Deaf-mute couple aims for hotel work

CEBU, Philippines - Along with their two-year-old daughter, couple Richard Angelo and Almira Norinne Pacubas will continue to struggle for a career in their lives despite being deaf-mutes.

The couple is among the recipients of the Dodong and Nena Gullas Halad Alang sa mga Suod ug Pinalangga ni Sr. Sto. Niño Livelihood Training Program in coordination with TESDA. They just completed the housekeeping course along with 34 others.

In an interview with the help of an interpreter, the couple said they intend to apply in hotels in Cebu after their graduation yesterday. 

Before attending the one-month program, the couple worked as teachers-aid at the Sunshine for School for deaf-mutes at the Capitol Site for at least four years.

Although both college graduates of the University of Southern Philippines with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Almira said finding a job was really hard for them.

“Kanang mangapply ka, pero dili ka madawat kay ang gi-prefer ang mga hearing people,” she said through volunteer Dolly Amomompon, who served as the interpreter during the interview.

Amomompon said most of the deaf-mutes apply for computer jobs. They encode fast, she said.

“Daghan man mga skilled na deaf-mutes. Hopefully matagaan sila og trabaho,” she said.

The Pacubas couple said they will apply for any position in a hotel where they can use what they have learned from their housekeeping course.

The two knew each other since their elementary days and became a couple on their 4th year in high school.

Almira, who is tall and good-looking, said she had five boyfriends, two of them hearing people, before Richard. She said she decided to settle with him because he is kind-hearted and has a good heart.

Richard, in turn, said she also liked Almira for being kind and having a good attitude in life. Of course, he said, he also likes beautiful women.

The couple has a two-year-old bubbly daughter who, unlike them, can speak and hear. They live in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)