1.

12-year-old boy with special needs graduates from sixth grade

At age of 12, Izhar Wayne Alfon is showing that a winning outlook is the key to
achieving more in life. A special boy dreaming to become a police officer, he
graduated elementary on April 1, 2019, with a general average of 76. It may be
"pasang-awa" or barely making it, but it is a remarkable feat for a slow learner like
Wayne. His story has been inspiring netizens since his story was put out on Facebook
last April 5, 2019, by Iznar's adoptive sibling Pauline Claire Puno, who recounted the
moment her youngest brother excitedly told her and their mother, Emely Aguirre, that
he would graduate from elementary. Despite his challenges in learning and final
grades ranging from 76 to 78, the boy received his report card with the note,
"Promoted." In her post, Pau said her brother had been lagging behind kids his age
and their family was already resigned to the idea that he would repeat sixth grade. "At
one point, as a family, we decided that 'Kahit mag-repeat na lang siya ng grade 6.' He
would also agree and accept that. He would always tell us, 'Okay lang naman mag-
repeat ako pag 'di ako pumasa.'"
But faith has its way of surprising those who never lose hope. Her post continued,
"One day, after school, he came running home, excitedly shouting, 'Mama,
gagraduate daw ako!' He sat down between me and mama and he continued, 'Ate
totoo pala ang birthday wish kasi ang wish ko sana maka-graduate ako tapos
nagkatotoo.'
"We were silenced. We realized that inside his child-like mind was a dream to
graduate elementary." Pau and the entire family have been loving Wayne dearly since
they adopted him in 2016. She added, "Grades will never define him. He may have
low grades, but he has a great character, an attitude that we will never exchange for
anything." Her post is still being shared by Facebook users with 151,000 reactions and
8,200 comments to date.
(SOURCE: PEP.Ph)

IFSU-LAG-INS-F012
Rev.00(Jan.03,2022)
 2.

A boy with Dreams, a boy with Cerebral Palsy

This 12-year-old boy loves to cook.
For now, all his utensils and ingredients are made of plastic. Soon, however, he could
be whipping up real food. He is Cessar Jr., named after his father.
The young boy wears eyeglasses supported by strings, making sure they don’t fall off
whenever he bends over to cook. When he’s not playing in his mini kitchen, Cessar Jr.
Loves to hang out with his two siblings. “He’s energetic and can be naughty too,”
Sheila, Cessar Jr.’s older sister, said in Filipino.The two are close, with Sheila
assisting her brother whenever he takes his afternoon stroll. "I wish he could someday
walk properly, by himself," she added. Cessar Jr. has Cerebral Palsy.
He is is part of Save the Children’s KASALI project, which provides inclusive
education to children with disability.
(SOURCE: SAVETHECHILDREN.ORG.PH and on YouTube
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?
time_continue=3&v=6GwnbRiP9xo&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.savethechildren.org.ph
%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjMsMjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo)

3.

“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

IFSU-LAG-INS-F013
Rev.00(Jan.03,2022)
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
Aimedia, 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 of greater 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 definitely 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.”
(SOURCE: NOLITC.ORG)

IFSU-LAG-INS-F013
Rev.00(Jan.03,2022)
 4.

Joseph Anggot has recently proven that nothing can stop someone from reaching
his dreams-not even his disability. The 22-year old college graduate posted an
inspiring story of his strong will and determination. His post touched the netizens
hearts and it became viral. PAY ATTENTION: The Most Amazing Models From The
'80s And How They Look Now He took up Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in
Mathematics, at the Western Mindanao State University – External Studies in
Zamboanga City, Philippines and graduated last April 2 this year. On his recent
interview with NFH Fotografia, Anggot described himself ‘as a rock’. “Having disability
is not easy. It’s unavoidable to get bullied by my peers. But I didn’t mind it, rather I’m
continuously rising up. Just like a rock that people just step on, they don’t know its
worth,” he further explained. The lad also shared his experience being bullied because
of his disability. “Yes I’ve been bullied since childhood. We know kids they are
advanced in thinking. They didn’t know what they have done to me, as long as they
were happy.” PAY ATTENTION: Using free basics app to access internet for free?
Now you can read KAMI news there too. Use the search option to find us. Read KAMI
news while saving your data! Despite being hurt from the bullying, Anggot did not lose
hope. “But now, I’m strong enough to face it. I accept the fact that it’s me, a person
having disability. But to tell you frankly I’m also hurt but I’m not losing my hope despite
of my condition… Look at me now [talking about finishing school), disability is not a
hindrance to success,” he said. He also shared an advice on keeping a positive mind
set. “My advice to the people with or without disabilities, that is, always have faith and
accept [of] what you are. Ignore the negative vibes. Always think positive [smiley].”
Finishing school was just one of the chapters in his life, and he knows that there are
bigger things to come soon. “I am fully ready to face my new chapter of my life.
Hoping that [I] can pass the LET [Licensure Exam for Teachers] soon [folded hands
emoticon] by God’s will,” he said. The loving son dedicated his success to his mother.
“You shared so much sweat and even tears [just to help me finish school],” he added.
(SOURCE: KAMI.COM.PH & Facebook-Joseph Anggot)

IFSU-LAG-INS-F013
Rev.00(Jan.03,2022)
 5.

Rossana Marie Zaragosa, 40, has multiple disabilities (deformed face, speech
and hearing defect). She was born in Quezon City and the eldest among the brood of
three children.  In her early years, she was enrolled by her family to a speech therapist
to help her improve her speech problem. She studied under special education classes
and learned basic sign language. Since then, she gradually adjusted from her
environment and learned to communicate with other deaf. Her family is very
supportive with her goal to finish schooling. Rossana Marie shared that she
experienced bullying from co-students and even in her community but it only
motivated her to continue her studies, especially because of the strong support of her
family. She was able to finish high school and continued her studies at ICCT College
Foundation, Inc. where she finished a two (2)-year Diploma Course of Computer
Secretariat.  
She tried to apply for work based on her skills but it was hard for her to be employed.
Meanwhile, her parents helped her to put up a small business through a sari-sari
store. Unfortunately, a point came when she was no longer able to sustain the rent for
the store space.
Luckily, one of her friends referred her to NVRC to undergo training. She underwent
training along Computer Software course to improve her skills in encoding. She
gained knowledge and skills and developed self-confidence through self-interaction
and being inspired with different stories of Persons with Disabilities. She became one
of the leaders of the Center and helped her co-trainees as an interpreter. She is also
active in participating in different activities of the Center which helped her to be
mentally and emotionally ready to undergo On-the-Job Training outside the center.

She was referred to one of the partner agencies of NVRC for possible employment.
On May 17, 2019, she started her OJT on the said agency and was assigned as a
staff courier who submits and collects all the documents and receipts from other
companies. She was also assisting some staff in clerical job such as encoding.
Because of her dedication, she was absorbed in the company at the end of her three
(3)-month training because of her very satisfactory performance.
On July 17, 2019, she officially started to work at Fleetserve Company. She earned
around P350.00 a day and her employer also pays for her SSS, Philhealth and Pag-
ibig benefits. She expressed her gratitude to NVRC for providing her equal opportunity
to work despite of her disabilities. As of now, Rossana is still working at Fleetserve
and has shown her dedication and passion, getting her fully absorbed as a regular
employee. She wanted to inspire other Persons with Disabilities like her to be self-
motivated and to continuously fulfill their dreams for right now, employment

IFSU-LAG-INS-F013
Rev.00(Jan.03,2022)
opportunities for Persons with Disabilities are very open as a lot of people are
becoming more and more inclusive, thanks to DSWD and its partner-agencies.
(SOURCE: INQUIRER.NET.COM.PH)

IFSU-LAG-INS-F013
Rev.00(Jan.03,2022)