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Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Arlene’s dream
By Leticia Suarez-Orendain
Community Force
As far as she can remember, the world she has is perceived by what her fingertips feel, what sound she hears and what subtle changes on a surface or in the wind direction she notices.
Arlene Lozada, 21, has been without sight since she was two years old. She said that she had measles and high fever, which caused blindness.
She can still remember colors, such as red, yellow, black and white, but has lost memory of the shapes of trees and birds and everything else.
Arlene knows that her mother loved her. Name unspoken, her mother, who was dying from terminal cancer, took Arlene to a shelter for abandoned, neglected, orphaned and homeless children.
To her mother, the Children’s Shelter of Cebu was a safe place for the five-year-old and knew her daughter would get the best education and nurture any parent would want for their child. Arlene is grateful for what her mother did in assuring a good future for her.
She’s in her third year high school now at the University of Cebu. Learning is more difficult for her. The little tasks that those with sight take for granted are obstacles to conquer.
Part of that learning is taking the flight of stairs to the third floor where her classes are held.
“Hinayhinay lang ko. Gi-orient man ko.” Being “oriented” is a special word for the visually handicapped. It means being taught how to move around in their daily environment.
She does have a tutor or companion in Ate Mildred, who goes with her most of the time. When Ate Maribel is not available, Ate Mildred takes Maribel’s place.
They help her in her class work but then again, the tasks we take for granted are triple in exertion for Arlene.
The tutor dictates the lesson to her, which means she has to listen twice: once to her teacher and one more time to the tutor. Then she writes down her notes in Braille (a system of raised printing read by touch).
To answer her homework, she has to listen to the tutor who reads the questions. Then she dictates her answer to the tutor although she may also make a Braille copy for herself. This arrangement entails the trust and honor system.
How she learned Braille is a side story. When she was nine years old, she attended classes at the Braille Center located at the Cebu Normal University (CNU). Her teacher was Ma’am Minerva.
It was very difficult for Arlene. To write in Braille, you have to punch a stylus on a slate that is composed of grids. Each set of embossed dots represents a letter, or a number.
“Mag-ambak-ambak ang letters. Lisod kaayo pero wa lang ko magpa-discourage.”
The shelter, her home now, is proud to say that she is excellent in Braille.
Her persistence is paying off, even if she has to exert triple effort. That steadfastness has seen her through the years. After high school, she plans to take up education at CNU.
“Gusto ko mo-teach og music ngadto sa mga walay sight,” because for her, music and teaching can be alternative careers for the visually impaired. She is now preparing herself for that future direction.
She learned music at Children of Hope School, which is run by the shelter. Every Thursday she takes voice and music lessons there to refine her style.
A mezzo-soprano, Arlene is learning how to play on keyboard instruments. “Si teacher Ana dako kaayog gikatabang. Si teacher Allan nagtudlo sab nakog guitar. Lisod kaayo ang string instrument kay sakit sa mga tudlo. Dali ra ang piano kay dili sakit sa kamot.
“Kaptan sa teacher ang akong kamot. Step-by-step gyod ang pagtudlo. Lisod lagi kaayo pero padayon lang gyod ko.”
It was very difficult but she loved what she heard and that pushed her to continue.
“Lami kaayo ang feeling. Ma-lift akong spirit. Mora kog ga-praise sa Ginoo.”
Now she can play well enough. To beef up her skill, she says that she tried playing the flute.
“Sa 2002 nituon ko sa pagtukar og flute didto sa Sala Foundation. Palangga ko sa akong teacher, si Ms. Misako. Tudloan ko niya pero nahunong na.”
Soon this student will be a teacher, too, and there’s no stopping her from spreading her positive attitude.
(December 21, 2004 issue)
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