Blind Determination

CEBU, Philippines - How does the world look to one who cannot see? For those with good eyesight the question itself may sound depressing enough. But those who are living in the dark may have to be stronger, to rise over their handicap.

There's a blind masseur I met when a good friend invited me to join her at Healing Hands in Gorordo. My friend knows that I love having a massage; I have one at least once a week. It's my catharsis - physical and mental, to release the pent up stress from a week of working.

The place has four blind masseurs and masseuses. I preferred a masseur, as it has been my experience that the men have firmer and yet softer touch. The receptionist assigned Al Alegado to me.

 I have a habit of carrying a conversation with my masseur while having a massage. It is my way of keeping myself awake; the procedure, as you may know, can really make you dose off after a few minutes.

Al is 32 years old and blind since birth. The cause of his blindness, he says, was the medication his mother took while pregnant with him. As a sighted person finds it hard to imagine seeing nothing, Al cannot imagine what anything looks like.

But this sightless young man would not let his deficiency get in the way of his dreams in life. He talks like nothing is missing about himself. He keeps himself busy, always finding ways to improve himself and his chances in life.

Al plays the guitar. He plays on his free time, according to him. Well, it's a pastime common among the average guys. But in Al's case, his playing skills are developed enough to enlist in a musical band, which used to play in Marriott Hotel and Lighthouse Restaurant.

Playing with the band paid well. But Al wanted more. In 2000 he studied massage therapy. A year after, he got his certificate, which later got him employed at different massage clinics in the city. Then he went to Davao, on his own, and stayed there for more than a year.

Going to Davao was more of a quest for personal independence than a search for employment, which at the time he was already having in Cebu. When he returned to Cebu in 2012, he got hired by Healing Hands. Here, unlike in other massage clinics that only give commissions to their masseurs, the workers get basic pay on top of tips from customers.

But, still, Al is not stopping here. He wants to work abroad.  This ambition is fueled by an in intention to prove to the world, especially to blind people like him, that a handicap cannot hinder one with the determination to achieve something.

In the meantime, Al also gets himself busy in civic works. He is the president of a Persons With Disability group in his barangay in Mabolo for the last three years. One of his plans, according to him, is to get for his group the same internal revenue allotment like the senior citizens are receiving from the city. The funds, once they get it, will be used to provide livelihood opportunities to their members.

In his spare time, Al also "reads" a lot, the reason why he speaks good English despite his not being able to finish high school. His biggest regret is dropping school when he was in third year high school. His uncle allegedly discouraged him from continuing his studies as no company would hire him even if he finished college because of his blindness.

Now, Al wants to take full responsibility of himself, his plans, his life. Being blind is never stopping him. (FREEMAN)