It is of great certainty that in one point of our life we familiarized ourselves with the butterfly cycle. It is, in one way or another, a part of our educational tradition. Most of us even compared the transitions in our life same as of the butterfly.

It has been a cliché in our grade school days to write an essay about our life and compare it to the life cycle of a butterfly. Our individual stories can be a great example to that but there is one person with an inspiring story that stood above all.

Jonalyn Pinuela, 33- year old community volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS in Brgy. Sigangao, Zarraga, Iloilo, proudly compares her transition same as of the life cycle of a butterfly.

At an early age, Jonalyn already possessed intelligence for she aced the graduates of her batch as a salutatorian during her grade school. In high school, she is also a consistent honor student.

Unfortunately, her parents do not have stable income, and Jonalyn had to stop schooling. From then on, she took care of her nieces and managed her own sari-sari store.

After few years, she continued her college education thru a scholarship from former Pres. Gloria Arroyo. She earned a degree in Information Technology at Western Visayas College of Technology, now ISAT University.

So what makes Jonalyn’s story stood above all? Unlike most of us, she’s differently abled. During her childhood days, she suffered measles that led her to her present condition – cerebral palsy.

Growing up with such condition was never easy for Jonalyn. She recalled how people would tease, laugh, name-call and discriminate her. She could not help but cry.  All these discriminations took credit for her low self-worth, thus, learning to hide in the walls of her cocoon.

Later on, she knew about Kalahi-CIDSS and joined as a community volunteer in 2014.  Through Jonalyn’s undeniable hard work, the community then decided that she took over as the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee chairperson.

Jonalyn is not only active in Kalahi-CIDSS but also in different organizations. She was also voted as president of the association of Person with Disability in their community.

She worked selflessly for the program through the years. From surveying, gathering of information, processing of documents to checking of materials – all of these were done efficiently by the community with Jonalyn’s supervision.

She also never failed to attend any meeting, seminar or workshop. She contributed a lot in the Kalahi-CIDSS school building project at Brgy. Sigangao.

According to her, the project is really a big help to their baranggay since learning materials will now be safe from flood and typhoon.

As the president of the PWD association, she always encourages her members to participate in civic projects that can help elevate their community, regardless of their physical conditions.

Jonalyn went out of her cocoon and slowly spread her beautiful wings as she embodied leadership and volunteerism. Her wings slowly lifted the involvement of PWDs not just in their own association but also in different civic projects.

Co-volunteers and co-workers of Jonalyn are all praises for her dedication to serve her fellowmen.  Every task trusted to her assures completion.

The word “No” is not in her dictionary for she says yes to every task assigned to her. She willingly volunteers in any activity or project in her barangay. Indeed, a model volunteer.

As Jonalyn attests, Kalahi-CIDSS became a great help to the community building. Not only in providing them the infrastructure but changing their perspective on the importance of community participation in every endeavor.

People became more participative and supportive to Kalahi-CIDSS and other projects in their community. Their participation became more visible than of the past years wherein most of them have low interest in such engagements.

As a selfless volunteer, Jonalyn envisions nothing but progress and development for her barangay. Her effort in helping the community paid off when she won as best community volunteer in PWD category.

Jonalyn believes that the greatest gift she acquired from Kalahi-CIDSS is personal development. As she narrates, “It’s like I’m a butterfly. I was once a cocoon that eventually developed into a butterfly and learned to fly.” Kalahi-CIDSS became her instrument for transition – her path to self-worth.

The story of Jonalyn is not your ordinary “butterfly life cycle” story. She is different. Yes, her physical condition makes her physically different from all of us.

Despite her condition, she still continues to strive hard for the betterment of everyone, actively participates in civic projects, and encourages change and development.

According to her, disability is not a reason not to be able to help the community.  Jonalyn is undeniably, a true leader.

We all have our stories. We all have our own transitions. There is no transition that requires no struggle. Getting out of that cocoon was really hard for Jonalyn but through Kalahi-CIDSS, she had her own transition – blossomed to a vibrant and beautiful butterfly. # (Kalahi-CIDSS/PR)