It has been almost four months since she lost both legs to a senseless bomb blast on a sunny Sunday morning along Taft Avenue in Manila. Is Raissa Laurel, the San Sebastian College law student who lost both her legs to an explosion during the Sept. 26, 2010 Bar Examinations, now moping and wallowing in self-pity as the full impact of her loss has set in and the trail of visitors and well-wishers to her room has thinned?
Far from it. The spunky, gritty — and yes, forgiving — 23-year-old has moved on from the tragedy. Literally.
She has a new set of artificial limbs and she is trying her best to walk again.
On Monday, People Asia magazine will honor Raissa with a special award for her courage and strength in adversity during its 11th anniversary celebration at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. It will be Raissa’s first public appearance since she almost lost her life last September, and since she was fitted with her new limbs.
President Benigno Aquino III himself will present the award to Raissa.
In an exclusive interview with People Asia magazine for its 11th anniversary issue (now in your favorite newsstands), Raissa gives writer Kristel Dacumos a blow-by-blow account of the blast and the heart-wrenching decision her parents made to allow the amputation of her limbs.
But, as she tells People Asia in the article entitled “Life without Limits”: “It was life over limbs.”
Acceptance of a situation she couldn’t change descended upon Raissa like a warm flannel blanket. “Hindi na siya mahirap para sa akin na tanggapin na pinutulan ako (It wasn’t hard for me to accept that my legs were amputated). I think that was already a blessing when I realized even on Taft that I couldn’t walk. Yun na yung tulong ni God para tanggapin ko agad (That was God’s way of helping me accept it).”
Kristel, who interviewed Raissa as she lay in her hospital bed at the PGH, notes: “Despite the pain and being victim of a senseless act of violence, Raissa harbors no hate, no resentment, and has even offered forgiveness to the perpetrators.”
But being just human, Raissa says that though her stout heart can withstand the emotional pain, her body has a difficult time conquering the physical pain. Though family and friends are very supportive of her, Raissa has had to work through a painful recovery by herself.
“The emotional and spiritual pain, I’m not worried about it because I’m guarded by the Lord. Mahirap lang is yung physical pain na pinagdaanan ko kasi siyempre napapagod ka na rin sa pain (What is more difficult is the physical pain that I have to endure because it gets tiring to be in pain all the time),” she admitted to People Asia.
But despite the unbearable pain and the difficulty of learning to walk again with the limbs she wasn’t born with, Raissa is optimistic.
“I cannot slack off because the pressure is on and people are rooting for me,” she smiles a bedimpled smile.
Despite the trauma, Raissa tells People Asia that her physical loss hasn’t discouraged her from pursuing her dream or living her life. “It hasn’t changed my plans. Actually I’m more driven to be a lawyer now. Kahit ganito — buo o hindi — hindi ko sisirain ung dream ko to become a laywer. (Whether I am physically whole or not, I will not let go of my dream to become a lawyer.) Go pa rin.” President Aquino and Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona visited her to show support and Corona vowed to personally administer the oath to Raissa once she graduates and passes the Bar.
“God has a purpose for this happening,” she insists. She once proclaimed in her Facebook status: “God saved me from the tragedy... He has greater plans for me than I have for myself.”
Aside from Raissa, who will be getting the Special Award, People Asia will be honoring a powerhouse roster of men and women who have reshaped their community, their country — and even the world — so that it may become more interesting, more beautiful, and yes, more happy. This year’s awardees include: Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Ms. Universe 4th Runner-up Venus Raj, fashion icon Josie Natori, artists Ryan Cayabyab, Rachy Cuna, Rhett Ayala and Kenneth Cobonpue, broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez, actor and Yes Pinoy Foundation founder Dingdong Dantes, architect Felino Palafox Jr., Fr. Rocky Evangelista and Philippine Airlines president Jaime Bautista. A special award will go to Eurocopter’s Thierry Tea for coordinating air rescues during Typhoon Ondoy.
It will be the sixth year that People Asia, founded 11 years ago by the late Max Soliven, will be honoring a distinguished roster of men and women for making a difference because of their lives, their work, and their very being.
In training the spotlight on people who inspire people, People Asia hopes to make a difference in the lives of its readers. As our publisher Babe Romualdez says, “We are here to highlight the positive side of people.”
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You may e-mail me at joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com