Helping others amidst disability | Sun.Star.
By Nicole J. Managbanag
January 7, 2012

 DISABILITY can never be a hindrance in pursuing one’s advocacy to help other people.

Despite having no voice, Jerry Orcullo, four-termer past president of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), has never lost his compassion for his fellow media practitioners who direly need help.

Ka Jerry, as he wants to be called, lost his voice due to laryngeal cancer. But despite being literally voiceless, he still proves that his physical adversity cannot stop him from helping others, especially his colleagues in the media.

At the onslaught of Tropical Storm Sendong, several journalists lost their homes, properties and personal belongings.

Through Ka Jerry’s initiative and many connections while he was still an active media practitioner, he was able to gather help from several donors for those media practitioners who were affected by the flash flood.

Even with disability, this “voiceless man” became an instrument as many of his friends answered his call. Donations then started pouring in, sent to the COPC under incumbent president Attorney Bobby Goking.

Through this, journalists affected by Sendong were given temporary assurance for food, potable water, clothing and even cash.

Ka Jerry, 57, says he feels happy and alive whenever he helps other people.

“Helping others makes me feel less sorry for myself,” he shares.

Ka Jerry was diagnosed to have laryngeal cancer in 2008. Upon learning his condition, he says he prefers to be dead than alive but voiceless.

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