Kapuso actress Maureen Larrazabal gained popularity for her portrayal of Maja Quijanos in the weekly comedy series "Pepito Manaloto." Though her role is known for its humor, she experienced a traumatic past 25 years ago related to her eye surgery that almost cost her career.

During a Zoom interview, Maureen explained why she had to fly back to Manila due to an eye problem.

"I was in Hong Kong and I was wearing contact lens that time, so sobrang pagod ko nakatulog na ako and nangati yung mata ko, unknowingly na open ko si cornea. So pag gising ko ng morning I decided to go the hospital kasi unbrearable na yung pain," Maureen said.

(I was in Hong Kong and I was wearing contact lenses at that time, so I was so tired that I fell asleep and my eyes itched, unknowingly I opened the cornea. So when I woke up in the morning I decided to go to the hospital because the pain was unbearable.)  

Her fear got more intense when the doctor from Hong Kong told her to come back to the Philippines blind.

"Napakahirap talaga mag communicate sa kanila, and one thing that really registered was nung sinabi nila na go home blind," she added.

(t was very difficult to communicate with them, and but one thing that really registered was when they said to go home blind.)

It was a race against time for Maureen as she suffered from her injury while looking for the next flight back to Manila.

"What we did next was to go airport and luckily nakakuha kami ng flight, so pag dating ko sa manila I think gabi na ata yun. I Immediately went to Makati Medical Center," Maureen added.

(What we did next was to go to the airport, and luckily, we got a flight, so when I arrived in Manila, I think it was late at night. I immediately went to Makati Medical Center)

Dr. Minguita Padilla said she was shocked when they opened Maureen's eye patch at the start of the surgery.

"When we were doing the operation, we were shocked. Kasi, there was so much nana coming out of her eyes," Dr. Minguita said.

(When we were doing the operation, we were shocked. Because there was so much liquid coming out of her eyes)

It was indeed a blessing in disguise for Maureen, even though she was saved from restoring her sight, the actress also experience bad encounters after doing the surgery. 

"I experienced being called names like bulag na girlfriend, bulag na babae, walang silbi, pero mas masakit yung mga hindi nagsasalita pero pinagtatawanan ang kalagayan ko," Maureen said. 

(I experienced being called names like blind girlfriend, blind woman, useless, but it hurts more those who don't speak but make fun of my condition.) 

For almost two year, the actress experienced bullying from others. 

Even though there were challenges in her recovery, Maureen still gives her thanks to her cornea donor for changing her life and making it more worth living.

"Not everyone is given a second chance like what happened to me na I was able to see again," she said.

Thanks to Dr. Minguita whose team at the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines helps transform lives by restoring sight and setting the highest standards in international eye banking.

Maureen is one of the beneficiaries of the project. Padilla hopes that her story will inspire others to help others restore their sights and live their life to the fullest.