Aired (February 8, 2025): Nakilala ni Howie Severino ang kambal na visually impaired noong 2007 para sa isang dokumentaryo. Makalipas ang 18 taon, muling nagtagpo ang kanilang landas. Mula sa pagiging mahiyain na mga bata, ngayo’y blind triathletes na sila at patuloy na lumalaban hindi lang sa kompetisyon kundi pati na rin buhay— patunay na walang imposible sa determinasyon at pangarap.
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00:00In the field of strength, the body must be strong, the mind must be agile, and the mind must be strong.
00:21We met some outstanding athletes.
00:39They are not just a few who are on the finish line, but they know they will reach it.
00:51Here at Subic Bay in Zambales, a national competition of triathlons will be held.
01:08The athletes from different parts of the country will compete in this event.
01:19The para-athletes will also participate.
01:23They are Joshua and Jerome Nelmida from Mundinlupa City.
01:28They will be accompanied by their guides who will guide them through the games.
01:48Swimming is the first part of the triathlon.
01:59The para-athletes will go last.
02:04They need to swim 1 lap or 750 meters.
02:19Before I learned how to swim, I already knew them.
02:24It's been almost two decades.
02:29Come here.
02:32In our documentary, Blind Child, in 2007, the triathlon was only seven years old.
02:40Joshua was shy back then and hid when we arrived.
02:46Let's study.
02:48But Jerome was still a kid back then.
02:51Do you know where you are now?
02:53Here in Alabang.
02:55Both of them can't see.
02:58They are premature.
03:02Their retina is not yet complete, which is an important part of our eyes.
03:07What's your name?
03:08Howie.
03:10Joshua is shy, but Jerome is willing to be interviewed.
03:14But he is the one who will ask.
03:16Where do you work?
03:18I work in TV.
03:21In TV?
03:22Yes, I interview different people.
03:28Ever since their birth, I didn't know that they were blind.
03:33I told them that no matter what happens to them, as long as they are alive.
03:40Because at first, I saw them in the incubator.
03:47Hi, this is Jerome. This is Mr. Howie.
03:50Hi, I'm Howie. How are you?
03:53Hi, I'm Howie. How are you?
03:57You haven't changed.
03:59Long time no see.
04:01These are the ones who have changed.
04:03Jerome.
04:04Yes.
04:05Joshua.
04:06Oh, wow.
04:08That's great. You have a lot of successes.
04:11Congratulations.
04:12Thank you so much.
04:16The two are now 24 years old.
04:17They have their own hobbies, but they are still good at dedicating themselves to sports.
04:24They are members of the National Para-athlete Triathlon Team.
04:29And they are the only two blind triathletes in the country.
04:34Both are totally blind.
04:36But I still remember when Joshua was still able to walk.
04:42Mom, there's a dog outside.
04:45Jerome, there's a dog outside.
04:47Jerome, there's a dog outside.
04:48It's just a light.
04:49I don't want to.
04:52Mom, they turned on the lights.
04:55Mom, can we see the light of the camera?
04:58I really cried then. I was in the corner, hiding.
05:03I really didn't want to show it because I was like that before.
05:07Hi, Jerome.
05:08You're all grown up now.
05:11In 2011, I brought the twins back.
05:23They experienced all kinds of possibilities that can be given to a child.
05:40Since then, Mommy Annette encouraged the children to try many things,
05:46especially sports.
05:52It looks like she's not blind.
05:54It's the result of the hard work and sacrifice of the whole family.
05:59Imagine a visually impaired person who can get a gold medal and a silver medal.
06:07It's a great achievement.
06:09My children always tell me,
06:11it's a pity.
06:13It's a pity that they're blind.
06:16That's when I realized that I will make my children different.
06:21I will make their lives different.
06:26They won't be pitiful.
06:30Their support is really different.
06:33It started when we were small until now.
06:45How did you discover the twins for triathlon?
06:49At Bert Lozada Swim School, we have swimming with disability, but physical disability,
06:54not visual impairment.
06:56So I had to find a way on how do they operate?
07:01What are their abilities?
07:07When they mastered the fundamentals of stroke,
07:10of course, they know how to count,
07:12they can count their strokes.
07:14Since their sense of feel is heightened,
07:16their strokes are consistent.
07:19So they can count from wall to wall.
07:21In the real career in the sea,
07:23there are no longer any floaters serving as a guide.
07:27Jerome and Joshua are dependent on their guides,
07:30who are also athletes.
07:34And with the help of a rope.
07:40We call it a swim tether.
07:43We just put it in the water.
07:46Well, of course, they can't see.
07:48And most of the competitions that we participate in are open water.
07:53So for them not to get lost,
07:55of course, they need to be tied to my waist.
07:57So at all times, I can watch them.
08:06What is the difference between a swim tether and a rope?
08:09A swim tether is a rope that is tied to the waist.
08:13Jerome leads with his guide, Long.
08:22In career or other fields,
08:24continuity is already a success, even if it is slow.
08:32In the swim course, Joshua and his guide, Bernard,
08:35caught up in the last two seconds.
08:38Coordination and coordination
08:40is what will be tested in the next phase of the competition.
08:46Biking.
08:49A loop in the course in Subic,
08:51or an equivalent of 20 kilometers,
08:53is what they need to overcome.
08:57In the next phase of the competition,
08:59Joshua and his guide, Bernard,
09:01will try to reach the finish line.
09:03A loop in the course in Subic,
09:05or an equivalent of 20 kilometers,
09:07is what they need to overcome.
09:12When the two are interested in triathlons,
09:15biking becomes a big problem.
09:18Coach, can we ride a triathlon?
09:20Then I said, triathlon?
09:22First of all, his bike is very expensive.
09:25It is not available in the Philippines.
09:28It is too expensive.
09:29We cannot afford it.
09:30Their group decided to buy a bike for Jerome.
09:34Meanwhile, Joshua donated his first bike.
09:39Their first guide is me and my brother, Angelo.
09:42We were their first guides.
09:44Until they got too strong,
09:47we couldn't keep up.
09:49Coach Anthony found a guide for the triathlon.
09:53My requirements for a guide are really high.
09:56One is their physical fitness.
09:58Two is their sensitivity towards the partner.
10:05Bernard Cruz is Joshua's seven-year-old guide.
10:10He was a student and varsity swimmer at De La Salle University
10:14when he first became a guide.
10:18Long Amiladjid is Jerome's second year as a guide.
10:24He is part of the Philippine Navy
10:26and became a guide voluntarily.
10:29You are his main driver.
10:33You are his driver.
10:35If you make a wrong decision,
10:38there is a chance that this race will be ruined.
10:41That is also where our resistance to triathlons comes in.
10:48We cannot be lazy during the race.
10:52Also, our leadership skills should be intact.
11:04Every move should be synchronized.
11:07If one of us falls behind,
11:10the other one suffers and vice versa,
11:12which usually happens.
11:14But we need communication on the bike.
11:19It is difficult because it is loud.
11:25You are the eyes,
11:26you tell them where to go,
11:28when to turn, etc.
11:30But what is their role in the team?
11:34It is great that they are breaking barriers
11:39and they are inspiring other people to also do the same,
11:42to break through your barrier and become a better person.
11:47Of course, you have to conquer yourself, right?
11:49Personally, I was born with two concepts in my body.
11:54One is that I was born to help,
11:58and the other is that I was born to help.
12:01So, in my current condition,
12:03I am already in the part where I need help.
12:10It is the dream of many athletes
12:12to make the country laugh
12:14and to participate in the Olympics.
12:16But it is too late for Bernard and Long.
12:20Truthfully, I won't make it to the Olympics sea age.
12:24Maybe physically, I can't.
12:26But because of them,
12:29it became possible all of a sudden
12:31for me to make it to the Paralympics
12:33if we train hard enough.
12:40After more than half an hour of pedaling,
12:44Kambal is nearing the second transition.
12:58They are almost there.
13:01Joshua and Bernard are just one second ahead.
13:09The last part of the race is the run.
13:15Three loops or 5 kilometers towards the finish line.
13:22Not only are they fast and strong in their race,
13:25but they are also strong because of the people who believe in them.
13:32Go, go, go!
13:38Go, Kuya Bernard!
13:40Go, Kuya Bernard! Go!
13:44Go, Kuya Bernard! Go, Kuya Bernard!
13:50Among the spectators is a childhood friend of Kambal.
13:54Aliyah Maklit, a close friend of the two,
13:56joined the race.
14:01She is also the reason why I got to know Kambal,
14:04his former schoolmate.
14:06Aliyah Maklit is the first blind child I met.
14:14Hi! How are you, Aliyah?
14:18I'm good.
14:19Maria Eliose B. Maklit, 10 years old.
14:22Aliyah is no different from her peers.
14:26Come, Mr. Howie. I'll help you.
14:28Oh, he's Mr. Howie.
14:30Come, Mr. Howie. I'll help you.
14:32Oh, he's Mr. Howie.
14:34No, I don't need anything.
14:38Do you know what it means to be blind?
14:41I'm the blind.
14:44I can't accept it. I'm crying. I want to die.
14:47I said, what is this? Why me?
14:50I said, why my child?
14:52I said, there are a lot of things.
14:55I said, I didn't do anything wrong.
15:00He said, he's my eldest.
15:03He gave me my eldest.
15:05He said, let him be.
15:07He's a gift from the Lord. Don't cry.
15:09Embrace him.
15:12For more than 20 years in making documentaries,
15:15Aliyah's story is one of the longest I watched.
15:20After we first met in 2007,
15:24I brought her back in 2011.
15:28She's now a freshman in grade 2.
15:32How are you?
15:33I'm okay.
15:35I've been waiting for you for a long time.
15:37Yes.
15:38We haven't seen each other for a long time.
15:40That's when I saw her mother's dream finally come true.
15:45That Aliyah will be able to study in a regular school.
15:51It's been four years since we last saw her.
15:55It's PE time. It's PE time.
15:59She's in grade 6.
16:01She's able to keep up with her classmates.
16:06She's still an honor student.
16:12Just like Kambal,
16:13sometimes Aliyah joins the running race.
16:17She also has a guide that she can see.
16:21Stop!
16:23Let me introduce you to Aliyah.
16:25Aliyah, this is Mr. Sajid Imao.
16:27How are you?
16:29Aliyah met a talented sculptor, Sajid Imao,
16:33who also has a talent in sight
16:35and is considered legally blind.
16:40Aliyah had a new perspective on art.
16:43In this work, I can see her simplicity.
16:48Her sculpting is really simple.
16:52In 2014, she was also part of my documentary
16:56about my friend and cameraman,
16:59Egay Navarro, who passed away.
17:02Egay is with me to witness Aliyah's growth.
17:05Mr. Egay, thank you so much for the small chance
17:10that I got to know you.
17:12Don't forget to say hi to your mother in heaven.
17:19This is my fifth documentary with Aliyah.
17:24She was accompanied by her father, Jojo Maklit.
17:27They found out that Aliyah was blind when she was just a baby.
17:31We had her checked up for cancer in her eyes.
17:35At that time, Aliyah was blessed.
17:39Now, she's about to finish her school.
17:42I hope she can continue until she gets married.
17:46We're getting old.
17:56In approaching the finish line,
18:04every second is more important.
18:09Joshua and Bernard's team is leading.
18:16After almost half a minute,
18:18Jerome and Long followed.
18:22In the final tie of the competition,
18:24Joshua and Bernard were the champions.
18:29They broke the record set by Jerome and Long
18:32last year.
18:34How was the experience in the final of the week?
18:37It was so much fun.
18:39We were given a lot of inspiration.
18:43During the race, it was so much fun
18:46because a lot of people were cheering.
18:49Joshua's victory is not common
18:51because Jerome knows him better than them.
18:55How did you feel when Joshua won first place?
18:59I was so happy.
19:01Joshua won first place.
19:03I was so happy for him.
19:05For me, he won, and I won.
19:10Not only the winner waits for the finish line,
19:14there's a voice of the past waiting.
19:17Hello.
19:18Hello.
19:20I don't know.
19:21Sorry.
19:22I don't know.
19:28Aliyah!
19:31Aliyah!
19:36How are you?
19:37I'm fine.
19:39How are you?
19:40I'm fine.
19:42How old are you?
19:43I'm 22.
19:44I'll be 23 at the age of 8.
19:45What are you studying now?
19:47Psychology.
19:48I'm in my second trimester of my third year.
19:50So, just one trimester.
19:52Oh, my.
19:53After that, OJT.
19:54I'm graduating in December.
19:56You deserve the song titled Alamat.
19:59They were just kids when I first met them.
20:03They have their own dreams that they're fulfilling now.
20:07Who's that?
20:08I'm going to forget you.
20:09It's okay.
20:12Is that Aliyah?
20:16See?
20:17There's no surprise.
20:20Long time no see.
20:21Finish your Alamat!
20:24Pirate Prime Men, BTS, Visually Impaired.
20:28In second place, team number 47, Jerome Nalbida with Guy Chernel Apulejo.
20:40In first place, tandem number 46, Joshua Nalbida and Bernard Cruz.
20:54The first thing we're going to do, you know,
20:56I remembered my first documentary about them.
21:01It was just five years ago.
21:03This is a semi-magnetic board.
21:05The computer,
21:07this is heavy.
21:09Oh?
21:10Yes.
21:11What is that?
21:12It's already out?
21:13Yes.
21:14Really?
21:15It's broken.
21:16The power supply broke.
21:18Boom!
21:19It broke.
21:20That's what I said.
21:21That's what I said.
21:22When I grow up, don't take this from me.
21:25That's what I said.
21:26Now, it's still small.
21:27If it's not for me, take it from me.
21:30That's what I said.
21:31But when I grow up, don't give it back to me.
21:35I'm crying.
21:40I'm sorry.
21:42His mother passed away in 2010.
21:45Three years after we released our first documentary
21:49about visually impaired children.
21:56Come here, my child.
21:58Don't you want to go to Teacher Dane?
22:00I'm going to put this on your shoulder.
22:02But now, you heard yourself.
22:04You heard the sound of the tambal.
22:06What was your reaction?
22:08Nothing. I was just amused.
22:11Before, when we were kids,
22:13the world was like,
22:15okay, this is it.
22:16But now, we're getting old.
22:18Our perceptions have changed.
22:20Wait a minute.
22:22This is what we used to be like.
22:27Okay, let's study.
22:28This is what I was like before.
22:30And now, they're different.
22:34They're on the national team.
22:36It's like,
22:37the transformation was huge.
22:41This is what I worked hard for.
22:46I'm back at age 28 or 29 or 30 years old.
22:51How do you imagine yourselves?
22:54I'm still in the triathlon,
22:56but I'm in the international competition.
23:01As for music,
23:04I've already graduated from a music course.
23:09How about you?
23:11I've already composed a lot of songs.
23:15When it comes to songwriting,
23:17I'm more of a Christian Gaston.
23:30The tambal is also good at music.
23:40Joshua is the composer,
23:42and Jerome is the singer.
23:45I can see myself five years from now.
23:48Maybe, hopefully.
23:50So, I already have a license as a psychologist.
23:57The tambal reminds me that I also like to ride a bicycle.
24:05Jerome challenged me.
24:07He challenged me to try his tandem bike.
24:11I've never tried it before.
24:14I've only seen it.
24:16So, it's my first time to ride it.
24:20Oh my God!
24:21Wait!
24:23Okay.
24:25The pedal is still high.
24:28I'll just sit like this.
24:29Okay, the pedal.
24:30I'll just sit like this.
24:32Okay.
24:38I didn't expect that I would click right away when I ride.
24:45I can't explain how I feel right now.
24:50You're welcome.
24:51It's a new experience for me.
24:52You're welcome.
24:53You're welcome.
24:57At the speed of sound,
25:00I can feel the rhythm.
25:02I can feel the rhythm.
25:03I can feel the rhythm.
25:04I can feel the rhythm.
25:06At the speed of the world right now,
25:09especially in our country, Pamamahayag,
25:15we rarely get the chance.
25:25We've been following them for 18 years.
25:29We see the change not only in the children,
25:34but also in the society,
25:37who are still lacking in people like them.
25:41Even me,
25:42I can also see the growth.
25:46When I first met them,
25:48I was thinking about their future.
25:53I didn't expect to see them again.
25:59Now,
26:00there are clear lessons to be learned.
26:05Whatever challenges you are faced with,
26:08you can overcome them.
26:10As long as you have a loving parent,
26:14and someone who cares for you and helps you.
26:20All of us have the strength
26:23to work hard.
26:26What I didn't expect before,
26:29they will grow and when the day comes,
26:32they will give me strength.
26:37With so many surprises in life,
26:39it seems like the finish line is still far away.
26:45Stay tuned for the next episode.
26:50From Subic, Zambales,
26:52Muntinlupa City,
26:53and Imus Cavite,
26:55I am Howie Severino,
26:57and this is Eyewitness.
26:59Eyewitness.
27:20Thank you for tuning in to Eyewitness.
27:24What can you say about this documentary?
27:26Comment below and subscribe to the GMA Public Affairs YouTube channel.