Ronnel del Rio
Ronnel del Rio is a broadcast journalist. He is also blind. A radio journalist for almost a
decade now, Ronnel first became known in 1996 because of his radio program, "Good Morning
Southern Luzon." A voice of reason and awareness, he discussed national issues as well as issues that
the community of PWDs in the Philippines faced. Striving to be a voice for the unheard PWDs in the
Philippines, Ronnel pushed for accessible services not only in his area but in the rest of the country.
His resume is equally impressive. Ronnel is the president of the Philippine Chamber of
Massage Industry for Visually Impaired, is part of the Philippine Coalition on the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a board member of the Philippine Mental
Health Association, president of the Federation of Disabled Persons in Lipa, and is the chief executive
officer of Punlaka — a PWD advocacy group based in Region IV.
A man with much vision for everyone, not just his fellow PWDs, he also works as a
Housing and Homesite Regulatory Affairs Officer for the government of Batangas. There, he pushed
for the Viable Socialized Resettlement Program wherein idle land is taken under consideration to
become housing projects for the underprivileged in Batangas.
Del Rio is also the first blind person to earn a Master's degree in the Philippines, having
studied Management Technology in De La Salle University in 2003.
REFLECTION
Story of Sir Ronnel Del Rio is a very inspiring one, despite of his disability he
continue to be a radio journalist. Being blind is one of the hardest and painful thing
that may happen in a person, I rather be deaf because it is so hard to see nothing.
That’s why I am so proud with Sir Ronnel, he continue to strive even though he is
blind, he proved to the world that even though he can’t see, he still has the power to
have everything specially to his fellow PWD’s. And the most heartwarming thing that
he did is he became the voice of his fellow unheard PWD’s, despite of the thing that he
is going through, he still has time to help others despite of his disabilities.
Gilda Quintua-Nakahara
To run her business and talk to people, Gilda uses her hands — either through pen
and paper or Filipino Sign Language. The definition of a successful Deaf Entrepreneur, she runs a
travel and tour business called Nakahara Lodging and Travel Agency. Catering to those like her, it's
primarily a travel service for deaf people around the world, though they also provide services for
hearing people. Drawing inspiration from foreign deaf friends, she and her fellow deaf Pinoys met in
tourist spots, and she decided to set up her own business starting in 2004. A travel agency like any
other, she's known for her reliable arrangements and service which she describes has "age-old"
Filipino hospitality. Pushing through discrimination and barriers, she managed to learn the ins and
outs of booking flights, accommodations, and tour management.
In 2007, she was recognized at the Go Negosyo Caravan for People with Disabilities in
De Salle –College of St. Benilde. But, as she said in her interview with Manila Bulletin, representing
the fellow deaf is its own reward.
“As a deaf person in this kind of business, I am proud to say that I have crossed the border of
so-called limited access. I honestly worked hard to achieve my goals. I wanted to show the world that
we are not cut off from mainstream society and we are capable of regularly doing and keeping our
jobs like the rest of hearing and speaking people.”
Aside from all of this, Gilda has helped establish a deaf organization in her province of
Eastern Samar.
It's not huge acts that make someone inspirational. It's the daily effort to better yourself in
whatever situation you find yourself in. These three Filipinos are an inspiration not just to PWDs, but
to the rest of us as well.
REFLECTION
“As a deaf person in this kind of business, I am proud to say that I have crossed the
border of so-called limited access. I honestly worked hard to achieve my goals. I wanted to show the
world that we are not cut off from mainstream society and we are capable of regularly doing and
keeping our jobs like the rest of hearing and speaking people.”
In this line that Ms. Gilda said, I was overwhelmed and inspired, she believes in herself with
confidence and without some doubt. She prove to all the people that even a deaf woman can do
everything like normal people do. She even provide some services for deaf people and normal people.
I felt some goose bumps because these people can do everything and can do more than us despite of
their disabilities. They become my new inspiration since they prove that they can, I know to myself
that I can do everything too.
GILDA QUINTUA- NAKAHARA RONNEL DEL RIO
SOURCE:
https://www.kalibrr.com/advice/2015/10/3-inspiring-people-with-
disability-pwd-in-the-philippines
Inspiring People with Disability (PWD) in the Philippines
October 13, 2015
