MANGATAREM—This local person’s perseverance to work and be productive despite his physical disability—born with just one arm, and a disfigured arm at that, and uneven legs—was honored as an awardee of the 2018 Kabuhayan Awards for Best Department of Labor and Employment-Assisted Livelihood Project on May 11 at the Heritage Hotel, Manila.

A visibly excited and proud Ferdinand Budomo, 37, of Barangay Dorongan Sawat here, said he hopes his achievement will inspire others who are similarly situated, persons with disability, to continue earning an honest living and succeed despite the odds.

“Sobrang saya, maski ganito lang ako eh nakarating pa rin ako doon sa national [awards level]. Halos di ako makapaniwala eh,” he said.

Bedumo is joined by n Rep. Bataoil after receiving his award. (Contributed photo)

Budomo stands only about 4 feet tall, born with his right leg shorter and thinner than his left leg, without a right arm while his skinny left forearm has a hand with only two fingers.

He received a plaque and a P30,000 cash incentive.

Poks (short for pokol, a Pangasinan word for “cut”), as he is fondly called by his family, friends and community folk, said he didn’t expect his struggles would be recognized by the government and to be cited as the regional awardee of Region 1 for the DOLE award.

He said he will use the prize money as added capital for his fishball, kikiam and squid ball business using the NegoKart he received years back from DOLE already initially supplied with the food items to sell.

He said he averages P300 net profit daily from his vending business.

Poks, fourth in a brood of six in their family, starts his day at 3 a.m. to tend to his vegetable plants, his main source of livelihood.

During the day, he goes around pedaling his bicycle with a NegoKart attached to it to sell boiled sweet corn, fish ball and kikiam for extra income.

He also buys junk items and sells these to junk shops.

He has become an inspiration to many that teachers in his barangay use the video clips of him in local and national television shows to inspire the students and to teach them the values of hard work and perseverance.

Poks shares half of his income with his family and the other half for his upkeep. He took it upon himself to help support the college education of his youngest sister, Richelle, now a public school teacher.

Richelle accompanied Poks to the Manila awarding rites, together with Mangatarem Mayor Ramil Ventenilla and Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil.

Richelle confirmed that she and her fellow teachers cite her brother in school as an example to inspire students.

She said although her brother has no arms, he can do what other physically-able people do.

Poks finished only elementary school and uses his feet to write. (Eva Visperas)

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