BUSINESSWOMAN Carina Valle—who, at the age of six, was afflicted with polio that caused paralysis—has lived her life striving hard for a sense of achievement. She has grown her own business, and even served those with similar condition. She, however, admits self-satisfaction has eluded her for long.
Still, she maintained a positive disposition toward life despite her condition. She accepted the fact that in this highly competitive world, persons with disabilities (PWDs) are, more often than not, stereotyped as differently abled individuals left without choice but to become successful in life, otherwise, they would end up as a burden to their family and the society.
“So I told myself, someday I’ll prove them wrong,” she recalls. “I would excel in whatever field I would be in despite my disability.”
Proving people wrong
WITH a positive mind-set and the support and love of her parents, Valle was able to finish her studies at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, where she clinched her degree in Political Science with flying colors.
She then decided to continue her studies at the University of the
Philippines (UP) for a master’s degree in Public Administration. However, UP proved to be architecturally inaccessible for wheelchair users, so she went back to her alma mater and obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration.
Valle had to work while studying, such as her stints at the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Inc.; the Ministry of Social Services and Development; and the University of Life, where she spearheaded projects for the handicapped during the Marcos regime.
Armed with a master’s degree, she continued her career move to the private sector and established in 1995 Rheinburg Inc., a growing business enterprise that pioneered in the country the manufacture of ultrasound transmission gel, which is compatible with all types of ultrasound machines and other medical devices. This gel was primarily used in diagnostic ultrasound procedures and eventually expanded its range of use—in physical therapy, cardiology and dermatology, as well as in the field of aesthetics.
Today the company is on a rapid expansion trying to meet global demands, continuing its progress from a small start-up production facility in San Juan to a full-scale manufacturing plant in Pasig. The company, with its competitive nature, is gearing up for the export market to take advantage of the Asean economic integration.
Forwarding the PWDs’ concerns
RISING above the challenges of her situation, Valle did not forget to extend herself to her fellow PWDs by advancing their interests and voicing out their sufferings every time she is given the opportunity to represent them in public affairs here and abroad.
To wit, she assisted in the planning and initiation of the first International Conference on Legislation Concerning the Disabled. This conference led to the issuance of Presidential Decree 1509, which created the National Commission Concerning the Disabled Persons.
Moreover, she spearheaded the establishment of the Computer Center of the Disabled during the Marcos regime.
In her private capacity, through the corporate social-responsibility thrust of her own company, she aided various causes, especially those championing the cause of impaired individuals to become “functioning” members of the society.
“The primordial rule in the rehabilitation of the handicapped is to bring them back to the mainstream of society. How can you integrate them if they just ask for dole-outs? Give them the chance to become productive and, thus, restore in them basic human dignity,” Valle explains.
Time for self-gratification
HAVING transcended herself to unselfishly help those living in the same condition as she is to get out of what most people call “life’s sufferings” and “misery,” she candidly admits that she still feels unfulfilled. This is because with her disability, she shares that she has “achieved self-transcendence first before self-satisfaction, instead of otherwise.”
Despite this, the years she spent “wheelchairing” her way around to school or work from home and vice versa brings her the sense of independence and source of pride.
She has blossomed from a fragile lady to a fine woman that had her courted, pursued, loved and, eventually, broken-hearted. When asked about the information gathered from a source that she was seen several times dating a public figure, with a shy smile, she answers, “he’s just a friend.”
All these and more only show that she, indeed, has lived a normal life and forever will. Now that fate had her facing life on her own, she is determined to continue her quest for absolute happiness and gratification.
Valle says she has decided to live on her own will, want and desire.
“I feel freer now in the sense that, before, I was afraid by how my family will react once they find out what I have been doing. I must admit that I have been living a secretive life,” she bares while reiterating this to be no filthy. “I want to be liberated. I have been looking for happiness that has eluded me for so many years.”
“In a way, I’m happy that I was able to fulfill my goals in life. But after almost 19 years that I’ve been working and growing my business, what more could I achieve? I believe it’s about time for me to start my own life.”