AMIRAH STORY

“I believe in the saying that your present circumstances do not determine where you can go; they
merely determine where you start’.

“I am the middle child; I have a brother and a sister.  My mother is a housewife; and my father
died when I was five years old.   Since then, I have dreamt to lift my family up from extreme
poverty.  Through the help of my grandmother and my uncle, I was able to go to school. I was in
elementary that time when I encountered a health problem – there was a lump developing on my
right hip that needed surgery.  I was in grade 6 when I was admitted in the hospital and operated
on.  Despite my condition, I was able to continue my Education even if it was very hard for me –
I went to school only during examination.  Finally, I graduated at Cadiz Viejo Elementary
School. 

“I wanted to proceed to high school, but I was saddened because of the changes in my physical
appearance – a hump was starting to get visible on my upper back. I was starting to doubt and
ask myself, ‘Why am I like this?’ I lost my confidence and because of that I didn’t even want to
leave our house because I was embarrassed… ashamed to be judged in the society I lived in”. 

“It was 2013 when I started to work as a housemaid here in Bacolod City. This was the first job
that I had. After a few months, I decided to go back to school because I really wanted to finish
high school. I had a friend who was studying through the Alternative Learning System or ALS.  I
asked her what the requirements are so that I could enroll; and by God’s grace, I passed. I asked
my Madam for permission if I could go home every weekend because my class was only on
weekends, and she said yes. During that time, I was very happy to attend ALS classes. Even
though my salary was only 1800 Php, I just tried to save up and stretch it for a month. I used it
for my transportation fare and gave a little to my mother as well as to my sister who was in high
school that time. After six months, I got my assessment exam in October 2013.  If I passed it, I
could graduate from the secondary level.  It was in March 2014 when I learned that I passed the
assessment, and I was so elated because I was not expecting that. The next day was our
graduation, and I was very thankful to God because despite my disability, I reached my goal of
finishing high school. 

“Years passed, and it was 2018 when one of my friends told me that she has a cousin working in
a BPO company.  She said she was trying to apply for training so that she, too, could work in a
call center.  So, I went with her to NOLITC, and we took the exam and had an interview.  We
were qualified to take up English Language Proficiency.  My NOLITC trainer helped me
overcome my shyness and lack of self-confidence, especially because of my physical
appearance.  I learned how to speak English and mustered the courage to talk in front of an
audience.  I knew how to pronounce words and construct sentences correctly.  Most importantly,
I found a lot of new friends in the dormitory, where we all stayed for free because I don’t have
enough money for everyday fare from Cadiz to Bacolod City and vice versa.
“After we were done with the one-month training, we were endorsed to Ai media, and that was
my first call center job.  It was very difficult for me at first, but after a month, I was getting
better, and I worked there for almost one year, but I eventually resigned because of some
personal reasons.  After some time, I tried to apply in MGE, which was later known as EDGE
LIMITED CO.  I was hired; and after a year, to my surprise, I was promoted as Customer
Verification Manager.  Now, life is better; and I am able to be a great help to my family.

 “My struggles and hurdles in life only prove that however difficult life may seem, there is
always something you can do and succeed at.  And I cannot help singing, ‘This is real… this is
me… this is exactly where I am supposed to be… I am proud to be me…’ Despite my physical
appearance, I can show to the world that this is not the hindrance to achieving success.  Thank
you to NOLITC for opening doors for PWDs like me and for empowering me to overcome my
limitations and creating worthwhile possibilities in my life.”