MANILA, Philippines – Noel Soledad, 20, has been living in the streets for nearly a decade. He is sick with a non-contagious lung condition called atelectasis. Even if the condition is not contagious, he said that his relatives shunned him and simply let him live in the streets.
Since he already lost his mother, he was left with no choice but to make public spaces such as the Bonifacio Shrine and Luneta Park as his home. Despite his sickness and the fact that he lives in the streets, however, Noel refused to give up. He continued going to school, relying on the mercy of others to survive.
This inspiring young man is now a first year student, taking up Graphic Arts and Print Media Technology at the Technological University of the Philippines.
What’s sad, however, is that there are so many people who are telling him that it’s useless for him to spend his time in school because he’s sick, anyway. They ask him why he would want to spend the next 3 years in school when he could just have fun. Instead of encouraging him to pursue his dreams, many are dragging him down!
“Madaming nag sasabi sakin na itigil ko na itong aking pag-aaral, dahil para saan pa nga ba ang igugugol na oras at gastos pati nadin ang pagod ng naghihingalo kong katawan na iaalay ko sa tatlong taon pang pag pasok sa eskwela, kung sa sandaling panahon at oras mo na lamang maapakan ang iyong lupang sinilangan,” he shared in a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
“Ako po ay na diagnosed ng sakit na tinatawag na ATELECTASIS - Uri ng sakit sa baga na walang lunas ngunit ito'y hindi naman nakakahawa. Dahil nga sa pinandidirian ng karamihan.. Ang masaklap pa nga'y pati sariling kadugo'y isinuka't pinabayaang mag palaboy-laboy na lamang sa lansangan. Pinasasalamatan ko nga pala Yung mga tropa kong minsan pinapatulog ako sa kanilang tirahan pero madalas sa Bonifacio Shrine ako nag papalipas ng gabi minsa'y sa Luneta park na halos dekada ko ng sistema.”
Mayo Clinic defines atelectasis as a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung. It's also a possible complication of other respiratory problems, including cystic fibrosis, lung tumors, chest injuries, fluid in the lung and respiratory weakness.
As he struggles with his studies and lives in the streets, this young man requests kindhearted netizens for help so he could continue with his studies. It’s not really just for himself but something that would let him honor the memory of his late mother, he wrote.
“Ngunit sa kabila ng mga delubyong eksenang nagaganap sa buhay kong pansamantala, nais ko paring makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ng sa gayon, mabigyang puri ko ang aking Inang namayapa na at para rin lang mapatunayan ko sa sarili, na KAHIT GAANO KAHIRAP NA PAGSUBOK ITONG AKING DINADAMDAM, HINDING HINDI KO ITO SUSUKUAN BAGKUS AKING ILALABAN, DAHIL PARA SAAKIN "ANG KAALAMAN AY SYANG NAG-TATANGING YAMAN NA MERON AKO."
Sana'y masuportahan, matulungan, at mabigyang pansin nyo ako aking mga kabayan!!”
(Image credits: Boc Damian / Facebook)
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
Since he already lost his mother, he was left with no choice but to make public spaces such as the Bonifacio Shrine and Luneta Park as his home. Despite his sickness and the fact that he lives in the streets, however, Noel refused to give up. He continued going to school, relying on the mercy of others to survive.
This inspiring young man is now a first year student, taking up Graphic Arts and Print Media Technology at the Technological University of the Philippines.
What’s sad, however, is that there are so many people who are telling him that it’s useless for him to spend his time in school because he’s sick, anyway. They ask him why he would want to spend the next 3 years in school when he could just have fun. Instead of encouraging him to pursue his dreams, many are dragging him down!
“Madaming nag sasabi sakin na itigil ko na itong aking pag-aaral, dahil para saan pa nga ba ang igugugol na oras at gastos pati nadin ang pagod ng naghihingalo kong katawan na iaalay ko sa tatlong taon pang pag pasok sa eskwela, kung sa sandaling panahon at oras mo na lamang maapakan ang iyong lupang sinilangan,” he shared in a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
“Ako po ay na diagnosed ng sakit na tinatawag na ATELECTASIS - Uri ng sakit sa baga na walang lunas ngunit ito'y hindi naman nakakahawa. Dahil nga sa pinandidirian ng karamihan.. Ang masaklap pa nga'y pati sariling kadugo'y isinuka't pinabayaang mag palaboy-laboy na lamang sa lansangan. Pinasasalamatan ko nga pala Yung mga tropa kong minsan pinapatulog ako sa kanilang tirahan pero madalas sa Bonifacio Shrine ako nag papalipas ng gabi minsa'y sa Luneta park na halos dekada ko ng sistema.”
Mayo Clinic defines atelectasis as a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung. It's also a possible complication of other respiratory problems, including cystic fibrosis, lung tumors, chest injuries, fluid in the lung and respiratory weakness.
As he struggles with his studies and lives in the streets, this young man requests kindhearted netizens for help so he could continue with his studies. It’s not really just for himself but something that would let him honor the memory of his late mother, he wrote.
“Ngunit sa kabila ng mga delubyong eksenang nagaganap sa buhay kong pansamantala, nais ko paring makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ng sa gayon, mabigyang puri ko ang aking Inang namayapa na at para rin lang mapatunayan ko sa sarili, na KAHIT GAANO KAHIRAP NA PAGSUBOK ITONG AKING DINADAMDAM, HINDING HINDI KO ITO SUSUKUAN BAGKUS AKING ILALABAN, DAHIL PARA SAAKIN "ANG KAALAMAN AY SYANG NAG-TATANGING YAMAN NA MERON AKO."
Sana'y masuportahan, matulungan, at mabigyang pansin nyo ako aking mga kabayan!!”
(Image credits: Boc Damian / Facebook)
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
