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.