(Picture of the concert of persons with disability held at SM Entertainment Plaza, City of San Fernando, Pampanga (Philippines)with Director Margarita Sampang, DSWD Region III, Ms. Gloria Tongol of Sto. Tomas, July 2005.)In the olden days, blind people or the disabled were regarded as cursed individuals. When Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came, He changed this notion to teach that everyone, disabled or not, has a place in God's love and mercy. It is only man, in his selfish heart, who retained this notion, that a disabled - blind or crippled - is a sinful creature. God has gifted us with special power to change, to say the least, what man thinks of us. I know what I feel of the world, and how I can change it. At least, the blind know how to change what others think of them, or what they think of us.
God is so merciful, I believe. The blind have the sixth sense. I have my pen to write and TEACH people (at least, teach). Sometimes, we join hands in proclaiming our equality with others, with you who have pondered and read this, my humble message. In a society where there's "survival of the fittest", we have survived. And we will overcome. These people who say something not so pleasant for us to hear are the people who ought to be taught. But we understand them, and teach them the way of a decent living.We have come to the point where we are able to use our other functional senses (and that's why, we are that sensitive). If we can not see through the eyes, we have the "penetrating eyes" that pierce the soul. If we don't have the "window of the soul'', that's because our soul is assured of a place in His mercy. I know a number of visually-impaired individuals and I notice that they have that "sixth sense" to see what others, like us, can't see.
I have a friend, who was born blind, who used to accompany me in my electronic-repair shop. Sometimes, I don't really know what I'm doing but he is quick to remind me that an electric fan has a busted stator coil or that the tv has a defective ic (integrated circuit), or that I am wrong with in my repair work. He's a keen observer of the things around us, of the things Helen Keller said "they see but we can not see." She once asked, "How is it possible for a person, who have eyes to see, to enter the woods and observe nothing?" That we are. And for a cripple, like me, what discipline and humility have I earned in the eyes of the Lord.
I may not tread in those wonderful places, but, surely I will be brought to the promised seat where there are no pains and sorrows, where my legs are equal with yours; where the disabled are more fortunate. If you haven't changed what you perceived of the disabled, you need to change the inside of you. You can not see what the blind can see. You're the one who's blind.
God is so merciful, I believe. The blind have the sixth sense. I have my pen to write and TEACH people (at least, teach). Sometimes, we join hands in proclaiming our equality with others, with you who have pondered and read this, my humble message. In a society where there's "survival of the fittest", we have survived. And we will overcome. These people who say something not so pleasant for us to hear are the people who ought to be taught. But we understand them, and teach them the way of a decent living.We have come to the point where we are able to use our other functional senses (and that's why, we are that sensitive). If we can not see through the eyes, we have the "penetrating eyes" that pierce the soul. If we don't have the "window of the soul'', that's because our soul is assured of a place in His mercy. I know a number of visually-impaired individuals and I notice that they have that "sixth sense" to see what others, like us, can't see.
I have a friend, who was born blind, who used to accompany me in my electronic-repair shop. Sometimes, I don't really know what I'm doing but he is quick to remind me that an electric fan has a busted stator coil or that the tv has a defective ic (integrated circuit), or that I am wrong with in my repair work. He's a keen observer of the things around us, of the things Helen Keller said "they see but we can not see." She once asked, "How is it possible for a person, who have eyes to see, to enter the woods and observe nothing?" That we are. And for a cripple, like me, what discipline and humility have I earned in the eyes of the Lord.
I may not tread in those wonderful places, but, surely I will be brought to the promised seat where there are no pains and sorrows, where my legs are equal with yours; where the disabled are more fortunate. If you haven't changed what you perceived of the disabled, you need to change the inside of you. You can not see what the blind can see. You're the one who's blind.
September 6 - 14 2007 The big survey for people with disability in the little town of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga
We are ahead. We are determined. No matter what happens, no matter what they think of us. We have conducted, and we are conducting the survey to see what and where and who are the guys, the beautiful ones Jesus called the chosen ones of God - the disabled or in official lingo persons with disability or pwd. We have volunteers, honest and caring and loving people, member of MSWDO of Sto. Tomas and just ordinary folks wanting to help us. Next time, their names will be imprinted on this site. This is headed by Ms. Gloria Tongol, with myself, pinaka pogi, and other pogi boys Jef Baluyut and Fred. And we have our balladeer who can see only the beautiful chicks - Jim Neria.
Our group is now a member, officially, folks, of the Provincial Federation of pwds of Pampanga. And we are counting on Among, our beloved Governor, who came from heaven, no, well, from his parish just to lead. Watch out folks.
