by: Aileen P. Lariba
BOLJOON, Cebu, June 9 (PIA) --- An english subject, best friends and fairy tales are just some of the beautiful things Patcini Marie Visamos likes.
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However, what she really likes to do is draw everything and anything she sees. Her sensitivity makes her see and wants to put everything on paper.
Raised by a single mom with a strong faith in God, Patcini is well liked by her teachers and classmates because of her gentle nature.
Her determination to belong enabled her to pull her share of household chores from sweeping the floor, to folding the laundry as her share of responsibilities at home.
This same driving force makes her to go to school everyday enduring the long ride either on a motorcycle or in someone else’s back.
The scrapes she gets from falling off a motorcycle is nothing compared to the feeling of success each and everyday that she would make it to the school’s doorsteps.
It was not therefore a surprise that this 12-year old with no hand and legs gets a special academic award on her graduation day at Nangka Elementary School.
“Abi naku makaundang na ko ug eskwela kay mahal naman sige sakay motor kay di man ko kalakaw pareha sa akong mga igsoon. Unya padad-an man gyud ko ni mama ug balon kay di naman ko mu-uli kay layo man, nisamot ug kamahal ang inadlaw-adlaw na gastos, “ Patcini narrated. (I thought I would stop schooling because unlike my other sibling who walks to school, I have to ride a motorcycle couple with my mother prioritizing my lunch in school since i cannot go home for lunch, it seems to be getting expensive).
“Musugot nalang pud ta ko mo-undang kay maluoy naman ko ni mama ug maulaw nako sa akong mga igsoon. Maayo gani na-abot ang Pantawid Pamilya na kwarta kay ma-ayo gyud ang gigamit para akong plete padulong sa eskwelahan hangtud ko ni graduate ug grade six,” she added. (I was so ashamed that I was considering of quitting school. Good thing though that the assistance of Pantawid Pamilya arrived because it was what we use to continually send me to school everyday until i graduate grade six).
In spite of her disabilities, Patcini never felt left out or embarassed because her little community saw to it that she is spared from the ridicule and mockery.
“Daghan man motabang namo, kadtong nalagpot ko sa habal-habal kay dangug ang dalan, pag-abot sa eskwelahan gi tabangan ko ug limpyo sa akong mga maestra ug klasmayt,” she said. (Many have been helping us such as the time, I got thrown off from the motorcycle due to a slippery road, I was dirty when I arrive in school and my classmates and teachers helped clean me up).
“Kung wala na miy ika-plete o di ba walay mu bala nako, mag tinabangay pud among mga silingan especially my mother’s cluster group in Pantawid Pamilya ma-abot lang ko sa eskwelahan,” Patcini added. (Also those times that we do not have money to pay for the motorcycle fare or need somebody to carry me on their back, our neighbors take turn in helping me out especially my mother’s group in Pantawid Pamilya in order for me to go to school).
“Mao nga naningkamot gyud ko kay mau raman niy pa-agi nga makapakita ko nga sa akong pasalamat sa mga tawo ug sa Pantawid Pamilya,” she added with gratitude in her voice. (That is why I try to do my best becuse it is the only way I know how to say “Thank You” to our neighbors and Pantawid Pamilya).
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a poverty reduction strategy of the national government implemented by DSWD.
It is designed to give conditional cash grant of P500/month for health and P300/child but a maximum of three children only to extremely poor household.
Set conditions for health includes pre-natal and post-natal care, immunization, weighing and de-worming and for education a monthly attendance of not less 85 percent.
Part of the program’s design is to educate the parents as well through the Family Development Sessions that DSWD conducts regularly. (PIA-7/MBCNewman & DSWD-7/APLariba)