Blind man in Zamboanga del Norte makes living by climbing a mountain, harvesting bamboo to make coin banks

A 47-year-old blind man bravely climbs a mountain and harvests bamboo every week to make and sell alkansya or wooden coin banks.

According to a "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" episode, Ening navigates the steep mountain in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte by grasping surfaces with every step he makes while his sister Arcilita serves as his guide.

His hands would also guide him every time he used a sharp knife in harvesting bamboo. He'll later turn these bamboos into coin banks or alkansya and sell for P50 to P200.

"Bahala na kung mahulog basta okay lang. Bahala na kung pipilay-pilay. Nahilot din naman, wala na," he said.

["I don't care if I fall. I'll be okay. I can just massage it afterwards. The pain will soon go away."]

"Dahan-dahan lang talaga para bang mga langgam. Kahit anong gawin ko, nababangga talaga ako. 'Yang naghahawak na lang ako ng tungkod."

["I move slowly like an ant. It can't be helped that I always bump into things, so I just use a cane."]

He said that there were times when the bamboo would snap against his chest.

According to Ening, he was only three years old when he lost his eyesight after suffering from measles. He said he still remembered what it felt like to see, and still kept the memories of his family's faces.

Now, only his 60-year-old sister Arcilita has been helping him in life.

"Binilinan ako ng aking Papa noong maliit pa ako, 'yung kapatid mo huwag mong pabayaan,'" Arcilita said.

["My Papa told me when I was young, 'always take care of your brother.'"]

After making the alkansya, Ening would go out to sell it in the streets alone. He said he made coin banks to earn money and save up for his sister's motorcycle, which Arcilita had been paying for in installments.

"Mahirap-hirap talaga siya pero sige na lang kasi wala namang ibang trabaho, ito lang talaga ang pangunguha ng kawayan. Wala namang ibang pinagkakakitaan eh 'di umakyat na lang tayo ng kawayan para magkapera para makakain tayo ng bigas," Ening said.

["It's hard but I still do it because I don't have any other job. I can only harvest bamboo. I don't have other sources of income so I climb bamboo trees to earn money and eat rice."]

"Ang pangarap ko? Ang maahon kami sa kahirapan. Makakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw."

["My dream? To be able to eat three times a day."]

To help out, the KMJS team gave Ening a birthday feast, shouldered the family's Noche Buena, and brought him to an eye specialist.

The doctor said that an operation to regain his eyesight would not be possible as Ening had glaucoma and cataracts.

The team, as well as the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Sindangan, also offered financial assistance. The Provincial Government of Zamboanga Del Norte offered support in kind.

To those who want to help, please deposit to:

LANDBANK SINDANGAN BRANCH
DIONILO T. SAGANG
2556193340

—Kaela Malig/RC/MGP, GMA News