TACLOBAN CITY — In a quiet corner of San Jose District, this city, a small house holds a story of endurance that reads like a ‘teleserye’—only this one is real, lived daily by 44-year-old Rosario Amor, a solo mother raising five children, three of whom are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
For Amor, each day is a balancing act between survival and sacrifice. Her eldest is 18 girl, followed by children aged 15, 13, both boys and all with the disorder; 12, and four, both boys.
Despite the challenges of raising children with special needs, she remains firm in her resolve to keep her family together.
“I have to continue living and remain strong for my young children, especially the three of them,” Amor said in an interview.
Amor was recently recognized as Tacloban City’s Most Outstanding Solo Parent during the Solo Parent Week celebration, a rare moment of acknowledgment for years of quiet struggle.
She admitted she does not know exactly why three of her children are on the autism spectrum, though she suspects genetics may have played a role, noting that relatives on her estranged husband’s side had similar conditions.
Her journey as a mother has been shaped not only by poverty but also by domestic abuse.
Amor revealed that she left her husband after enduring repeated violence during their marriage, including incidents while she was pregnant.
“He would hit my head and stomach. At one time, he even hit me with a frying pan,” she recalled.
With no stable income and no formal work experience after marriage, she returned to her family home and began rebuilding her life from scratch. She tried working at a food stall, but the income was not enough to sustain her growing household.
Eventually, Amor made a difficult but necessary decision—she became a tricycle driver, a job dominated by men, just to provide food for her children.
“At least as a driver, I have a daily income to buy food for them,” she said.
Her work, however, comes with added challenges at home. While she is on the road, she often locks her children inside their house to ensure their safety. On one occasion, her 12-year-old child managed to leave unnoticed and was later found in Dulag, Leyte after two days.
“It’s not easy having children like them, but I have no choice. I am the only one they have,” she said.
Despite everything, Amor holds on to gratitude and determination.
She said the P10,000 cash prize she received as Outstanding Solo Parent will be used partly to repair their deteriorating home and ensure it can withstand harsh weather, with the rest allocated for daily necessities.
Above all, she clings to a simple wish: strength and good health so she can continue caring for her children.
“I just hope I can still take care of them for as long as I live,” she said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
