Blind massage therapist finds meaning in job, grateful for life

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A POOR childless couple found her in a trash can when she was a baby in Negros Oriental. At 12 years old, she suffered measles and lost her eyesight.

But 19-year-old Michelle Ovarco, wearing dark shades as she massaged her client’s head in the waiting lounge of a government office yesterday, remains grateful.

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“I think it’s God’s will that I’m here in Cebu now,” she said, smiling.

Before coming to Cebu two years ago, she had worked as a housemaid in Dumaguete City.

“I did tasks that I’m capable of doing, like washing the dishes,” the soft-spoken Ovarco recalled. With a shy smile, she added, “I can’t cook.”

Left alone

She went to Cebu, with the help of a neighbor, to meet with a friend who promised to help her find a better job. But her friend did not show up, leaving her alone in Carcar City, clueless on what to do.

A social worker saw her in this hapless situation, and referred her to the Parian Drop-in Center, where she was to stay for a year.

“I thought I would be sleeping on the sidewalks then,” she recalled.

Last April, Ovarco graduated from the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC), a facility operated by the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) 7.

“When I wasn’t blind yet, my dream was to become a teacher. But I think this is what God wants for me — to be a massage therapist,” she said.

Located in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, the AVRC provides free skills training to persons with disabilities.

At present, it trains 52 persons in therapeutic massage, electronics, computer technology, basic cosmetology, sewing, cooking, and other vocational courses.

“We train them in livelihood skills. Our trainers are graduates of industrial education,” Flor Dabon, AVRC’s training supervisor, said.

Daily allowance

Established in 1974, the center provides not only free training, but a daily allowance of P49 to its clients.

Flor Simbajon, AVRC’s placement officer, said the center has tie-ups with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and Supercat for the employment of blind graduates.

“Our goal is to help persons with disabilities live independently,” she added.

To be able to help his family was Jade Resma’s goal when he enrolled in the center last January.

Suffering from congenital cataract, the 20-year-old resident of Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City dropped out of high school because of poverty.

“I have friends who graduated from the AVRC. We used to meet at events during the disability week. They encouraged me to also be trained at the AVRC,” said Resma, who can only see partially.

Resma and Ovarco joined yesterday’s livelihood fair, organized by the DSWD 7 as part of activities for Independence Day.