Isko Putol Works His Liability to Asset

WHEN he visited Cagayan de Oro City, Francisco Baguhin, thought of buying a pair of shoes. So he went inside a shoe store in "Agora" to look for the size to fit him. But when he was inside the store, a saleslady handed him five pesos. He did not accept the money and told the girl that he wanted to buy a pair of shoes and not beg for alms.

"Isko Putol", as friends fondly called him, was born on December 3, 1940 without hands and defective feet. He grew up a liability to his parents that are both farmers. Inspite of his handicap, his parents did not lose hope for him that someday he can contribute something to society.

His parents sent him to school. Isko studied his elementary grades at Cayam Elementary School. He walked almost four kilometers going to school and back to his home at nightfall in Kalayugan, a sitio of West Lungsodaan in Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol. Unfortunately, his schooling was cut short in Grade IV. He cannot bear the mockery and contempt of his classmates and others who heap on him.

But in the years to come, he accepted his fate without regret. He understood that his handicap was God’s will. He became a new person and courageously faced life’s challenges.

He was married on 1980 to Remedios Galendez, a second grader who is a harelip. During the 17 years of marriage life, they begot four children, all girls.

Isko Putol works to earn money. He plants corn, ube, camote and other root crops. He can even gather tuba by climbing the coconut tree.

He makes "sarang" (a cabinet made of bamboo slats) for those who place their orders. He also makes bamboo and wooden chairs.

His wife helps him earning a living by working as a house helper and caretaker to a rich family in town.

His talents and abilities are rare which able-bodied persons do not have.

One time when he was in the public market of Valencia, Bohol, four teenagers who were drinking tuba invited him to a drink. To respect them he accepted their offer but said to them that he would drink two glasses. He got the filled glass with his two arms and drunk the tuba. But before he finished drinking, one of the teenagers shot his camera to him. He realized that it was a set up. They want to take pictures for a souvenir. And he only took it pleasantly without taking offense.

Isko lives a simple life, and he is happy and contented. He has a loving wife, respectful daughters, understanding relatives, and kind neighbors. His family lives in peace.

He is ashamed to beg for alms. Instead, he toil hard daily to earn money to sustain the needs of his growing family.

Now Isko has proven to his classmates who scorned him that he is not a liability but an asset to society. He has succeeded in life in spite of his handicap.


(This article was first published in Philippine Panorama on March 15, 1998)