Christopher B. Bajala, then an 8-year old Grade 1 student of Manoot Elementary School in Occidental Mindoro had mild cerebral palsy. He showed difficulty with his fine motor tasks such as holding the pencil and using scissors, maintaining his balance, and even walking. He also had difficulty in his gross motor skills such as catching the ball and carrying his school bag. He had an obvious speech impairment and could not utter words. Occasionally, he drooled.
In June 2005, Brain Gym therapy was administered on the child by a special children educator, with the help of the boy's class adviser and school principal.
By September of that year, Christopher was found to be able to write his name and utter two syllables. He would pass by the principal’s office during breaks and greet the principal and teachers. During lunch breaks, he would join other students in reading books as part of the school’s Child-to-Child Program.
On February 2006, Christopher was observed to have improved his penmanship, and write and read words by syllables. He was also able to perform basic mathematical operations and solve simple math problems. He was very active in all his class activities.
The boy's principal and class adviser have been painstakingly tutoring the child, Christopher’s post-test results were 79 in Math, 77 in English, and 78 in Science. He was able to pass Grades 1 and 2. He entered Grade 3 in school year 2007-2008.
(excerpt from a short conversation with Christopher in May 2007)
Interviewer: Christopher, ilang taon ka na?
Christopher: Eyt.
Interviewer: Eight. Itong darating na pasukan, anong grade ka na?
Christopher: Tri.
Interviewer: Grade three ka na pala. Nabasa ko, ang talino mo pala. Natuto ka ng magbasa. Tapos pumasa ka ng grade one. Ang tataas pa ng grades mo. Galing! Anong favorite mo, Science o Math o English?
Christopher: Inglis.
Interviewer: Aba English! Anong naalala mo sa English?
Christopher: Ay lab may skul.
Interviewer: I Love My School. Bakit gusto mo yun?
Christopher: Kasi tungkol sa kalinisan ng skul.
Interviewer: Diyan sa matataas mong grades, sinong tumulong sa iyo?
Christopher: Nanay ko.
Interviewer: Sino pa?
Christopher: Kapatid ko.
Interviewer: Nahirapan ka pa ba magsalita? Patingin nga ng dila.
Christopher: Maiksi. Beeh! (laughs)
Interviewer: Anong maiksi, ang haba-haba eh! (laughs) Kumain ka na ba?
Christopher: Hindi pa nga.
Interviewer: Anong gusto mong mangyari paglaki mo?
Christopher: Maging matalino. Makatapos ng pag-aaral.
Interviewer: Tapos anong pangarap mong maging paglaki mo? Anong trabaho ang gusto mo?
Christopher: Sa bukid.
Interviewer: Gusto mo din magsaka. Anong ginagawa mo pag wala ka sa school?
Christopher: Nagtitinda ng gulay.
Interviewer: Binibili mo yung gulay tapos tinitinda mo?
Christopher: Tanim namin.
Interviewer: Anong gulay?
Christopher: Patola.
Interviewer: Saan ka nagtitinda?
Christopher: Doon sa kanto. Naglalakad.
Interviewer: Magkano ba ang tinda mo?
Christopher: Payb pesos.
Interviewer: Sige nga, kunwari meron akong 50 pesos tapos bumili ako ng isang patola, magkano ang sukli ko?
(quickly proceeds to count by 5s)
Christopher: Porty payb!
Interviewer: E, bumili ako ng sampung patola, magkano na ang sukli ko?
(Proceeds to count by 5s again)
Christopher: Wala na!
After the short lighthearted conversation where he also told stories about his friends and thanked his principal “Sir Bobby” for helping him, Christopher proceeded to show off for more attention and wrote his name on the ground using a long twig from the talisay tree. The huge letters were written neatly on the loose soil. Each letter, he read aloud. Christopher may not seem to be completely normal but his mental faculties are sharp. He has grown to be a typical precocious little boy.
He noticed that the afternoon was getting late. He said goodbye apologetically and started his long walk home. Gone was the little helpless boy who could hardly walk and did not talk barely two years ago.
Christopher is a child who has been raised by his village, and raised well.
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