A leg amputee has proven that despite physical disability, determination and the spirit of volunteerism, can bring success to the community.

When he was 19, Julie Taniongon lost his right leg in a freak accident. He was then helping operate a rice thresher. Perched on a bamboo platform, Julie was tasked to make sure the rice stalks get into the thresher by kicking at the bundles. Unfortunately, while doing so, he made one misplaced kick. His leg hit the spiked tooth of the cylinder and got crunched.

If it hurt a lot when the machine gnawed at his leg, the long journey to the hospital was even grimmer.

Julie lives in Barangay Igsoro, the farthest village in the town of Bugasong, Antique. It is 35 kilometers away from the town proper. But there is no road here. Only a mountain trail which no motorized vehicles, not even the habal-habal or single motorcycle transporting passengers, can manage.

The severely injured Julie was carried by his relatives in a hammock. They walked for nearly four hours to reach the town proper. But even then, there was no hospital in town. Julie had to be brought to San Jose, the provincial capital, for treatment.

Fortunately, the doctors were able to save his life. Sadly, they couldn’t save his right leg.

Despite this, the young Julie still managed to meet life’s challenges head-on. He went back to the farm in Brgy. Igsoro to lead what could be called a normal life under such circumstances. And was lucky enough to find a wife, who even bore him three children.

Since farming is a seasonal endeavor, Julie also took to other means to earn an income and feed his family. He joined a construction crew and slow acquired some skills and crafts until he became a mason.

VOLUNTEERING FOR Kalahi-CIDSS

Kalahi-CIDSS came to Bugasong town in 2013 in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. After a series of barangay assemblies discussing their basic infrastructure needs, the Igsoro barangay folks opted for the construction of a daycare center which will be funded through a grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Likewise, they were all in unison endorsing Julie to be included in the pool of community volunteers for the project. Not only that, Julie was chosen as the chair of the Project Implementation Team of Kalahi-CIDSS in Barangay Igsoro.

Volunteers, however, don’t get paid. Knowing that Julie has mouths to feed, Barangay Captain Ramson Berdin also pushed for Julie’s inclusion as a paid laborer despite his physical incapability. With the approval of the community, Julie was hired as a skilled worker in the daycare project.

Because of his dual role as paid laborer and community volunteer, Julie would often extend extra hours in the construction site. He would also go house to house to inform the villagers of the schedules of barangay assemblies.

Clearly, going house to house on one leg, is not a walk in the park, as the saying goes. The municipal government tried to itch in with a prosthetic leg for Julie. But he was so uncomfortable using it, it actually affected his mobility. He used a wooden crutch, instead.

Despite difficulties, Julie gave no reason to disappointment his neighbors and their trust in him. He spent more hours at the project than anybody else until it was completed.

Now 40 years old, Taniongon is very proud that a PWD like him became instrumental in the completion of a daycare center in the community.  # (MMC/Kalahi-CIDSS/DSWD)