John Mark: Strong and Spirit-Free

     John Mark Domingo, the first and only visually impaired student of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV), graduated BS Public Administration on April 7 at the PICC.

     Domingo was thankful to former Mayor WIN Gatchalian for the trust and opportunity that he has given him so that he could complete his college education.

     Our young achiever shared that he had been rejected by several private and public colleges because of his condition. Personnel in these schools would tell him reasons such as – they lack program for the blind, they have no available facilities, or their teachers are not ready for students like him. While everybody seemed to turn their backs on him, it was Kuya WIN remained steadfast with his confidence in him.

     Domingo reckons that Kuya WIN personally called the school president of the local university so that he could get accepted in the school hassle-free. That action of Kuya Win marked the realization of his dream – to continue his journey as a college student.

     Since Domingo entered college in 2012 up until 2016, he religiously received financial assistance from the local government. Every semester he receives Php 5,000 from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

     He believes that Kuya WIN can really deliver his promise of “Free Higher Education” to the entire nation because he himself experienced how Kuya WIN really puts premium on investing in people. He attests Kuya WIN’s capability to open the doors of education to everybody, even to persons with disability (PWD) such as himself.  

John Mark delivers his thank you speech during the birthday celebration of Kuya WIN
at the People's Park Amphitheater

     He deems his achievement as a catalyst to shift the public’s perception on his sector as something “vulnerable” to “full of potentials”. He says the society is beginning to recognize PWD’s worth as differently-abled persons who can also contribute to the nation’s progress.

     Domingo encourages his fellow PWD that they should not falter in their dreams because dreaming is free anyway. He said that while challenges are inevitable, they should just continue to believe that they could make it through. And once they have weathered their storm, they will feel great about themselves.