Cebuano blind masseurs rank high in exams

Despite his disability and minimal education, 25-year-old Olymar Adiva still managed to place third among 1,193 examinees of two government licensure examinations for massage therapy.

Adiva, a resident of barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, is one of 20 blind masseurs trained by the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC)–II who passed the written exam last Dec. 2012 and practical exam last Jan. 2013.

A high school graduate, Adiva is the family breadwinner after his father died.

Adiva lost his vision due to measles he acquired during childhood.

But this didn’t deter him from pursuing his goal of being a licensed massage therapist.

“Lahi ra jud sa lisensyado ka ug dili, mas daghan mi ug nakat-onan karon nga lisensyado na mi (Being a licensed therapist is different than those who are not, we acquired more knowledge now that we are already licensed therapist),” he said.

Adiva and his visually-impaired masseurs like 30-year-old Rommel Monroid Jr. also experienced the same difficulties in reviews and trainings.

“There are times when our hands will go past the paper and we write a different answer. It is now possible that we can reach the success we have been aiming,” said Monroid, an elementary under graduate and resident of Mandaue City.

Trainor Maritess Tatara was thankful that her trainees including the blind masseurs passed the exam. “It was very hard to re-train them. We had to undo what they have been doing,” she said.

Tatara said it only took the masseurs two months to learn their training in preparation for the licensure exam. “Every time our students passed, all our efforts are paid off,”she added.

Herminia Cabahug, AVRC -II Training Center superintendent, said it was the first time after 38 years that AVRC produced 100 percent successful examinees.

“We’ve proven that despite their disabilities and lack of education, one can still practice a profession licensed by the national government,” Cabahug said. Correspondent Joy Cherry Quito