ASPIRATIONS AND DRUDGERY: HER WAY TO REDEMPTION

As she opened her eyes, she saw her clothes hanging there, a pin on her drawer, food on
the table and a smile from a blurry face saying “Nak kain kana may pasok ka” then she
remembered it was her first day of school.
Laisa T. Flores, 29 years old, a person with a disability, acted as a significant inspiration
to many students at Laguna State Polytechnic University-Siniloan Campus. She is also known as
Ate Lhai, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a major in Intelligent Systems. Her
amazing narrative never ceases to astound those she encounters, and her personality and tenacity
shine above all obstacles.
The eldest of five, Laisa grew up in a low income family. Her father is a truck and
tricycle driver who earns minimum wage per day and her mother who’s dealing with high blood
pressure stays at home to take care of them. Laisa presents symptoms of Cerebral Palsy, a
collection of conditions that have an impact on how well a person can move, balance, and adopt
good posture. The most typical motor impairment in children is cerebral palsy. Many times, the
precise reason is unknown. A minor portion of cerebral palsy is brought on by aberrant brain
growth or injury that develops more than 28 days after birth. This condition is known as acquired
CP and is frequently linked to a brain injury or illness (such as meningitis). Sweet Laisa cannot
speak properly, maintain posture and have small troubles in doing everyday chores just like
everybody else. The only way Laisa communicates with her friends and family is through typing
her message on her phone and showing it to them. Due to lack of funds Laisa never had the
chance to consult a specialist with regards to her case.
Her ultimate dream in life is to uplift her family’s economic status and become her
parent’s glory as she is the only child who as of the moment will acquire a bachelor’s degree.
When she was born she said everything was normal upon her, but a few weeks after she
was born, she acquired a dengue virus that caused her confinement and frequent hospital visits.
“Wait lng actually ndi ko rn alam kung anong condition ko.. Eh.. Pero Hindi inborn eh.
Nagka salit lng ako ng dengue nung 2 weeks plng napapanganak. Simula nun pabalik balik na ko
sa hospital.. Nakaka 10 na turok ako isang araw. Sa kamay at paa. Siguro naluto ako sa gamot..”
Laisa was described by her mother as sweet, thoughtful, kind, generous and could be
naughty sometimes just like everybody else. To her family she is a delight and a heaven-scent
because of her courage and fighting spirit. She portrays a dream, a dream that once was dreamt
about by her parents.
Aside from her family, Laisa has been constantly blessed by different people and
organizations. There are numerous people that help her to finish college and the number of
people that believe in her are countless. She is a Commission on Higher Education Scholar, a
municipal councilor scholar and a good Samaritan working abroad that helps her in her other
expenses in school which he met through the late Supreme Student Government President (SSC)
Michael Angelo Javier.
 “Sa LSPU ko nakilala si Kuya Michael. Siya yung nag-assist sakin nung medical nung
first year.. At ang Hindi ko alam siya din pala yung SSC president.. Palagi kame nagkikita sa
guidance. Then yun hanggang sa inaadd ko siya sa fb. Naging close kame. Palagi na kme
magkachat kwentohan ganun. Hanggan isang araw, nag chat siya at pinapunta ako sa guidance
kasi may ibibigay daw siya sakin at my kakausap daw sakin so yun na nga ay yung Tito nya na si
Kuya Marlon. Naghahanap daw kasi yung Tito nya na pwedeng tulungan. Ako yung napili ni
Kuya Michael..Then un buwan buwan na ko pinapadalahn ng allowance. Hanggan ngayon”
During the pandemic, she struggled a lot since her course was computer related course,
and there we’re no available equipment at home for her studies. Someone knocked on her door, a
man with a computer set on his arms. It was for her. Her eyes shed tears of joy hearing what the
man said, it felt like cloud-nine for her. Finally, she has something to use for her studies. She
never found out who gave it to her but her gratitude towards this anonymous person we’re
endless
Ever since she was a child, she has been frail and always prone to different kinds of
diseases. She entered elementary education at 7 years old and finished at 12 but unluckily she got
sick after graduating in elementary forcing her to stop studying for 2 years. After she recovered
from sickness, she then pursued high school and finished it at 21. Because of their family’s
financial difficulties, she chose to stop studying again. After 3 years being stucked inside their
house walls, she continued pursuing her dream to finish her studies. That's why she enrolled in
the K-12 program choosing ICT strand.
Her senior high school years were her most favorite years. She graduated as an achiever
in senior high school. She said that those years were unforgettable and lovely, a coup d'œil of a
sweet yesterday.
“Nung nag senior high ako sobrang dami Kong happiest memory eh. Dun Ako nagkaroon
[ng] self-confident. Sumasali na ko sa mga events ng school example eh prom. Then dun ko din
naranasan na rumampa sa stage sa harap ng Maraming tao.. Hehehe at sobra dami Kong naging
kaibigan na until now kaibigan ko parin.”
There she met one of her saccharine past, a boy that brought changes upon her life and
showed her what love means. Jeffrey San Jose, her high school sweetheart and her 4 th boyfriend
whom she met in a fairy-tale-like moment. She was 1 year ahead of him.
It was lively, colorful and vibrant, everyone was looking perfect. Shiny dresses, elegant
coats and an enticing music. He approached her as the melody slowed down asking for a dance.
She stood up fixed her pink long dress with a big smile and they went in the center of the
spotlight owning the night.
After that magical night, their teachers keep on teasing them both even after she
graduated since she still goes to that campus delivering goods that she sells online. After a year
Laisa thought it was their end since Jeffrey had graduated and worked far from their home. But
all of a sudden a name popped up in her friend requests on Facebook. It was him!
 “After 1 year my nag friend request sa akin ay siya nga. Nag chat skin. Ng Hi Laisa Tas
nag reply ako ng hello Kuya Jeff. Tas un plgi kame magkachat.. Hanggang naging kme.”
She can still recall the first time they met as a couple. It was a picnic by the river with her
family. It was a nerve-wracking moment for her. She can't contain her excitement and at the
same time her nervousness. He’s kind and sweet, are all the words she uttered after they met
personally.
Jeffrey and Laisa’s love story lasted for 2 years. Year 2022 a pleasant surprise stomped
her heart. A child is living in her belly. She’s pregnant! It brought huge joy upon her and her
boyfriend. They are both happy as well as her family.
“Hindi ako nagkaroon. Kinabahan ako. Sinabi ko naman sa mga parents ko ang lahat.
Alam nila na may something na dahil 2Month's si Jeffrey nag stay sa bahay namin”
But after 3 months of bearing a child inside her womb, because of her delicate condition
she bid goodbye to her little one.
“Halos mabaliw talaga ako. Nag karoon ako ng pagkakataon na magdala ng sanggol sa
sinapupunan KO ng 3 months.. Pero iwanan din nya ako eh .Hindi ko alam kung paano at bakit
nangyari yun sakin”
It was her saddest moment. An extreme sorrow and suffering. But after that event she
remained optimistic just like how she used to be. Few months after she lost her baby, she and her
boyfriend broke up.
“Pero ngayon alam ko na kung bakit? Gusto muna siguro akong pagtapusin ng pag aaral
at matupad lahat ng pangarap ko.. Na makatulong sa family ko.”
Laisa hopes that one day, she would be able to provide for her family. All of her
sacrifices are just a small gesture of showing her love and respect for her parents and family.
Education is the only wealth she has now and her family is her greatness, weakness and strength
at the same time.
“Edukasyon, Pamilya, Ama at nanay ko kasi silang dalaw ang aking kahinaan at
kalakasan at mga tao na nag titiwala at naniniwala sa aking kakayahan, at mga taong natulong sa
pag aaral ko... Sympre si God.”
Every time Laisa faces rough roads all she does is to pray and pray because she believes
that nothing is impossible through him. Her bible and music became her offset against the noise
of this judgemental world.
For some, they might think that studying with her condition was hard but for her she
believes that if ever you want to achieve something, you have to work hard for it.
Her message to everyone was “Maging masipag at matigya lang sila.. Lahat ng pangarap
nila ay matutupad. Sa kagaya kong P.w.d. wag natin kahiya kung ganito ang kalagayan natin.
Para sa diyos special tayo. Ilabas natin ang mga kakayanan natin. At wag natin ito itago..be
proud! Maging inspiration tayo ng mga kagaya natin, na kung kaya nila, kayang kaya din natin..
Wag sumuko sa hamon ng buhay. Malalampasan natin ito!”
Her legacy as a champion of life is already marked in “Her story” of the Laguna State
Polytechnic University-Siniloan Campus. She proved that dreams do come true if you worked
hard for it. From the ashes of her sacrifices, rises an empire of her roaring success.