Mac Gerard Lawan, 33, is a blind masseur who is earning a decent income out of providing home service massage therapy. His livelihood serves as his family’s current main source of income.
A resident of Brgy. Quiot, Cebu City and a father of two children, Lawan is one of the clients of the Area Vocational Rehabilitation II (AVRC), who was able to avail of the vocational rehabilitation service under the massage therapy training course.
“Somebody told me nga mas nindot naa koy training para mas mapalambo pa nako akong skills sa pag massage,” said Lawan when asked why he decided to join a training facility for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
(Somebody told me that it would be better if I undergo training so I can further improve my massage skills.)
He joined AVRC II in April 2022 and stayed in the center to undergo his training that lasted for almost one year.
“Naka avail ko sa massage therapy didto sa AVRC. Nahimu siyag smooth moving while naa ko didto, daghan kog learning nakat-on didto like orientation mobility. Lahi ra gyud when you experience it nga naa naka sa imung maturity stage,” he said.
(I availed of massage therapy at AVRC. I learned a lot, like orientation mobility. It’s really different when you experience it when you’re already mature.)
Lawan considers the center a tool for growth as it offers several opportunities for PWDs like him, aside from providing medical check-ups and free vitamins and medicines.
“Standard ang AVRC, ni comply gyud sa mga requirements. It’s also a great tool for us to grow. Nahatagan kog equipment walking cane, this is given to me by the AVRC mura siyag nahimug remembrance rapud nako,” Lawan added.
(The AVRC follows the highest quality of standard service and complies with the requirements. It’s also a great tool for us to grow. I was given a walking cane that became like a remembrance for me of my almost one year stay there.)
Two years after graduating from the AVRC II, Lawan is now earning a monthly income of P15,000 to P20,000.
Center of Excellence
The AVRC II in Brgy. Labangon, Cebu City is a non-residential facility for persons with disabilities. The center is under the supervision of the DSWD7.
It caters to individuals with disabilities of vision, hearing, speech, mobility, and those with other forms of physical, mental, and social impairment, as well as those belonging special groups willing to undergo vocational rehabilitation.
It was recently granted the status of ‘Center of Excellence’ from DSWD Central Office’s Standards Bureau in recognition of its efforts to ensure the highest standard in its services, processes, and facilities which are instrumental in providing vocational rehabilitation to its clients.
“The credit goes to the entire workforce of the center for having the dedication to keep the facility at par to the standards and true to its statement of quality policy,” said DSWD7 regional director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero.
AVRC II social services section head Margie Pinton said the recognition will serve as their motivation to continue delivering a comprehensive package of services to their clients so they can achieve their full potential and optimum rehabilitation.
“As the AVRC II attains the Level III or Center of Excellence status, clients are assured that best service possible will be given to them,” said Pinton.
A center full of opportunities
In 2023, a total of 224 clients were able to avail of the different services from the AVRC II, such as community-based skills training, job placement, rehabilitative service, technical assistance, vocational training, and provision of prostheses.
Of the total, 93 availed of the vocational rehabilitation program. This gives a client the opportunity to prepare for potential work by gaining knowledge and skills over the period of nine months in a particular vocational program.
As a former client of AVRC II, Lawan shares how the skills he gained from being trained at AVRC II for almost a year has changed his life for the better.
“Sauna man gyud dili ko confident sa akong kaugalingon, but karon I have all the guts na ma feel na nako nga confident nako in bringing out my skills and potential, kamao nako mo sales talk og mo present sa akong self to other people,” he said.
(Before, I had no self-confidence. But now, I am confident with my skills and potential. I can now do sales talk and confidently present myself to other people.)
Lawan added that the center also improved him as a father to his children.
“After nako nigawas sa AVRC (after I left AVRC), I can say na I can be a role model to other PWD out there to raise up, to stand up. The center transformed me to become a good parent, I am not a perfect one but I tried to be the best for my children,” he said. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
