For 17-year-old Edy Rose Tayab of Quezon, Bukidnon, being born with a congenital deformity is not easy. Daily life is physically difficult, especially as she has no feet and left hand.
But Edy Rose did not let her disability define her life. She refused to let anything get in the way of achieving her dreams.
She wanted to excel in her class, just like her able-bodied friends, and she worked hard for it.
“Gusto kong patunayan na kaya ko ding gawing ang ginagawa ng mga taong walang kapansanan (I want to prove that I can also do what other people without disabilities can do),” claimed Edy Rose.
She, however, shared that she sometimes cannot help but compare herself with her classmates especially when she is faced with the realities of her physical deficiencies.
Edy Rose still manages to walk using her underdeveloped lower limbs without crutches. Everyday, she travels approximately three kilometers from her home in Barangay Butong to the Apayao National High School, a challenge she hurdled to finish her secondary education.
“Usahay makamahay (I feel resentful at times),” she said, especially when some of her classmates or even adults would taunt her, saying,“Nganong ing-ana man imong nilaktan? Mohilom nalang ko. Pero sa akong galamhan gisakitan nako (Why are you walking like that? I just keep silent. But deep inside I am hurt).”
Though hurt with such remarks, instead of wallowing in self-pity, Edy Rose persevered in pursuing a better life.
Among the top ten
Her efforts paid off, Edy Rose graduated as top nine of Apayao National High School.
Graduating with honors is a dream come true for Edy Rose, who plans to take up business and accountancy related courses in college.
A consistent honor student since elementary, Edy Rose said, “Gustong-gusto ko pong mag-aral (I enjoy studying).”
While a waterloo for many, Edy Rose said she loves Mathematics.
“Parang naglalaro lang po ako pagdating sa Math (It feels like I’m just playing games when it comes to Mathematics),” said Edy Rose. She shared that she wants to answer Mathematical challenges.
Thankful to Pantawid Pamilya
The Tayab family expressed their gratitude to the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Through the education cash grant under the program, Edy Rose was able to finish high school.
Before becoming a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, Edy Rose recalled that her family could hardly send her to school.
“May adlaw ko nga walay balon sauna. Karon kompleto nako og balon ug mga gamit sa eskwelahan (Before, there were days that I do not have food to take for my meal at school. Now, I have a small allowance for food and school supplies),” Edy Rose said.
“Magpasalamat jud ko sa DSWD ug ni Presidente Aquino kay natabangan ko nila sa pag-eskwela pinaagi sa Pantawid Pamilya aron makab-ot nako ang akong mga pangandoy (I thank DSWD and President Aquino because they have helped me in my studies and in reaching my dreams through Pantawid Pamilya).”
“Ang mga kagaya ni Edy Rose ang dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong programang Pantawid Pamilya. Pinapakita niya na hindi hadlang ang kapansanan at kahirapan sa tagumpay basta’t may determinasyon. Patunay lang na sa kaunting tulong mula sa gobyerno, kayang abutin ang pangarap (Children like Edy Rose are the reason why we implement programs like the Pantawid Pamilya. She showed us that disability or poverty is not an obstacle if one is determined to succeed. Edy Rose proves that with a little help from government, dreams can be achieved),” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.
Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides cash grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).
In 2013, the DSWD expanded the coverage of Pantawid Pamilya to include the 15-18 age bracket to ensure that the children-beneficiaries will graduate from high school and have a higher rate of employability.
Edy Rose is one of the 333,673 Pantawid Pamilya graduate students in high school.