May 23, 2024
Fostering great abilities in spite of disabilities
By Marella Saldonido
After being in a motorcycle accident at 17 years old, Joey Bolandrina’s life was turned upside down. His left leg needed an above-the-knee amputation after being sideswiped by a vehicle. Little did he know that insisting on working as a vendor to help his family would cost him one of his precious legs. It was a fate that was difficult to accept.
“I became suicidal after losing my leg because it’s really hard to accept such a change when you’re not born with a disability,” says Joey.
Fortunately, Joey’s first encounter with the Tzu Chi Foundation gave him hope and a chance to start a new life. After receiving an artificial leg from Tzu Chi in 2010, he began studying at a barber school and persevered to hone his skills as a barber. Now, 14 years later, Joey owns his own barber shop in San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur, and is praised for his excellent barber skills.
Tzu Chi Zamboanga’s visit to Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, on May 16–17 to conduct its Jaipur Foot Camp was highly anticipated by Joey and his fellow prosthesis recipients. “I am so excited to have my prosthesis replaced because I’ve had my old one for years. It was actually broken before, but I got it fixed by a welder,” he shares.
The Jaipur Foot Camp was made possible with a team of two doctors from Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZMCM), six physical therapists (four from ZMCM and two from Pagadian), two prosthetic technicians from Tzu Chi Zamboanga, and 12 Tzu Chi volunteers from Zamboanga.
Zamboanga del Sur Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) Provincial Head and National President of the League of PWD Affairs Officers of the Philippines (LPDAOP), Miriam Acosta Llanos, was delighted to work with the foundation in this endeavor. “It was easy [coordinating with Tzu Chi] because we have a mutual desire to help. We have the same goal: to give new life and new hope to the beneficiaries with their new limbs,” she says.
With the beneficiaries’ new prosthetic legs, Miriam envisions an even brighter future for them and hopes that they use their new life to serve their fellow persons with disabilities (PWDs). Through such initiatives, PDAO’s advocacy to make a difference in their lives strengthens.
Like many PWDs, Miriam proves that having a disability does not have to hinder them from succeeding in life. Despite her speech impediment due to her cleft lip and palate, the PDAO provincial head uses her voice to empower her fellow PWDs and strives to change their perspectives from being ashamed of their conditions to being proud of their capabilities. “Our disabilities became stepping stones for us to be stronger in life,” she asserts.
For Joey, it was a process of healing and acceptance before he was able to regain a positive outlook on life. He started from feeling embarrassed being seen by other people to eventually being proud of the new life he has built for his family. “Whenever I fall down, I am able to stand back up again with my new limbs,” he says with enthusiasm.
As for farmer Laurito Imfiel, who also received a prosthetic leg in the recent Jaipur Foot Camp, losing his right leg proved to be a blessing. While farming, a weed pierced into his right leg causing a life-threatening infection that required amputation below the knee. Without it, he would have died. But according to his daughter, Roselyn Imfiel, their father became an even more cheerful person who enjoys joking and dancing after losing one of his legs.
With his new prosthetic leg, Laurito continues dancing around and spreading joy to his family, one step at a time.
Prosthesis recipient Joey Bolandrina walks confidently around his neighborhood with an old prosthesis of his left leg from Tzu Chi Foundation.
Prosthesis recipient Joey Bolandrina (in yellow shirt) poses for a family portrait.
Prosthesis recipient Joey Bolandrina (right) skillfully trims a customer’s hair.
Tzu Chi Zamboanga Liaison Officer Dr. Anton Mari Lim (right) guides prosthesis recipient Joey Bolandrina (center) as he tests out his new prosthetic leg.
A Tzu Chi volunteer (right) assists Joey Bolandrina (left) with the registration before receiving his prosthesis.
Prosthesis recipient Laurito Imfiel (right) tests out his newly fitted prosthetic leg.
Prosthesis recipient Laurito Imfiel (left) happily dances with his wife (right).
“I would like to thank Tzu Chi Foundation because they made it easy for everyone to achieve their dream of having a second chance to be happy in life,” says Zamboanga del Sur Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) Provincial Head and National President of the League of PWD Affairs Officers of the Philippines (LPDAOP) Miriam Acosta Llanos.
Zamboanga del Sur PDAO Provincial Head and National President of LPDAOP Miriam Acosta Llanos (left) receives a certificate of commendation from Tzu Chi Zamboanga Liaison Officer Dr. Anton Mari Lim (right).
A volunteer prosthetic technician casts a patient’s leg for prosthesis.
Volunteer prosthetic technician Jose Waldemar Rico (left) and Tzu Chi Zamboanga Liaison Officer Dr. Anton Mari Lim (center) help a young patient with her prosthesis.
Volunteer prosthetic technician Jose Waldemar Rico from Tzu Chi Zamboanga casts a patient’s amputated leg.
A volunteer physical therapist from Zamboanga City Medical Center checks the condition of a beneficiary’s leg.
A Tzu Chi volunteer assists a prosthesis recipient.
Prosthesis straps are tailor-fit for each recipient.
Tzu Chi Zamboanga’s Jaipur Foot Camp in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, on May 16–17 was a success thanks to the team of two doctors from Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZMCM), six physical therapists (four from ZMCM and two from Pagadian), two prosthetic technicians from Tzu Chi Zamboanga, and 12 Tzu Chi volunteers from Zamboanga, as well as the support of the provincial Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO).