PWD Farmer Goes Global

Sharing good vibes … so glad that PWDs like Mr. Carpo are given chances to show that they, too, are productive members of society :)

Press Release:

The fruits of labor are always the sweetest, PWD farmer Donald Carpo realizes as he juggles three jobs at the same time.

A maintenance staff at SM City Rosales, Donald suffers from a congenital limb abnormality that leaves his feet and left hand deformed. Standing at barely four feet tall, he never let his physical disability stop him from finding ways to provide for his family.

Donald was also fortunate enough to be given free training through SM on how to grow, plant, and sell papaya for his own profit. The project is made possible by the Committee on Disability Affairs under SM Cares – the mall company’s CSR arm.

More blessings poured over Donald as SM’s project and efforts were recognized by the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability, sending him to a workshop in Bangkok as a delegate.

“Ni sa pangarap hindi ko naisip pumunta ng ibang bansa. Akala ko imposible dahil sa kalagayan ko pero dahil sa SM, nabigyan ako ng oportunidad hindi lamang na makaapak sa ibang bansa, pero para umattend ng seminar na hindi ko inakala ay maiinbita ako,” Donald says.

Sponsored by the United Nations, the two-day workshop focused on building and enabling a disability-inclusive agri-business.

“Nakinig kami sa kapwa kong PWD na nagsalita kung paano nila napabuti ang mga ani nila, at nakapagsaad din ako ng mga gawain ko. Ang dami ko ring natutunan sa mga seminar doon na pwede kong gamitin sa mga ani ko para lalong lumaganap,” he adds.

Donald definitely feels like he’s living the dream, however simple it may be. He feels blessed to have been given countless opportunities despite his disability.

“Mas kampante ako ngayon na may kikitain ako buwan-buwan. Dahil sa SM ay nagkaroon ako ng matinong trabaho. Naranasan kong magbago ang buhay ko dahil sa SM at hindi ko ipagkakait ang oportunidad na iyon sa mga taong kagaya ko na may kapansanan,” Donald says.

From selling tupig on the highways to make ends meet, to trekking on foreign ground to learn more about his livelihood, Donald is proof that disabilities and adversities can be overcome with a combination of hard work and a small shower of good blessings.