Blind college student graduates magna

cum laude
from PNU AMANDA LAGO,GMA News April 20, 2013 12:16pm
Like most of the Philippine Normal University graduates who marched last
April 5, Erick Marco Ramos had to overcome a lot of challenges to finally get
his diploma. Unlike most graduates, however, Ramos challenge was
overcoming his disability. You see, he's almost completely blind.
Still this didn't stop him from graduating with a magna cum laude to his
name. Its not so much that Ramos is a blind student, or just a student who
happens to be blind. The thing is, he also happens to be brilliant. Aside from
graduating with Latin honors in BSE English, he studied for a year in the
United States under the Fulbright program. He's also a volunteer teacher at a
computer school for the blind, a member of their college debate team, and a
creative writer. Surprised by award Ramos has had trouble seeing since birth,
and gradually started to lose his vision when he was in his teens. By the time
he lost his functional sight at age 20, he was already expecting it. The award
from the academe came as a total surprise, though. It was a shock to begin
with, he shared. Ramos explained that he never thought he would be
considered, because he didnt know if his year in the States would be
counted as part of his record. When he finally marched on the stage to
receive the award though, the initial shock gave way to acceptance and

gratefulness. I felt na it was all worth it, he told GMA News Online in a
phone interview. It would seem that vision loss is only a minor setback for
Ramos. Now, armed with a computer that converts text to speech, Ramos
seems poised to conquer the world. He remembers the challenges he faced
while doing his practice teaching, but it was more of a culture shock for his
students than anything else. On teaching, he said, wala masyadong
difference, explaining that its even easier now because he can use
multimedia materials. Ramos has always wanted to be a teacher, and he is
now applying for jobs at several schools, including the one where he took his
internship. Out of the dark ages, being born with vision however, it was
never very easy for Ramos. His coming-of-age had been marked not only by
the typical teenage angst, but by a gradual vision loss that left him
depressed. I jokingly called it the dark ages. I was going through the vision
loss, it was a bit discouraging, he said. However, he got through it with the
help of his family and friends, as well as the support of people who were
facing similar situations. It got easier because I had a support group. I knew
people who were going through the same thing. . . Im thankful because I
have supportive parents, he shared. Along with his parents, Ramos
weathered the challenges of learning how to live with visual impairment,
including several rejections from schools who didnt or couldnt cater to his
special needs. Now, Ramos wants to make sure that other students who are
facing a similar predicament will receive the same opportunities and support
he did. He has been volunteering at ATRIEV, a computer school for the blind,

since 2008. His word of advice for those facing similar challenges, and not
just for people with disabilities: know what you want and pursue it. Knowing
how to get what you want is important. Be sure to know what you want, he
said. As an afterthought, he says: Know what you have going for you.
Ramos certainly knew what he had going for him--that is, brains, a heart, a
great support system, and, despite blindness, unwavering vision. KDM/YA,
GMA News

The article tells about how a person with a disability was able to
achieve on what seems to be impossible. And with it, he showed hard work
and competence. He was able to graduate as a Magna Cum Laude in his
school. Me, as student being educated, is currently developing and
enhancing my skills for the betterment of myself and the society. Reading the
article inspired me to also achieve something that I would never thought I
could. Of course, in every challenge there would be problems that I must
overcome. And these problems can be our weaknesses. In the article, Ericks
weakness is his blindness which gave him a disadvantage. I myself also have
a weakness and it is my lack of confidence. I realized after reading the article
that Erick didnt give up so easily but rather turn his disadvantage into an
advantage. So thats what I have to do, to pull myself up by using my
weakness as my motivation. With these, I can properly learn and cope with
the lessons and activities administered by the teachers. By accomplishing it,

I can say that I can support myself. In the article, Erick wanted to be a
teacher to share his knowledge and to help people. I believe that as a
student, we also have duties and that is to help others which will contribute
to the wealth of our people. As for my experience during my high school life,
I never failed any subjects. But instead of bragging about it, I help my fellow
classmates who have difficulties in understanding the lessons. In that
manner, I can say that Im an educated Filipino, not because I go to school
but because I share what I have learned. The article inspired me to achieve
my goals through learning, supporting myself, helping and contributing to
the society.

Tagalog Tinig Ng Teen-Ager

Author: Teo S. Baylen
Naglalagos sa silid ko ang pag-uyam
Ng tahanan, ng simbahat paaralan;
Buti nga raw, pagkat akoy kahihiyan
At pasanin ng lipunant sambayanan.
At sa aking kamusmusay ibunton
Ang kanilang kamaliang dugtong-dugtong

Kahihiyang ibig nilang maikanlong

Sa dilim ng parusahang akin ngayon.
Datapwa, o tahanang nanunumpa,
Saan galling ang hilig kong masasama?
Nagisnan koy anong uri ng aruga
Sa bubong mong maligalig at pabaya?
Di ka salat, ngunit akoy nagpalimos,
Itoy bunga ng buhay mong walang-utos;
Madayukdok pati niring pagkamusmos
At maanong naturuan ni magkurus.
Ikaw naming tambakan ng mga aklat
Na ang bungay pawing hilaw kung mapitas
Sa pinto moy nanaw akong diwat hubad
Dapatwat may putong din kahit tunggak!
Saka ikaw, o pulpito na abala
Sa awitin at sa sermong magaganda,
Sa bungad lang ng pinto moy nakatinda
Ang kabaong ng buhay kot kaluluwa.
O lipunan na kaybuting magmapuri
At sa aking lagay ngayoy umaapi,
Anong damit ang suot mo pagkagabi?
Saan kita nagtatagpong tabi-tabi?
Anong uring panoorin ang handog mo?
Anong babasahing libangan ko?

Bakit ako sisisihin kung mabuyo

Sa dulong mong kamunduhang pampalango?
A, tahanat paaralang pumapansin
A, simbahan at lipunang umiiting,
Kayo, kayo, ang marapat panagutin
Sa sanlaksang kamusmusang nasa bangin!

sinilang noong Enero 24, 1904 sa Noveleta, Cavite, si Baylen ay naging

pastor at empleyado ng US Navy.
Ang Bawat Hukay ay ang kanyang unang nailimbag na tula, na lumabas sa
magasin na Sampaguita noong 1931. Ang kanyang ibang tula ay lumabas din
sa mga magasin na Liwayway, Ilang-Ilang, Paru-paro, at iba pa.
Yumao si Baylen noong Disyembre 5, 1990 sa edad na 89.
Sa pagsusuri ni Jimmuel Naval sa Mula sa Tradisyon Tungo sa Kongregasyon: Si Teo
S. Baylen Bilang Relihiyosong Makata, lumalabas ang lubos na paggamit ni Baylen sa
mga tradisyunal na sukat at tugma. Noong inilabas ang unang aklat-kalipunan ng mga
tula ni Baylen noong 1963, ay dadalawang tula lamang ang nasa anyong vers libre (free
verse) na usong anyo ng tula noong dekada na iyon. Ngunit hindi ito para sabihin na

napakatradisyunal na makata si Baylen--sinasabi ni Naval na sa tulang In Hoc Signo

Vinces, naimpluwensyahan din si Baylen ng Modernismo.
Idinagdag din ni Naval na ang paraan ni Baylen ng paggawa ng tula--ang paulit-ulit na
pagbigkas ng tula hanggang sa makabisado--ay isa sa mga tradisyunal na paraan sa
paggawa ng tula, kadalasan ng epiko.
Sa tema naman, binansagan ni Virgilio Almario si Baylen bilang Armageddonista, isang
popular na himig at pananaw-na-pampanulaan noong 1960. Ito ay dahil sa
nangangaral na tono ng mga tula ni Baylen, at kung hindi naman nangangaral, ay
nagpapahiwatig ng malagim na pagwakas ng daigdig. Idinagdag ni Almario na ang
ganitong anyo ng tula ay maari ding ituring kasama ng tradisyong Balagtasismo, o
hango sa mga akda ni Francisco Baltazar.
Ayon kay Luna Sicat-Cleto, gumawa naman ng alusyon sa imahe ng kanayunan ni
Baylen (makikita sa tulang Laboratoryo at Dambana) si Maningning Miclat sa kanyang
tula na Moon Shadow.