Before the fame and attention that was recently bestowed by the people, Captain Jerome Acuba, I came across that story appearing at GMA News Online, published October 18, 2016 with a time stamp of 4:13 PM. The story buried in so many other stories were a poignant one, sad and yet inspiring at the same time. Here is an excerpt.
Army 2Lt. Jerome Jacuba, 28, still bears the wounds from the explosion that took his eyesight six months ago.
The improvised explosive device that blew off while he was on duty in Maguindanao left scars from its shrapnels, as well as grains of sand on his skin.
Acuba has finished a six-week course on non-visual desktop access (NVDA) and can now use basic computer programs on a laptop given by the President Duterte.
Determined to move forward, Jacuba will also join the fifth Heroes Run in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on October 30.
He said doing so “is a self-reaffirmation that I can still do something for the Philippine Army and for the families of my fellow soldiers in spite of my present circumstances.”
Nine year after, Captain Acuba, with the vlogs that he is making is doing better inspiring us, for his blindness and his superb advice and his innate good heart. I have seen a few content, all of which inspiring and definitely heart rending, one time he was just making coffee and milo for his wife and having his three daughters on a formation and sending them to school with admonition, he said “bitter are the words of a true friend and deceitful are the kisses of the enemy “.
Indeed , my limited space cannot fully justify his greatness, that in his blindness like John Milton, he had shown us the light.
In a conversation with Atty. Mark Stephen Reyes, the good Sir had promised Captain Acu’a’s case would be looked into for help. Last night, even the President Bongbong Marcos ordered his reinstatement for appropriate duties, after the honorable discharge due to his total blindness.
Captain Jetome Acuba, taught me to be simple, self-reliant and becoming a better person. To me he is the John Milton of the Army . John Milton, widely considered as a great poet and writer, became blind in his prime. But it never stopped Milton from doing his work and inspiring people.
Captain Acuba, may have lost his sight but his kindness, generosity with his innate wisdom and showing them in inspiring content had inspired us, we who have sight and perception MUST emulate.
