‘Walang Himbing,’ dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo, ngayong Sabado sa ‘I-Witness'

“WALANG HIMBING”
Dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo
July 20, 2019

We spend a third of our life sleeping, or at least that’s what the experts say. Unfortunately for some people, this is not the case.

I-Witness team scoured the metro for different stories of people after midnight.

In Cavite, we found Ian Cabatay who is a sales manager and averages only 2 hours of sleep. He suffers from insomnia —one of the most common type of sleep disorder. It is characterized by difficulty in sleeping, getting too little or poor quality sleep.  He says he’s gotten used to keeping himself busy the whole night to while away the time as he waits for his body to tire out. Reading has become his constant companion, and the worn out books on Philippine Constitution and the Bible by his bedside are proof of that.  If that doesn’t make him doze off, he puts on his trainers for a quick run to a food joint that is open for 24 hours.  He has become a regular customer there. On the outside, it seems he has gotten used to living with insomnia, but the dark circles around his eyes tell a different story.

In Valenzuela, an 8-year-old boy is seen playing with his friends. But only for a short while.  Sleep takes over him during play. And also, while eating, and during class.  His constant napping has caused him to be refused in school. Frank Amor has obstructive sleep apnea wherein his throat muscles relaxes and blocks his airway during sleep. Watching his laboured breathing, and loud snoring, his mother can only weep as they are too poor to afford the surgery he desperately needs.  Frank misses being a regular kid and he knows life is passing him by.

In the slum area of Navotas, siblings Mae Mae, 8 years old and Ronjay, 13 years old, are known to walk in their sleep around the muddy path where their shanty stands. On one occasion, a Barangay Tanod picked up Mae Mae while sleepwalking and brought her home. Her brother Ronjay has also been seen climbing the fence in his sleep. And although doctors say sleepwalking is a common condition in children, it is more unnerving to see in adults.  Justin Veneracion is 26 years old and has not outgrown his nocturnal strolls.  He also suffers from sleep paralysis wherein he becomes lucid but is unable to move. He tries to scream but no sound comes out from his mouth.

Sandra Aguinaldo’s “Walang Himbing” airs this Saturday on GMA.

Filipino version

Malaking bahagi ng buhay ng tao ang naiilalaan sa pagtulog. Yan ang sabi ng mga eksperto. Pero para sa ilan, hindi ito ang nangyayari.

Umikot ang I-Witness team sa Kamaynilaan at karatig-probinsya para alamin ang iba’t ibang kuwento ng mga tao pagsapit ng gabi.

Sa Cavite, matagpuan si Ian Cabatay, isang sales manager at kadalasang 2 oras lang ang tulog. Meron siyang insomnia na isa sa pinaka karaniwang uri ng sleep disorder. Hirap makatulog, kulang sa oras o mababaw na pagtulog ang madalas na nangyayari sa mga insomniac na tulad niya. Pinupuno ni Ian ang mahahabang gabi —nagbabasa ng libro tungkol sa Saligang Batas o ng Bibliya.  Kapag hindi pa rin dinalaw ng antok, jogging patungo sa isang kainan na bukas magdamag naman ang pagkaka abalahan niya. Isa na siyang suki rito. Sa unang tingin, tila sanay na sanay na si Ian sa pagpupuyat pero ang maitim na marka sa ilalim ng kanyang mga mata ay patunay na nagpapahirap ito sa kanya.

Sa Valenzuela naman, makikita ang isang walong taong gulang na si Frank Amor na naglalaro. Pero hindi ito magtatagal dahil madalas, makakatulugan ng bata ang paglalaro. Nakakatulugan din niya ang pagkain pati na ang pag-aaral. Ito ang dahilin kung bakit hindi na siya tinanggap sa pinapasukang paaralan. Sabi ng duktor, obstructive sleep apnea ang kondisyon ni Frank kung saan tumitigil siyang huminga habang natutulog. Masakit panooring matulog si Frank dahil kitang kita ang hirap ng paghahabol sa bawal hininga, at rinig na rinig ang napakalakas na paghilik. Napapaluha na lang ang ina dahil wala silang kakayahang ipa-opera ang anak. Alam ni Frank, marami siyang napapalampas habang siya ay umiidlip.

Sa Navotas, kilala na sa kanilang lugar ang magkapatid na Mae Mae at Ronjay na naglalakad habang tulog.  Minsan nang napulot ng barangay tanod si Mae Mae, 8 taong gulang na naglilibot sa gitna ng gabi.   Si Ronjay naman, labintatlong tong gulang, sumubok nang umakyat ng bakod. Dahil maputik at napapalibutan ng mga dikit-dikit na barong-barong ang kanilang lugar, maraming panganib ang nag aabang sa magkapatid. Karaniwan daw nangyayari ang sleepwalking sa mga bata kaya nakagugulat itong makita sa matatanda.  Si Justin Veneration, 26 na taong gulang na, bumabangon pa rin sa gabi.  Bukod dito, nakararanas din siya ng sleep paralysis kung saan tila gising na ang diwa niya, pero hindi siya makagalaw at sumisigaw pero walang boses na lumalabas.

Ngayong Sabado sa I-Witness, sama-samang magpuyat kasama ni Sandra Aguinaldo sa “Walang Himbing” sa GMA.