GOLDEN VOICE, GOLDEN HEART: A story of Perseverance
( VOICE OF THE BLIND. Being blind didn't stop Santi Lunar to express his emotions through his talent in singing. Photo by Maricar Ramirez)
Singers typically perform on a stage or in a talent show that showcases extra ordinary voices; but far beyond the technical outlook of a show is a man who proves his abilities will not serve as difficulties of being a hardworking father. The world of inequality is the everyday struggle this man has to overcome.
A man who is defined by his perseverance in life and not by his inabilities, he can be seen every busy afternoon in front of Ayala Malls Legazpi. Santi Lunar is a blind singer. He is also a father who proves that disability has opened everybody’s eyes to see the true abilities he has. Santi is 38 years old. He is residing in Anislag, Legazpi City with his wife and his six children. He was born normal but was affected by measles and admitted to have financial problems that cause his case unchecked.
At his early childhood, he experienced not seeing the beauty of the surroundings and being in the life where people have to look with his disability. When he had his own family, Santi started singing to support them.
His improvised karaoke set is sounding around the corner of the hectic and untidy street of Legazpi which set joyful mood to the people passing. The hits of April Boy, Ariel Rivera and more OPM singers are on his playlists over the afternoon. Those things captivate and fascinate the attention of the most.
(DROP OF COIN. A girl gives coin to the blind singer in return of the talent which he showed to the audience passing by. Photo by Maricar Ramirez)
He said that over a day, he earns an average amount of 500 pesos and that would be his family’s budget. He tried looking for other stable jobs but he was on the bottom lists because of his case and educational background as well. He used to study in Daraga North Central School which at his time offered special education for persons with disabilities. But he got married on his twenties so he had to prioritize his family.
Being a simple man who only wish for an everyday survival in the world with his family and a man who sees the world fair doesn’t deserves dissimilarity. He is proving every normal person that perseverance is not within the differences we have. He has the hope to go beyond the challenges and just because he lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision. He has full of it more than the normal ones.
Actuality of disabled should not mean being disqualified from having access to every aspect of life it has to be fair and equal. We must all have to treat PWDs as persons who have special abilities and not someone who is not fit in our cycle, like on how Margaret Meade said “If we are to achieve a richer culture, we must weave one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.”
