Hail to the First Filipino Braille International Awardee
By Eva C. Visperas

 

 

 

This totally blind woman, who graduated magna cum laude in college and  the first Filipino Braille International awardee, believes she is “stepping  out of the dark into a world so bright” with the use of Braille and God.

Minnie Aveline Juan of San Carlos City, 21, said her mission is “simply to be of service to others in whatever way I can through my God-given talents and to inspire others.”

“It’s up to God on what and how exactly I would be able to use my talent,” Juan told this writer during an interview inside her parents’ office at the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF) here. Her mother, Dr. Ma.   Lilia Posadas-Juan is the university president while her dad, Dr. Angelo Juan, is the vice president for administration. Both are medical doctors.

Full of life, Minnie, for being born literally “mini” as she weighed  only 2.2 pounds, born prematurely at six and a half months and had to stay  inside an incubator for one month, said she is still thankful to God.

She was only partially blind when she was born until she reached four  when a nerve in her head had a hemorrhage and she had to be operated on three times.” By God’s grace, I became blind,” a smiling Juan said.

“I never question God “Why, why, why me?”. I always believe that He has a plan for me, for everybody. He did not make me visually impaired for no cause. There must be a reason,” Juan said.

At her young age, Juan has achieved so much. A consistent valedictorian since her elementary grade at the Virgen Milagrosa Child Learning Center here, to high school at the Virgen Milagrosa Special Science High School also here and on to college at the Trinity College in Quezon City where she took up Bachelor of Arts in English and was named the batch valedictorian having gotten the highest average among the three magna cum laude the time they graduated last March.

Her entry “Braille to a Bright Future” was chosen by the World Blind Union-Asia Pacific Onkyo Braille Essay Selection Committee as the  Highly Commended Essay during the celebration of the International Louis  Braille Day held last January 4 at the VMUF compound.

The award handed to her was signed by Naoto Otsuki, chairman and chief executive officer of  Onkyo Corporation. It reads,” We certify that you have a good command of Braille, and we are pleased that you are using this knowledge to the fullest to enhance your independence and  self-confidence.

We therefore confirm you to be the proud winner of the above-mentioned prize (Fine Works-under 25 years old) in the 3rd Onkyo Braille Essay Award Contest, sponsored by Onkyo Corporation and The Mainichi Newspapers

“The Braille Mainichi” in collaboration with WBU-AP. This memorial plaque is being presented to you to show our praise and deep admiration”.

In her recent award-winning essay, Juan narrated how useful Braille is in her life. She said that while her sighted classmates were learning to  read with their eyes and to write with pencil and paper, she could do so in  a “special way”,  reading with my fingertips and writing with a stylus and  a slate enclosing a piece of Braille paper”.

Her secret to her academic excellence was, with the help of her teachers, the textbooks were transcribed from print to Braille, thereby enabling her to study her lessons ahead of time. The examination question papers were also translated into Braille and this enabled her to work independently.

Besides helping her to be an exceptional student, Juan said Braille literacy also opened up many other doors to her. She was able to do what she loved doing- enjoy reading all kinds of books on Science, History, Literature, languages and the Holy Scriptures. “For me, reading has always been a great source of entertainment, knowledge, wisdom and inspiration”, she said.

It was in a regular school where Juan was taught to read and write Braille by a special education teacher who was blind herself. Gertrudez  Benigno, who was her mentor from elementary to high school, was like her second  mother.

They both cried when Juan was already in college and Benigno had to go back to her hometown Ilocos to also teach other visually-impaired children.

“I want to be like her. She has a noble mission,” Juan said. Right now, Juan also teaches a six-year old blind boy in their family-owned school. She said she sees herself in him.

Juan said encouragement from her family, friends and prayers helped her a lot.

“Simply don’t lose hope. God always has reasons for allowing this to happen.

Blindness should not hinder one from living a normal life. Blindness is not a burden. It’s a blessing. No matter how insignificant you feel, to God you are special. That should not make you any different. There’s always hope and there’s always a God who never forsakes us,” Juan advised other blind people.

Right now, aside from teaching, Juan is also pursuing her second course, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education to specialize later on Special Education. A talented singer, she also joined the faculty choir and “reads” inspirational books in her spare time.

On Sundays whenever she’s assigned to read the Scriptures in their chapel for the Mass, she would have the readings written in Braille and read them.

She also enjoys texting in her cellular phone even in wee hours.
She advised students, who have complete senses, not to waste the opportunity given them to be educated. “Kung ako nga bulag nakaya ko po. Dapat mag-aral din silang mabuti,” she said.

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