Reflection: Ronnel DelRio
Being born sans material wealth is challenging enough yet
being born deprived of senses is way tougher. But for
someone who was born blind, Ronnel del Rio grew up
teeming with vision. What he lacks in eyesight, he makes
up with will power.
While poverty or mere apathy would stop people for
dreaming big, del Rio did not let his disability limit him in
life. Unlike most of his peers who would feel content
earning a living through alms, del Rio would set high
goals and reach for them . In fact he is now looking at
pursuing a doctoral degree after being considered as the
first blind Filipino to have earned a graduate degree. At
48, del Rio has a master’s degree in Management
Technology from the University of La Salle in Lipa,
Batangas , a province 90 kilometers south of manila.
But make no mistake about it: del Rio’s ascent to the
academic ladder was not easy. Obviously, del Rio had
more challenges to face than an average student in order
to go through elementary, high school, college, let alone,
graduate school. Before he obtained University, del Rio
said he had to massage at least two patients every day to
secure his allowance for the following school day. Despite
securing a scholarship to fund his college tuition, he still
had to work and study at the same time to afford the
expenses of going to school.
Kristina arce Reflection: Ana
Ana Kristina Arce is a Filipina born deaf but pursued her dream
of living a normal life. She amazes lots of people from the fact
that in the Philippines, having disabilities are not easy. Public
facilities for people with disabilities, are not functioning well. The
worst, they face discrimination from other people.
Growing up, she studied in a school that most of the students are
either deaf or have a problem with hearing. Even inside the class
there’s a discrimination happening. Communicating with other
students inside the class is quite difficult because they don’t
know how to communicate with each other. Her hearing
classmates didn’t include her in class projects and activities even
though she wants to participate. She felt stuck and disappointed.
She finds her place in De La Salle-College of St. Benilde School of
Deaf Education and Applied Studies. She found an environment
that she was welcome. She felt loved and cared that the school
was like a family. She learned true things about a Deaf person
and became a part of the Deaf community.
She pursues her master’s degree to be equipped with more
knowledge and to help other Filipino Deaf community. She
believes that other Deaf Filipino should improve their lives.
She became the first Filipino to be awarded the World Deaf
Leadership Scholarship at the Gallaudet University in Washington.
Her goal now is to teach and help hear fellow Deaf to become
empowered.
Reflection: Gilda Quintua
To run her business and talk to people, Gilda uses her hands –
either through pen and paper or Filipino Sign Language. The
definition of a successful Deaf Entrepreneur, she runs a travel
and tour business called Nakahara Lodging and Travel Agency.
Catering to those like her, it’s primarily a travel service for deaf
people around the world, through they also provide services for
hearing people.
Drawing inspiration from foreign deaf friends, she and her fellow
deaf Pinoys met in tourist spots, and she decided to set up her
own business starting in 2004. A travel agency like any other,
she’s known for her reliable arrangements and service which she
describes has “age-old” Filipino hospitality.
Pushing through discrimination and barriers, she managed to
learn the ins and outs of booking flights, accommodations, and
tour management.
In 2007, she was recognized at the Go Negosyo Caravan for
people with Disabilities in De Salle-College of St. Benilde. But, as
she said in her interview with Manila Bulletin, representing the
fellow deaf is its own reward.
“As a deaf person in this kind of business, I am proud to say that
I have crossed the border of so called limited access. I honestly
worked hard to achieve my goals. I wanted to show the world that
we are not cut off from mainstream society and we are capable of
regularly doing and keeping our jobs like the rest of hearing and
speaking people.”
Aside from all of this, Gilda has helped establish a deaf
organization in her province of Eastern Samar.
