Couple Romeo and Marilyn Lorida, both are blind, do not see their disability a hindrance to their responsibilities with their four children. With the help of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, they found new hope that soon, they’ll get their family out of the dark through educating their children.

 

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When she was given a precious gift, another was stolen. She gave birth to now 10-year-old Reynante (her youngest), but she lost her light. And when she expected her husband to take charge of their growing family, he slowly lost his sight, too.

Marilyn Jane Lorida, 49, from Brgy San Francisco in Majayjay, Laguna Province has been to a couple of specialists already but still does not know the cause of her situation. She was advised to undergo an operation but she’ll not regain her vision completely.

Her husband Romeo, 48, a farmer, is not totally blind. He has a big chance of seeing clearly again upon operation. The specialists said that years of work under the sun may have caused his visual impairment.

Though both would have wanted to get their light back, with their financial incapability, not even one of them can be supported for an operation. What little income they have, they provide for their daily needs and the education of their four children.

 

Getting acquainted to the dark

“Marami akong pangarap para sa mga anak ko pero biglang nawala. Pakiramdam ko wala na akong silbi. Paano ko sila mapapalaki at masusuportahan kung ganito ako,” Marilyn shared in tears as she recall those times when she would have wanted to end her life.

However, with courage, the couple chose not to dwell on the dark. Despite being impaired, they have raised good children and worked like normal people to ensure they support their every need.

Every day, Romeo would navigate his way to a nearby barangay where he tends a hectare of land for crops like kamote, pechay, onion and string beans. Marilyn goes with him and help with the errands at hand when she is not busy doing house chores or vending snacks in the town proper.

“Ito lang talaga ang alam kong paraan para masuportahan ang pamilya ko. Gusto kong makatapos ang mga anak ko sa pag-aaral para maging maayos naman ang buhay nila,” Romeo shared while expertly weeding a vegetable plot.

Near him, Marilyn does the same. With years of being blind, she has mastered tending the crops without destroying anything.

According to Marilyn, accepting their situation was not easy. However, she trusted God and realized that being blind is not a good reason enough to neglect their responsibilities to their children.

 

Leading the children to the light

When the family qualified to be a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2012, the couple felt they were the luckiest. Since then, the program has supported their children’s need in health and education.

“Noong nagkaroon ng Pantawid, doon nabuhay ulit ang pangarap ko para sa mga anak ko. Sabi ko, ito na siguro yung tulong na hatid ng Panginoon sa katulad namin. Nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa na maabot ang mga pangarap namin para sa kanila,” shared Marilyn.

The couple cannot be any happier seeing their children chasing their dreams and most of all, understanding their situation. Their eldest is in college now through a scholarship provided by a TV network. Their younger children are continuously inspired to go to school.

“Malaki na rin ang pinagbago ng mga anak ko. Kung dati po ay tumutulong na sila, naging mas maayos na po silang sumusunod ngayon,” Marilyn shared as she explains how she was changed by the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) of Pantawid Pamilya.

The FDS is a monthly session for parent-grantees that discusses topics such as husband-and-wife relationships, child-rearing and budget management. Marilyn religiously attends to such sessions monthly. At times, her husband goes with her.

“Doon ko po natutunan ang maayos na pakikipag-usap sa mga bata. Dati ay mainitin ang ulo ko, dala na rin siguro ng sitwasyon ko, kaya madalas ko silang namumura o nasasaktan. Nabago ko na ito ngayon at pansin ko ang mas magandang samahan dito sa bahay namin,” she shared.

As Marilyn recounts how neighbors would say how unfortunate it is that she is not able to see her children, she does not feel sorry for herself. All that matters now is that together with her husband, they have managed to get their children out of the dark and lead them to a brighter tomorrow.***