LIFE CHANGING. After Ruben Tasin’s winning stint, his hope for a better tomorrow has positively changed.

Diagnosed with visual acuity of 20/200 even after a surgery for congenital cataract in both eyes and classified as legally blind, Ruben Tasin’s parents was devastated by this life-altering injury of their son.

His family were alarmed that something was wrong when all his eyes were still cloudy four months after his birth. They thought that his eyes developed late or it was a temporary loss of vision only but that continued until he was 7 years old, before his surgery.

His parents Ricardo Itang Tasin Sr., 52 and Virginia Cortes Paglinawan, 53, supported him and sacrificed that necessary formal education will be given to him despite his condition. He was enrolled at Molave Regional Pilot School Special Education Center (Molave RPS SpEd Center) – the place that first gave him the eye of hope for a better future.

Today, at 15, he goes for what he wants, he works for it and doesn’t expect things to be handed to him in silver platter. He’s been taught that there’s no free hand-outs in life and he needs to fear nothing to survive.

“Maningkamot ko kay gusto ko mahimong trackman og puwede pod manghimoay og hollow blocks. Ganahan pod ko mahimong champion sa atletiks, negosyante ug maestro. Kon naa na koy kuwarta mopalit ko og lote ug balay para sa akoang ginikanan (I will strive because I want to be a trackman or hollow blocks maker. I also want to become a champion in athletics, a businessman and teacher. When I earn enough, I will purchase a lot and house for my parents),” he told in an interview.

After striding down and clinching three gold medals in 100 meter-run, long jump, and shot put respectively for Quality Learning Cell (QuaLCi) 2 Paralympics during the 2023 Provincial Meet, Ruben is looking forward of winning another gold counts in the Regional Meet and standing the podium again with Melanie V. Aplaca, his coach.