to help her mother, Lourdes, who raised him on her own ever since.

Richard Baslan washes cups and food trays as part of his duties as a helper in the canteen of Lagro Elementary School. Endearingly referred to as Iking by his co-workers, Baslan works an 8-hour shift during the weekdays.

With the ring of the bell signalling break time, Richard Baslan brings food trays to classrooms. Soups and drinks are what Baslan are in-charge of delivering so that students can take their recess without having to go to the canteen.

Lourdes Baslan, Richard's mother, wipes the sweat out of son's back after the latter's shift in the school canteen. Linda works as a house help and has been the bread winner of the family ever since her husband died.

Richard Baslan plays with his pet dog, a Japanese Spitz, upon arriving from his shift in the canteen. Richard's mother Lourdes takes care of dogs as one of her duties as a house help and affinity with dogs is a trait that the mother and son shares.

“15 years na ang nakalipas simula noong injury ko. Bago yun, nakakapag-basketball pa ako at nagagawa ko pa lahat”. Nestor “Bernie” Fortu, 48,  a native of Pola, Oriental Mindoro recalls the things he used to do before he got his disability as a result of a dislocation of the hip joint while he was carrying heavy loads of agricultural products down the mountain in his home province. Following a hip replacement surgery, he moves around with a limp but that did not stop him from continuing as the provider for his family.

Bernie Fortu uses his sales talking skills to convince a prospect buyer to purchase the books that he is selling. Fortu sells health books and religious books by displaying them in barangay halls and he also has stocks of books in his home so neighbors can just walk in if they are interested to buy.

Bernie Fortu adjusts the side mirror of his motorcycle as he prepares to go out to collect payments for his books from employees of a certain drugstore. Fortu seeks permission from companies to allow him to offer books that the employees can pay through salary deduction.

 

Raised as a staunch Seventh day Adventist, Bernie Fortu delivers his speech as the chosen speaker for the Vesper celebration of the church on December 9, 2016. Following the faith ever since he was young, Fortu is now a church elder and he attends the worship every Wednesday night, Friday night, and Saturday which they believe to be the holy day of God.

 Even if he can no longer play basketball in the way he used to, Bernie Fortu still sticks to his hobby in order to keep in shape and to teach children about the sport. Fortu invites children to join him in shoot-arounds and casual games as a form of exercise during weekends.

Exploring Bataan

J 195 class goes to Bataan, a place where history, culture and good food intertwine

UP Diliman as a travel destination

Looking for a quick yet relaxing getaway without leaving the metro? Try going to UP Diliman

Travelling back in time with a full tummy

They have always said that the best things in life do not come easy. This saying applies to visiting Chef Roland Laudico’s restaurant, Guevarra’s. Situated in P. Guevarra’s Street in San Juan (hence the name), the restaurant is not readily accessible to public transportation except for cabs. While the location is a bit iffy, it does come with its perks. The secluded place gives off the feeling of a retreat, a luxury very few restaurants can boast of, especially here in Metro Manila. With vintage houses looming from both sides of the road, you can click away happily with your camera on the way to the restaurant. Whenever you feel the need to get away from the worries of your busy life while enjoying great food, Guevarra’s is the place to go.

Guevarra is an ancestral house-turned restaurant

The restaurant is a converted ancestral house of Chef Laudico and started operation on March 5, 2013. The restaurant gives off a relaxing feel, painted in immaculate white coupled with a flowing water fountain facing the entrance. It was nice to see that the restaurant retained the ancient feel of the ancestral house. Portraits of several figures in Philippine history like Apolinario Mabini and Pedro Guevarra hung on the walls. The facade features a staircase leading to the main door, a perfect place for photo-ops. The glass windows let you view the garden outside while you eat, contributing to the “presko” ambience.    

A portrait of  the sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini

A flowing fountain stands at the entrance of the restaurant

 As with every restaurant, food is still the defining factor. Guevarra’s offers authentic Filipino food in a buffet style. It works on a self-service system wherein you choose from the wide assortments of delicacies and dig in to your heart’s content. The main dishes range from seafood like halabos na hipon, the usual suspects like chicken adobo, and the bestseller angus beef tapa among many others. There are also options for vegans since they also serve vegetable dishes.

Being a buffet style restaurant, Guevarra’s is a haven for volume eaters. Arriving there early is also a must if you intend to get your money’s worth. (The restaurant opens at 11:00 in the morning and closes at 2:00 for the morning shift). The 2:00 pm deadline is just for the kitchen. Customers who are not yet finished are allowed to eat the foods that were already served before the time.

The experience with the food was sub-par for me. But to be fair, I did not really put myself in position to enjoy the food fully. Buffets are not really for slow eaters and 12:30 is not really a recommended arrival time. Seafood compromised the majority of the massive blob of food I put on my plate. Halabos na hipon was a personal favorite, with its savory sauce complimenting the crunchy yet tender sugpo. Fried chicken adobo was a heavy meal, but who says no to abodo and fried chicken in one right? Most of the class had their 2^nd maybe even 3^rd servings, I had just one (but it a huge heap of food). It was with the desserts that I had my fair share. The desserts were bite-sized so I had a taste of almost all of them.  The chewy and chocolatey pudding was a stand-out.

You just can't have enough of  Guevarra's puddings 

Assuming that you are not a slow eater and will arrive on time, Guevarra’s offers good value for money. The food, the ambience and the overall experience makes up for the 450 pesos buffet rate. And to quote Guevarra’s marketing officer Lyka Matugas, “Masarap balik-balikan”

Lyka Matugas being interviewed by the J195 class 

                              

                

Exploring Lesser Known Destinations: Tumauini, Isabela

When people are asked about tourist destinations in the Philippines, the usual answers would be Boracay, Palawan, Baguio and the likes. The few times that you will hear Isabela in the discussion of tourist destinations will come from talking with someone who is from the province or someone who seeks relatively unknown tourist spots.

 My family spent last Christmas on my mother’s hometown of Tumauini, Isabela.  Judging from my visits there, Tumauini consists mostly of farmlands, with commercial areas located at the center of the municipality, commonly referred by locals as ‘sentro.’

 According to the official website of Isabela province, Tumauni is inhabited by 66,812 people. Most of the locals here are Ibanag-speaking so it might come in handy to pack some Ibanag words before coming here although a lot of the locals already know how to speak Filipino due to interactions with Filipino-speaking people.

 While the information provided above hardly projects Tumauini as an interesting travel destination, this seeming non-descript place actually features several travel-worthy destinations, some of which have a special connection to me and my family.

Church of Saint Matthias

(Photo Credits: Jose B. Cabajar/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Commonly referred to as ‘Tumauini Church’, the Church of Saint Matthias was designed by Dominican architect-friar Domingo Forto in 1784 and construction was completed in 1805, according to an article by Inquirer.net. The church, which was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission in 1989, stands out for its reddish-brown color due to the red bricks that it is composed of. The cylindrical bell tower beside the church provides a stark contrast. The shape of the bell tower is unique, closely resembling cakes served during weddings.

The church was where my grandparents married for the second time in celebration of their 50^th wedding anniversary. Saint Matthias Institute, a school behind the church, was where my mother studied in high school. After visiting the church, travellers can eat the famous Pancit Cabagan in nearby eateries.

(Photo Credits: Rowena Bicera)

Magoli River in Antagan I is the ‘unkown in the list. Why it is not more known to tourist is a wonder because it truly is magnificent scenery. The water in this river lives up pretty well to the description of ‘crystal clear.’  The sandy shore can compare to the better known beaches in the Philippines and you will bathe with a relaxing view of the mountains that line the river from the side opposite the shore.

There are huge white stones at the right side of the shore near the entrance which is a good picture-taking site. The air is the very definition of ‘presko’, and you can see the bottom of the river through its waters which looks greenish from afar because of the reflection of the trees in the mountains (see the background of the photo).

Visitors don’t have to pay any entrance fee to see this place. The water is icy cold at first dip but you will get used to it after a while. There are plans to further develop Magoli River as a tourist spot which will hopefully catapult it to the limelight. The only catch is that there is no lifeguard so visitors have to be extra careful.

Camp Samal 

(Photo Credits: fantastic10.wordpress.com)

Rounding up the list is Camp Samal, an elevated area that gives you the overlooking view of the entire municipality of Tumauini, the Cagayan River and other nearby places. The National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1977 was hosted in this place. According to the official website of Isabela province, Camp Samal covers an area of 23.50 hectares and is situated 500 feet above sea level.

I have yet to come to this place but it would be in my list of places to visit when I come to Isabela next year. The photos of this place in the web are limited yet, it sure looks like a relaxing place with a nice view to boot.

How to get to Tumauini:

The usual mode of transport to got to Tumauini from Metro Manila is to take buses. Bus stations in Cubao like Victory Liner have trips bound to Tuguegarao, Cagayan. Tumauini is located along the way to Cagayan so you can ask the bus conductor to drop you off.

Price of the trip to Tumauini from Cubao in air-conditioned bus range from P500 to P550. 

An encounter with teeny-weeny pawikans

(Photo Credits: Jiru Rada)

Year in and year out, I have been too busy with my academic responsibilities that I seldom have time to do something else. Ever since coming to UP, I have taken all summer/midyear terms so what is supposed to be “vacation time” was instead spent poring through books and readings. I go home after school then go to school again tomorrow and so on and so forth. I am what can be called “taong bahay”.

Fast forward to November 17, 2015. It was 9:10 in the evening. The person in charge of the Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan was lecturing the class about the do’s and don’ts of patrolling the beach. Tired from the grind of the travel from Manila, I was barely listening to him. The faint light of the mini-amphitheatre and the stark darkness of the evening sky seem to be lulling me to sleep. Then the guy sent to check on the pawikan eggs said, “Mayroon po.”

Upon hearing the most interesting news said all night, I was stirred awake. I was not too optimistic that I will be seeing a pawikan in the flesh since “Chairman” said that pawikans laying eggs in the shore does not happen every night. Since four pawikans were seen the night prior, the pessimist in me came out when I considered the game of averages.

Nakalabas na ba yung mga nguso?, Chairman asked.

Napisa na, nakalabas na po, said his aide.

That did the trick for me. I will be seeing real pawikans up close after all. The bits of sand from the beach that found their way to my shoes was bothersome but I temporarily forgot about it as excitement flooded inside of me. After last-second reminders about handling the hatchlings, I was finally able to get a glimpse of the little creatures.

Aided by flashlights that illuminated the basin, I saw the hatchlings scuttle through the sand. The grey little pawikans seemed to have camouflage as they had the same color as the sand in their temporary container. Prof. Rara later explained that their real color is actually black and they seem grey because they are covered by the grey sand. Their tiny black eyes reflected the light from the cameras and the flashlights as they flap their limbs to move about.         

Upon the insistence of the class, we were allowed to touch and hold the pawikans in our hands. Chairman agreed  on the condition that we will not post the photos we will take online since it might offend some animal rights advocates. I myself got a photo with a pawikan in my palms. I am not into animals that much but that very moment was special for me since pawikans are endangered species with a 1 out of 100 survival rate. I just hope the one I held would be able to grow and live long.

(Photo Credits: Jiru Rada)

When we went out to look for pawikans laying eggs on the beach, my hopes were really up after seeing the hatchlings. The shoreline we patrolled was 1.5 kilometers long and it was a struggle all throughout because the sand moves from under your feet, seemingly pushing you towards the incoming waves. People in Bataan said the beach is “nangunguha” and I guess that the loose sand is the main reason why.

The walk was really tiring but while I was sitting on the sand viewing the moon on the horizon, I realized that I wanted to have more of this. The unique experience of travelling to a place where I have never been to before was exhilarating and refreshing. Even if we were not able to witness a pawikan laying eggs, this part of the Bataan trip was easily my favourite. I realized that taking a break every once in a while could actually be productive since it helps clear the mind.

(Photo Credits: Jiru Rada)

Knowing about the low survival rate of pawikans also changed the way I view things such as water pollution, reclamation and poaching. The plight of the pawikans would be on the back of my mind everytime I am in the Mall of Asia and every time I am on the beach.

And as if to complete the trip to the Pawikan Conservation Center, I saw a grown-up pawikan on the morning we left the center. There were grown-up pawikans in the  pawikan-shaped “pond” in the amphitheatre which I did not see the night before. Unfortunately, one of them had a cut-off limb. From there I assumed that the pawikans in there were actually unfit to be released to the ocean again.

(Photo Credits: Jiru Rada)

To sum it up, my encounter with the pawikans changed me in such a way that made me want to support efforts to conserve their race. The entire Bataan trip also surfaced my desire to travel as a means of unwinding after the grit and grind of school. I would embark on more travels once I graduate to acquire the indescribable but ultimately satisfying feeling of exploring other places and having new experiences.