By JOHN KEVIN AREVALO AND HAZEL VILLA
THIS week, when another generation of Filipino college students graduate, inspiring stories of victory amidst adversity will be recounted in many households and campuses. Now doing the rounds of universities and colleges in the southern Philippine City of Iloilo is the story of Ruthell Moreno, graduating summa cum laude, Bachelor of Special Education,major in Teaching Children with Mental Retardation from the West Visayas State University (WVSU).
It could have been any regular story of an intelligent young woman making the most of her resources and abilities, except for the fact that Ruthell has Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or lupus, an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body ( medicinenet.com) that afflicted former president Ferdinand Marcos. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are attacked by its own immune system.
For four years, Ruthell endured the daily pain as SLE attempted to ravage her body and kill her soul. She was absent from classes very rarely and took the extra mile to reach a level of excellence in the university that only has 13 summa cum laudes in its history.
Ruthell is only the fourth summa cum laude of the College of Education (COE) after its founding as a Normal College more than a hundred years ago. The COE is a Center of Teaching Excellence and consistent placer in the Licensure Exam for Teachers.
During the university recognition day of WVSU on March 27, 2012 at 8 am., 24-year-old Ruthell, with a Grade Point Average of 1.23, will once more receive university level awards. In total, her awards are the following: Most outstanding student teacher, Student of the year, Proficiency in SPED Award, Academic excellence award, an award from the Philippine Association for Teacher Education, Journalism Award, Rotary Award, Abelardo Alegre Ledesma award for excellence in culture and arts, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr Academic Excellence Award and two awards from Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
She will also deliver the valedictory address in behalf of the graduates of 2012.
It was in October 2006 when Che first experienced the symptoms of Lupus. A rash shaped like a butterfly appeared on her face. Che was 19 and a third year nursing student at WVSU. She tried to conceal the rash from her peers and teachers using a face mask.
“Che even asked me to buy a ‘tayubong’ for her. She said she will use it to hide the rash on her neck. When I did buy her one, she immediately applied it. Che went to such measures just not to miss our class that day,” Rommel, her best friend, said.
Then, she started having joint pains on her arms and on her feet. She tried to ward off the joint pains with different ointments. But the ointments’ effects only worked for a couple of minutes.
When she was diagnosed of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on June 2007 and was advised not to attend school anymore, Che thought that her life would never be the same as before.
She was compelled not to pursue her nursing course and shift to education, which was less physically demanding.
Che follows the footsteps of her mother,Laurita,who was a teacher.
Her mother related that started schooling at two years old when she built a small hammock for her daughter inside the day care center.The child, however, joined the class. “When my class is taking their recess [break], she too approaches me and asks to be fed. So, I would hold her in my arms and feed her with milk,” she said.
Che grew up independent and cheerful. She became responsible in every task that was given to her even if it means staying up late at night or going home on her own.
Pondering her illness, Che said, “I asked God why He gave this disease to me. I asked Him if He could take this back for the meantime and return it after several years.”
Che never lost hope.She motivated herself to continue life. She attended a Christmas Party for Lupus patients on December 2007 and realized that there are more important things in life than certificates, medals, awards and career. And that is her health.
After attending the Party, Che with her doctor, Dr. Caroline Arroyo, decided to build the Lupus Support Group of Panay, Incorporated for Lupus patients here in Panay who neither have the money or the resources to join the national support group which is based on Manila.
“Che conducts solicitations all over Panay to help the patients who haven’t had a cent to buy their medicine. One time, Che even told me that she gave her own allowance to a patient who is also suffering from upus,” said Mrs. Moreno.
“Che is generous to those who are in need of her help,” Mrs. Moreno said in between tears.
“What I am now is God’s gift to me and what I will be is my own gift to God,” Che added.