'Itim na Maskara' ngayong Sabado sa 'I-Witness'

“ITIM NA MASKARA”

Dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo

September 27, 2014

 

Sa isang liblib na barrio ng Masbate, may isang batang babae na nagkukubli sa likod ng itim na maskara. Kung anu-ano ang tinatawag sa kanya at kinatatakutan pa ng iba, dahil ang mukha ni Bingbing ay nababalot ng itim na balat.

 

Sa maliit na mundo niyang ginagalawan, tanggap si Bingbing pero ang takot ng kanyang mga magulang kapag lumayo siya sa kanilang lugar, maaaring saktan si Bingbing ng mga taong di siya kilala. Kuwento ng kanyang punung guro, minsan nang lumabas si Bingbing sa kalapit na barrio. Pinagkaguluhan siya ng mga bata roon, at umuwing umiiyak si Bingbing.  Mula noon ay hindi na lumabas sa kanilang barrio.  

 

Paniwala ng kanyang magulang, ipinaglihi si Bingbing sa kalabaw at pusit. Pagkapanganak pa lang daw kasi niya, ganito na ang kanyang itsura. Dahil na rin sa matinding kahirapan, hindi pa nadadala sa duktor ang bata.

 

Labindalawang taon na si Bingbing ngayon pero tanggap man ang kalagayan niya sa kanilang lugar, hindi naging madali ang buhay niya. Madalas din kasi siyang tinutukso ng  ibang bata. Gayumpaman, patuloy na nangangarap si Bingbing ng isang normal na buhay. Pangrap niyang maging isang guro.

 

Ano nga ba ang kondisyon ni Bingbing at may lunas pa kaya ito? Aalamin ni Sandra Aguinaldo ang mga kasagutan ngayong Sabado sa I-Witness, pagkatapos ng Celebrity Bluff.

 

 

ENGLISH VERSION

 

In a remote village in Masbate, a young girl is hiding behind a black mask. They call her names and some people are frightened of her because Bingbing’s face has a thick, black birthmark that covers most of her face.  

  

Her world is confined within her village and even though most of her neighbours seem to accept her, her parents fear that someone might hurt Bingbing if she wanders beyond her village. Her school principal relates that Bingbing once went to a nearby village and kids made fun of her. She came home crying and swore to never leave her village again.

 

Her parents believe that Bingbing’s physical appearance is influenced by what they ate and saw when she was in her mother’s womb.  They said that they were craving for squid and developed an annoyance towards carabaos during that time. Due to extreme poverty, Bingbing has never consulted a doctor.

 

She is now twelve years old and even though in her village, people have accepted her, life has been difficult for Bingbing.  In school she is often teased by other kids. Despite this, Bingbing continues to dream of a normal life.  She wants to be a teacher someday.

What is the truth behind Bingbing’s condition? Is there a cure?  Sandra Aguinaldo will find the answers this Saturday on I-Witness, after Celebrity Bluff.