Carol Catacutan exceptionally talented blind
Carol Catacutan is an epitome of ill-omened and great success lovely lady. At eleven years young, this talented lady became blind on both eyes. She was diagnosed by an eye specialist as having retenitis pigmentosa. From grades one to five before she got blind, she was always the topnotcher of her elementary class. Her disability did not deter her from reaching the epic of her fondest dream of becoming a notable blind woman of the Philippines.
Carol's sweet and radiant voice reverberated across the spacious KDC Henry Luce III Library of Central Philippine University where she was the inspirational speaker of the launching of the university's Knowledge Development Center and College of Education center for persons with disabilities. Always looking to the sky, so to say, as she delivered her much applauded message, untold anxiety and happily waxed misty eyes and praise smiles from both the blind and the non-blind audience.
Though completely blind at eleven, she struggled hard in life and she catapulted herself to fame. She first became sports patrol reporter in 1992 to 1994 over DWIZ-AM. She was part time teleplay writer for “Pira-pirasong Pangarap” for GMA 7 in 2000. Since then she has served as part time transcriptionist for the Wallace Business Forum, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Philippine Olympics Committee, and the Philippine Survey Research Center.
A prolific writer who contributes for Enterprise, Computer World magazines and national newspapers of which she is a regular contributor. Despite her being totally blind, Carol Catacutan has invited as resource person for various seminars and conferences here and abroad. A favorite guest over various TV programs the latest of which was on Storyline of ABS-CBN and she appeared in a digital movie with Gina Alajar. She wrote her life story for television for “Maalaala Mo Kaya” entitled “Liwanag” portrayed by Claudine Barreto and was chosen as one of the best stories for the tenth year anniversary of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” TV program. She portrayed the lead role in a stage play written and directed by Fr. James Reuter entitled “The Dolls that Nobody Wanter,” staged at Meralco Theater, AFP theater and St. Paul's Quezon City Auditorium. The talented girl won 1st prize for the Philippines in the APEC Digital Opportunity Center Best Practices in the “Bridging the Digital Divide” category.
Carol graduated her Bachelor of Arts European Languages major in French and her Bachelor of Arts major in journalism cum laude from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. At present, she is the Executive Director (OIC) for Atriev, a computer school for the blind by the blind. She also continues to be Training and Employment Director for Artiev, for which position she conceptualized and directed Atriev's fund-raising projects the latest of which was entitled “Stand by me” held at the Meralco Theater on October 2008.
Carol Catacutan's greatest achievement is being a mother. Bringing another life to this world and to be entrusted by God with that life to this world and to be entrusted by God with that life is the greatest gift and joy she has ever received. So over and above all the titles, being a mother is for her the greatest title of all.
Where before persons with disabilities have nowhere to go, today with Central Philippine University KDC persons with any form of disabilities can look forward to the Christian university as their haven of hope security and peace. The project is assisted from funding of the World Bank and other benevolent organizations. Miss Moira Enerva, World Bank Public Information Associate gave the symbolic key to Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, CPU President. Prof. Victory Dionio, director of CPU libraries and chairman of CPU KDC committee is the right person to get in touch with on inquiries about disabilities. Engr. Dimpna “Amy” Castigador, director of Development Planning Office, is another person to get in touch with as her office is just an elbow length at the CPU President’s office. The whole morning program on May 7 was well-attended and the blind macho quartet singers rendered a much-applauded songs.