STUDYING to finish college was a great ordeal for Reyson, but he eventually succeeded. Although armed with a great ambition to secure himself a better life, he finds himself tangled in a web of obstacles to get a decent job.
In pursuing the chance that will change his life's direction, he finds himself uncomfortable with dole outs: a 20- or 50-peso bill out of sheer biblical compliance, a bread out of a huge plastic bag, old shirts, and used shoes.
He accepts it with pain, thinking that if he is only given a chance to get a job, he can get ahead in life, slow, maybe, but definitely secured.
Thousands, or even more, are like Reyson. This is a microscopic look of our present national scenario: diploma holders, passionate young people eventfully landing mismatched options and usually ending jobless, if not, depressed during their quarter life. A real hurdle and crisis to prove to the world that you are more than capable against a world that continually drags you and tells you otherwise.
Coming from a family of seven in Cauayan, a town in southern Negros, he left home to finish school. Born in 1985, he suffers a complicated physical structure that does not allow him talk straight. Almost impossible to understand, he grinds his teeth to his mouth to get some of his words fixed and make it audible.
Reyson finds comfort in the inspiring life of his adviser and former teacher at the Bacolod City High School Special Education Department, who like him, is champion of advocacies on equality and job opportunity for persons with disabilities.
Despite being blind, Sir Melchor Tumbos has been among those who lobbied legislations that promote fair communities and support for people like him and Reyson. The creation of Magna Carta for persons with disabilities is his life's greatest advocacy, the reason while despite the hardships and the seemingly irrational understanding of their situation, he continues to find light.
After graduation, 32-year-old Reyson has continually switched places. He left this place as he is no longer capable of paying for the rent. However, he is allowed to wash his clothes and take a bath here. The rigors of turning on the electricity and water usually consume his time, but he stands firm in living life day after day.
We will see more of Reyson in our streets, tirelessly looking for that one chance that will make him feel worthy and capable. Beyond the imperfections of his body is a dreamer, a man of many ambitions, a person who will never stop until one day, no one will feel responsible to hand him coins, or maybe bread, or a pair of old sneakers or dust covered shirts.
Watch the story of Reyson in a special interview on “Piaya Documentaries” Skycable 35 and Cignal 105 nationwide, 10 p.m. daily. “Piaya Documentaries” is an original program of Piaya Network.