SOCIETY once made them feel they could not make it, but Godfrey Paquibot and Irish Bariquit proved society wrong.
Last Saturday, May 18, the couple who are persons with disability (PWDs) tied the knot in front of their families, friends and relatives at the San Agustin de Hippo Parish Church in the City of Naga.
“I hope maka-inspire mi sa PWDs. Mao ra g’yod na akoa. Gusto nako nga maindependent with her (I hope our story will inspire other PWDs. That’s all I want. I also want the two of us to be independent),” said 41-year-old Godfrey.
Godfrey admitted that getting the attention and approval of Irish, who is 10 years his junior, was difficult. He had to overcome his insecurities.
“I have friends who are also PWDs and they don’t like having a relationship with another PWD. But for me, I want someone who is like me. I’ve had the experience of being in a relationship with a ‘normal’ girl but she only ended up hurting me,” he said in Cebuano.
Godfrey, who hails from Lapu-Lapu City, was born with a spinal problem that left him unable to walk without assistance.
Godfrey, who graduated with a degree in computer science at the Indiana Aerospace University, works as a home care staff at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall.
Irish, who hails from the City of Naga, was born with an abnormal backward curve to the vertebral column. She is a staff at the Lapu-Lapu local civil registrar.
The two first met in April of 2016 during a monthly meeting of a PWD organization in the city where they are both active.
“There was something about her. Just looking at her made me feel giddy,” Godfrey said in Cebuano.
Godfrey served as president of the Mactan Persons with Disabilities from 2007 to 2016.
Common friends were bent on matching them up so they decided to get to know each other.
“I approached her. I joked around to make her smile and take notice of me. I knew she’d ignore me if I was serious. Then I took the courage of asking for her phone number and her Facebook name,” he said.
Irish, for her part, never thought she’d find someone who’d accept her for what she is.
“I really did not see it coming. That we’ll come to this point of marrying each other. Honestly, he has not made so much effort. Until time came when I realized he was serious. If at first I felt like he was just taking our relationship for granted, now he’s the one holding on to it,” she said.
The couple’s relationship has had its fair share of challenges.
Afraid of getting bullied, Irish prohibits Godfrey from posting their photos on social media. They have also never gone out on a date without a companion.
Godfrey admitted that he had cheated on her.
“There was a time when I had a fling with another girl. Of course, going out with a ‘normal’ girl has its advantages. I didn’t fall in love with Irish at first, not until I could relate to her,” he said in Cebuano.
Although hurt by his infidelity, Irish chose to forgive him.
“I tried to ignore him, but he was really persistent,” she said in Cebuano.
It was then that Godfrey realized he wanted Irish to be his wife for the rest of his life.
He is very thankful to his family who supported his decision and for helping him with wedding expenses.
Now that they’re married, Irish hopes their future family can live a normal life.