At the age of five, John Carlo Perolino just learned how to walk on his own but still couldn’t utter a word yet.
He has been suffering delayed development according to his parents, Annalou and Jimmy.
“Naglisod gyud mi kay daghan kaayo mig gastounon ani niya. Dili pa man gud ni siya kasaligan mokaon ug kan-on so gatas ug Cerelac gyud amo ipatotoy niya,” the 34-year old mother told Cebu Daily News.
(It’s hard for us since we have a lot of expenses for him. He can’t eat rice yet so we feed him milk and baby food)
John Carlo was among the 210 people with disabilities (PWDs) in barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City who received the remaining P3,000 cash assistance from the city government last Dec. 12, 2014.
PWDs are given P5,000 yearly. The first tranche of P2,000 was distributed last February.
With the money they received, John Carlo’s parents plan to buy milk, vitamins and diapers for him. They also plan to keep a portion of the money to buy him a Christmas gift.
With two other kids, the Perolino family hardly makes ends meet since they only depend on the income of Jimmy who works as a cook in one of the restaurants in the city.
Annalou said since the kid needs extra care and attention, she can’t find a job to help her husband.
She also recalled how worried they are everytime John Carlo experiences coughs and fever and would immediately take him to the nearest hospital.
Based on records of the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), there are around 9,000 PWDs registered in Cebu City.
The parents admitted that they were surprised with the condition of their youngest child when there weren’t any problems with the other two. But they said they never questioned why he turned out to be a “special child” and that they have always been thankful and considered the child a blessing.
“Pinangga kaayo namo ning amo anak (We really love our child),” said the father Jimmy, as he kissed the boy.
After getting their cash assistance yesterday, the family went to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to give thanks for the financial blessing.