MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – Ritchell Catulmo, now in his 40s, was born with health defect due to polio but this did not hinder his determination to live a fruitful and happy life despite the challenges he faced while growing up and, he still continuously smile and prod on the streets of Talisay City as he vends fruits, ice-candy, sitsaron, bread and other food snacks, his livelihood and ways to earn for his family for the past several years now.
Ritchell added that he did not consider his defect (polio) as a barrier even in his teenage years, he played basketball and hand paint as his pastime. His determination to live normally was reinforced when he got married and had children.
For Ritchell, having physical defect was never an issue to make a living. Onboard his wheelchair, he would roam around the City selling ice candy and fruits. This beautiful determined person caught the attention of some Netizens.
In 2017, one internet user spotted him and posted him on Facebook which became viral and on soon social media networks reposted his photos as they saw his determination and hard work that caught the attention of the Latter-Day Saint Charity that gave him a customized rickshaw or “trisikad”. Since then, Ritchell has been using this ‘trisikad” as his business vehicle.
“Dili gyud malikayan nga sa akong kahimtang usahay mawagtangan ta og paglaum pero ako lang gyud gihugtan akong pag-tuo sa Diyos.” (It is inevitable in my situation that sometimes I would lose hope, but my faith in God is greater than the problems I am facing.),” Ritchell said as he narrated some of his lowest moments in life.
He recalled that in November 2018, his child Ellen was hospitalized due to pneumonia and he had to double his efforts in selling to support medications and hospitalization of his daughter. “That was really the most difficult moment of my life,” Ritchell said in the dialect.
On January 7, 2020, a fire hit Ritchell's
residence in Talisay City and then COVID-19 pandemic occurred. This prompted the enforcement of the
community lockdown in March 2020 where many people lost their jobs, big and
small businesses were affected, Ritchell included.
Ritchell, more felt the burden. Due to community lockdown, he had to stop selling/vending fruits. The family then used the capital fund to cover the family’s expenses due to the pandemic. He said he didn’t lose hope. He believed God brought people to help him.
It was during this time that the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) came and Ritchell was one of the beneficiaries to receive P5,000 and he used the assistance they received for their daily consumption.
“Nagpasalamat ko nga adunay gihimong instrumento sa Ginoo nga matabangan ko, makabalik nakos akong puhonan sa pagpaninda ug prutas,” Ritchell stated. (I was thankful to God for using people as instruments for me to get back my capital so that I could resume my fruit selling business).
When the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine was changed to General Community Quarantine, Ritchel used the grant to resume his business and doubled his efforts selling fruits and added more food snacks to his “trisikad” street vending.
Today, Ritchell continues to navigate the City streets here in Cebu and Talisay grateful that he is healthy and safe and can support his family with his livelihood in sheer guts, determination, perseverance and strong faith in God.
“Nakaya ni nako tanan tungod sa akong hugot nga pagtuo sa Ginoo", said Ritchell. (I was able to transcend all trials and difficulties because of my stronger belief and faith in God.) https://fb.watch/7FlQ8vb4Qq/
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