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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Accident victim graduates from college via virtual rites from hospital bed

Accident victim graduates from college via virtual rites from hospital bed

Published Dec 7, 2020 04:27 pm

PANGASINAN – An aspiring teacher had two reasons to be grateful as she lay on a hospital bed recuperating from a road accident in Sison town here last November 29.

An aspiring teacher had two reasons to be grateful as she lay on a hospital bed recuperating from a road accident in Sison town here last November 29. (Photo courtesy of Castillo Family / MANILA BULLETIN)
An aspiring teacher had two reasons to be grateful as she lay on a hospital bed recuperating from a road accident in Sison town here last November 29. (Photo courtesy of Castillo Family / MANILA BULLETIN)

For one, Joelinda Castillo, 21, was thankful for a second lease on life after surviving a road accident when a speeding motorcycle sideswiped her while she and her friends were walking on the shoulder of a road near where they live in Barangay Tartara, Sison town.

The impact of that collision threw Castillo several meters before she landed with fractured ribs and ankle.

Her second reason to feel blessed came on December 5 when her alma mater Pangasinan State University (PSU) agreed to let her attend her virtual graduation rites from her bed at the hospital where she was recuperating.

Castillo finished her degree in Bachelor of Science in Second Education, Major in Filipino.

“Malaki po tiwala ko kay Lord na hindi niya ako bibigyan ng challenges na alam niyang hindi ko kayang malampasan kaya nagpapasalamat parin po ako kay Lord hindi po dahil naaksidente ako kundi dahil napakabuti niyang Diyos dahil nagkaroon parin po ako second life to praised him and glorified him,” Castillo told The Manila Bulletin.

(I trust in the Lord that he will not give me challenges that I cannot surpass, that’s why I am so thankful to the Lord, not because of the accident, but for his kindness to let me have a second life to praise and glorify Him)

At the time of the accident, what Castillo worried most about was whether she could attend the virtual graduation rites set four days after.

She told herself that she would be blessed that if she should survive the accident, that PSU will allow her to attend the virtual graduation not from her home but from her hospital bed.

“Sa layo po ng nakatapunan ko dahil sa lakas ng impact  ginising parin po ako ni Lord sa araw ng aksidenteng yon. Nakakausap po nila ako nang maayos at hindi ako natulog. I’m so blessed po. Naging living testimony ko po yung nangyare sa akin na God is truly working in my life. Hindi po niya pinabayaan sa araw na naaksidente ako,” she said.

(Despite the distance that I was thrown due to the impact of the collision, the Lord still woke me up on the day of the accident. They could still talk to me, and I didn’t fall asleep. I’m so blessed. It’s my living testimony that God is truly working in my life. He did not leave me when I met the accident)

On December 5, Castillo got the answer to her prayers after she graduated – through online – from the Urdaneta City campus of PSU.

Meanwhile, Castillo said the driver of the motorcycle and her father have come to an amicable settlement after the accident, with the suspect agreeing to shoulder all the expenses she needed for her hospitalization and medication.

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