Marie Dominique Shane Jayme – Belda
December 8, 2003 – January 9, 2012
Her Story
Dasha is the first born child of William and Ritchell Belda. She was born with Global Development Delay. Like other children with developmental disabilities, Dasha needed regular physical and occupational therapy sessions since she was diagnosed at 6 months old. When Dasha was 2, her seizures began to set in, occurr
ing every so often and confining her in the hospital each time. Her seizures were of a grand scale, putting her on preventive medications since. Dasha was flaccid all her life and was totally dependent in all her activities. She passed away in January 2012 after a bout with pneumonia. Her parents’ experience in caring for her and providing her needs opened their eyes to the plight of less fortunate families in the Philippines with special children, who cannot afford to send them to special facilities or have them examined by medical professionals. The Beldas knew from experience that early intervention can make a big difference in the life and future of a special child. Reymunda Villasis – Balatbat
June 7, 1946 – June 16, 2012
HER STORY
as told by her daughter, Daryl Balatbat-Balanza
My Mama was Reymunda Villasis Balatbat. She married my father Felix A. Balatbat in June 7, 1970. Growing up, my siblings Jerry, Marianne, Jay and I witnessed together how she was a caring and loving wife to our father. We all felt blessed to experience her unconditional and nurturing love, even as she continued to practice her profession as a dedicated teacher to help support and provide for our family’s needs. Our mom taught at the University of the East. She was also a professor at the De La Salle University and, finally, at the Department of Education in New York City, USA before she succumbed to cancer at the age of 66. I will always remember Mama as a woman of courage, wisdom and love.
