Samahan ng May Iba’t Ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB) is a community for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) located in Davao City. SAKADAB was established back in 2010 when a group of 27 determined PWDs decided to create an independent organization following their stay at the Our Lady of Victory Training Center rehabilitation facility. SAKADAB is a place to learn and enhance skills that can improve one’s livelihood. At the conclusion of that rehabilitation and training session at Our Lady of Victory Training Center, when it was time for the group to return to their own homes in the provinces, the 27 founding members mutually agreed to stay in Davao and live a life independent from their families. Since 2010, SAKADAB has been led by Mr. Ludovico Gecain Mascariñas Jr.
In partnership with Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GK), a Philippine-based movement that aims to end poverty for 5 million families, the previous Davao City Mayor, who is currently the Vice President of the Philippines, Sara Duterte Carpio, granted SAKADAB funds as well as providing a location for the organization in Gawad Kalinga Village, Davao City. Construction started in 2012 and by August 30, 2013, all SAKADAB members had transferred to their new homes.
Since its founding SAKADAB continues to prosper. Their goal is to increase the quality of life for PWD through sustainability and self-reliance. SAKADAB aims to become an inspiration for PWD not to let their disabilities limit their ability to do great things in life and serve a greater purpose. Through their livelihood programs, donations and help from their families, SAKADAB is able to finance itself. This is a group of people with a tenacious faith, unwavering resolution and perseverance. Through their actions they are proving that physical impairment is not a hindrance to living life to the fullest, achieving one’s aspirations, and serving the community.
Each individual has a key skill. Some can bake, and the bread that they make is either sold to an orphanage or displayed in their mini-mart. The store, staffed by SAKADAB members, is stocked with food to generic medicines, as well as hygiene and cleaning products. Other members make handicrafts like bags, purses and key chains made out of recyclable materials and beads. These items are displayed and sold on stalls in malls in Davao City. Some members also work at City Hall, in the Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), where Mayor Sebastian Duterte has promised them a contractual maximum 3-months position where they help prepare seedlings at the plant nursery.
Like many PWD, Mr. Mascariñas, the Executive Director of SAKADAB, admits that there was a point in his life where he felt “useless,” “a burden” and a “waste of potential,” however this did not stop him from moving forward, creating a community and making a contribution. In the interview, Mascariñas, who is paralyzed from the waist down, shared that he regrets some of his actions in his youth. Eventually he gained a new sense of purpose in life and a chance to be a better man. Mascariñas wishes that more people, especially the young, would get to know their community, reflect on their experiences, and change their mindset to something more positive. His advice is to value what we have, maximize our abilities and walk a righteous path.
SAKADAB was formed by 27 members but this has been reduced to 20 because some members have passed on due to old age. Among the members, only three are able to walk: two are amputees with prosthetic legs and one suffers from scoliosis. Mascariñas emphasized how they’re a family and how delighted he is that people in their area choose to buy goods from SAKADAB to help them. Our school, San Pedro College, has partnered with SAKADAB to allow Physical Therapy interns to conduct their clinical internship program at their organization and provide physical therapy sessions voluntarily. SAKADAB as an organization inspires us to be empowering, accepting and to lend a helping hand to our PWD brothers and sisters.
Interview
Interviewees
Mr. Ludovico Gecain Mascariñas – Executive Director, SAKADAB
Q: Can you define SAKADAB as an organization, and what do you do?
Mascariñas: Our mission is to increase the quality of life for PWD through sustainability and self-reliance. We want to be independent without relying on others for basic needs and living in general. We have all contributed our time, effort and money to create this organization. There were difficulties and challenges on the way, but as long as we work hard, do not stop trying, we will get to where we need to be.
I must also thank the local government for their help and understanding. After three years of planning and working towards our goal, the government listened and offered us a location where we could establish SAKADAB Village. We do not want to keep on getting help from other people. There are still things that we as PWD can do. We have physical limitations, but we have other ways to be independent. For me, as a PWD, once you accept who you are, along with your limitations, that is when you will be able to start seeing what you can do and what you are capable of.
Q: What are the programs or activities you currently have in the organization?
Mascariñas: We have a handicraft program. It is not really a booming business, but at least we are doing something productive. Sometimes designers come and commission us for jobs such as putting sequins in clothes, which gives us extra income. Our handicraft products also get to be displayed in the SM Ecoland Mall and Abreeza Mall, where they get sold and which also brings us much-needed income. We continue with these livelihood programs so that we can sustain our daily needs.
Other members can do basic bicycle repairs, shoe repairs, baking, hairdressing and also managing our mini mart. We utilize all our available skills to make an income. The training sessions that we attended at the Our Lady of Victory Training Center were especially useful in this regard.
Q: What difficulties and challenges have you experienced as an organization?
Mascariñas: The most challenging part is maintaining our livelihood. Everyday this is our first waking thought because unlike many physically-abled people, we do not have regular jobs. Currently, we have contract work from CENRO (the City Environment and Natural Resources Office) and we also generate income from our livelihood programs but sometimes it is not enough. When one of us has a problem, everyone gets affected because we are like family here. We are just thankful that we are able to survive and we hope that we will continue to sustain our daily lives.
Q: What do you think is the most significant impact of SAKADAB on its members?
Mascariñas: Well for one we now have a house, a home. That is already a huge help to PWDs. Here, everything is accessible, we are given attention and aid. Traveling from A to B is possible and we can do mundane things like washing our own plates and doing our laundry independently. These things already have a great impact in our lives. Our goal is to sustain our needs from our own work. CENRO, which is just “wheelchair-distance” from where we are, sometimes has paying work for us, where we prepare plant nurseries. All of this helps us sustain our lifestyles, so we do not just wait for our family members to give us financial assistance.
Q: What can people do to help?
Mascariñas: People and society getting to know SAKADAB – even just learning that our group exists – is the biggest help they can offer. Then we can create something that might have an impact on their lives.
Reflections
SAKADAB and their mission to become independent and self-reliant is inspirational to every person, especially in the PWD community. SAKADAB inspires people not to let their current disabilities or limitations define who they are. We all have the ability to rise beyond these limitations and be able to do great things. SAKADAB encounters challenges and difficulties, just like any organization. We recommend that people help and give support through buying their products, assisting in social media marketing, and making SAKADAB products and their cause known to people. Furthermore, we believe that in order for the organization to prosper, if access greater capital, SAKADAB has the potential to be immensely successful.
Researchers
Mabuhay! My name is Hanna Mae R. Baloyo, and I am studying towards a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at San Pedro College. I was born on October 21, 2001 and I currently live in Davao City, Philippines. My father is also from Davao City, while my mother is from Samal, Davao Del Norte. I have one sister and I’m the youngest. My interests include volunteering, reading books, watching movies and spending time with my friends. I aim to pursue a career in healthcare because I want to serve the community and help people in need.
Maayong adlaw! I’m Bella Cleodette U. Pacana, a Bachelor of Science student and Medical Laboratory Science clinical intern at San Pedro College, Philippines. I started volunteering at the Philippine Red Cross in 2015, and I have also been a campus journalist since grade school. I am very passionate when it comes to voluntary service, arts, literature and music. I am going to pursue a career in the medical field because I want to not only heal people but also touch their lives and have an impact without asking for anything in return. I spend my free time reading books, watching movies, biking, swimming, doing something creative, volunteering and spending quality time with friends and family.