It is still fresh in my memory. All the doctor’s statements are clear to me even up to now.

I can still recall the day the doctor confirmed my disability [or rather physical challenge]. I still can remember the hospital where my family first realized about my condition. It all came clear to us that I was deaf…

As a child, I was often misunderstood. I was always laughed at because I hear things differently. I was very clumsy and I usually bump things due to my poor balance. I was unfriendly for I was afraid that the other kids will just tease me. Then I was somehow enlightened when we consulted an ENT specialist. I overheard the conversation of my aunt and the doctor. He said that my left ear is not functioning and only a hearing aid can help my situation. I was perplexed on what to feel. I asked myself if I should be relieved because I already knew the source of my difference or should I be scared that a greater peril was ahead of me. Then the doctor dragged me at one side and told me something. His left ear was deaf too. I was surprised with what he said. But what touched me the most was when he said that I can be anyone I want to be and that only I can determine if I will be less or more of who I am in spite of my disability.

I took the advice of the doctor. I faced the world with a new attitude. Though very unusual for seven years old, I began to change my life. From a weakling in class, I managed to top all students. I gained friends.  I tried to understand others when they made fun of my errors. I became a fighter at an early age. Growing up was never easy for me. Of course it was not only my deafness that hinders me and my family to have a good and contented life. One of our great problems is financial deficiency. I had to understand that mom and dad couldn’t buy me a hearing aid. Again, I have to rely on myself to work things in my life smoothly. From then, I knew that raising five children which include a deaf son and a Down syndrome daughter is intolerably tiresome. I constantly told myself that I have to be understanding.

Today, I am unstoppable on doing what I want. I joined different contests like singing, journalism, essay writing, debate, dancing and even stage acting. I gained a lot of friends. I still top in school and my classmate found a leader in me. Though very tiring and time consuming, I now always explain to others why I mishear a statement. I continuously try something new; something that will make me happy and proud of myself. At first I really do not know why I do so many things. But I found an answer to my question. It is because I want to prove to myself that I am more than my deafness and that nothing is impossible if I only trust in my will.

I believe that the future has stored a lot for me. Qualifying for UP and UST is just the first step towards the realization of my dreams. I plan to take up Pharmacy or Medical Technology as my pre-medicine course. Continuing it to medicine school is my long term goal. Hopefully after long years of studying, I can be a successful cardiologist/surgeon which I have dreamed of since childhood. I want to be a doctor. I study hard because I wish to be a doctor. I believe that this dream of mine will satisfy my longing to realize my real purpose in life. Through medicines and operations, I will make my family proud and I will be able to repay my parents’ untiring love. I yearn to be a doctor because I want to be a light to those who are in suffering.

As a way of responding to my community and also to my desire that no one will be left behind, I dream to establish a foundation that will help and enable all people with disability; a foundation that can make every disabled person triumphant over their difficulties. Just like those plastic surgeons who render service for free to those kids with cleft palate, I want to give free assistance, be it in operations or in support system gadgets, to those who need special attention. I desire that all deaf can hear, that all blinds can see and that all feet can feel the warmth of the earth.

Just like the doctor who saved me from my silent world, I pray that one day I will meet a kid who is in the same situation the doctor and I had been. I will tell him the same words that inspired me. Hopefully, things can turn great and wonderful for that kid. As I journey through life, I always know that behind the dark clouds are the silver lining and the answers to my prayer. For now, I’ll continue living life one day at a time until I completely hear and heal my deaf world…

(Video from youtube.com; posted by pasukngpasuk 08.11.08)

[Note: This article was written by one of the finalists for the Iglesia Science and Technology Award for 2009 at Notre Dame of Manila.] On a related note, the message of this article in some ways parallels the challenges and hardships faced by Filipino music idol Arnel Pineda on his way to success, in that: "We deal with the cards we are dealt with and then always give our best for our voice to be heard when our chance comes!"