head
above water
Casting the last leg of a Tomasian swimmer
Catherine Jude M. Royo
Just because he has a missing right leg does not mean he cannot run for his dreams. Losing a part of oneself feels like the end of the world, to overstate things, and invariably, it would feel like a deep and hollow emptiness had settled within. Felix Camansi Jr., a twelfth grader from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in Sto. Tomas National High School (STNHS) was just in the beginning of his twenties when his life altered forever.
In truth, he had already lost countless things---his lover and even his dreams, but one untimely mishap had taken his life to a 180-degree turn.
“This is really a challenge for my life, so I want to grow as a person. Even though there are people who trample on me and say hurtful things, I try my best to stay fine despite the problems.
He labored as a construction worker, helping to build bridges since 2019 while he still had both legs. On February 18, 2022, the bridge they were constructing in Kulafo, Magsaysay, Marilog District, Davao City, collapsed and became a catastrophic failure. The disaster of having his leg dislocated and crushed under a heavy debris not only sent him to the hospital in Toril but also resulted in the loss of his limb and was forced to rely on crutches for years.
“It’s very hard because I’m not used to it. It would have been okay if I was born this way because I would have accepted it, but this sudden event in my life is different. When my leg was amputated, I woke up traumatized and couldn’t accept it. I thought to myself before that ‘if my leg gets amputated, I will rather die.’ But something in me rekindles, and after putting a lot of thought into it, I realized that perhaps God has planned something great for me ahead,” Camansi said.
The days following the accident were a blur of pain and uncertainty. It was painful for him having to lose his girlfriend and his leg. It took him one year to move on from his lover and another year to move on from losing his limb. His life was upended, but God’s plans were all that matters to him. He
still believes that his experiences were just challenges designed to make him stronger. One fateful day, he visited the school and was struck by an ALS teacher called Ma’am Abigail, who had an amputated hand. Her presence inspired him and made him realize he was not alone in his struggle. Then he began inquiring whether it was possible for him to study in the ALS despite his disability. Thus, on March 22, 2023, he finally became a student.
“This is really a challenge for my life, so I want to grow as a person. Even though there are people who trample on me and say hurtful things, I try my best to stay fine despite the problems. Others would think I’m just happy, that I’m really unworried, but in reality, I’m carrying a heavy burden. If you were to lose a leg, would your family still accept you? Of course, they would just look down on you,” Camansi said.
The feeling of being a liability, of being just a burden to the family, gnaws at his thoughts. As an amputee, he was determined to prove to his family that he could still achieve great things despite having only a left leg. He was deeply motivated to show his family that he could still be a source of pride and his disability would not limit his potential or his ability to achieve meaningful accomplishments. It was surprising that after his loss, there were various people recruiting him in sports such as volleyball, basketball, and shot put. However, it was Sir Christian Ibaos, who had been eyeing him in the ALS, who offered him a new perspective.
“He took my phone number and messaged me if I was interested in swimming. Even though I didn’t know how to swim, I immediately said yes because I had a lot of confidence in myself. I know that I’m very positive. He trained me at the Ebao Garden Resort. After spending a lot of time training, I competed in Tagum City for the Division Meet and won gold and silver medals,” Camansi said.
Against the current Winning in the Divisions brought him with a sense of pride, like a warm embrace, as he reflected on the hard work, dedication, and the laborious journey that had culminated in his recent victory. Yet, this triumph was merely a chapter in a larger narrative, with the Davao Region Athletic Association Meet (DAVRAA) in the pipeline. When the Regional round had arrived, history repeated itself. His performance in swimming was exceptional as he bagged four gold medals, each attested to his hard work and a harbinger of the battles yet to come in a few weeks.
It is indeed true that in every loss, there is a gain. Every drawback is just a setback for a series of comebacks. To him, the Palarong Pambansa was once only a dream. The prestigious event was reserved for studentathletes who had excelled at the Division and Regional levels, giving them the privilege to compete on a national platform. Facing off against competitors from 16 other regions nationwide, he felt a mix of nervousness but also immense pride. It was such an opportunity to show the country that his missing right leg was not a weakness, but a strength.
What he felt like was the end of the world turned out to just mark the beginning of his new journey. It was his first time flying, visiting various places he had always dreamt of seeing. He reflected that if he had not lost his leg, he might never have had this opportunity. His experience at the Palarong Pambansa Paragames in Cebu City was transformative, where he achieved outstanding results in the 50-meter Freestyle Backstroke Swimming. He brought home a gold medal in the Butterfly M-50 and silver medals in the Backstroke-M50 and Freestyle-M50. Despite not having a full pair of legs, he can still accomplish many things an average person can, including riding a motorcycle. As an inspiring role model for the youth, his achievements show that with passion and commitment, anyone can overcome obstacles and reach greatness. Though he may limp his way forward, he faces challenges with resilience, navigating obstacles with determination and finding strength in his struggles.
With well-worn and sturdy crutches, this student-athlete runs for his dreams. In fact, he swims through the drowning troubles of life. Losing a part of oneself may feel like the end of the world, but in truth, it is only the beginning of a second life. In learning to live with this new reality, one must have the capacity to adapt, to forge ahead, and to find meaning in the change. Much like every para-athlete, in order to produce great victories, one must refuse to let his limitations define his potential.
Felix Camansi Jr. shares his life story with at least 70 campus journalists as participants during the Campus Journalism Enhancement Training on July 24 at Sto. Tomas National High School. The Palarong Pambansa gold medalist highlights how he coped with defeats and triumphs. Photo by Paul Rex Manile
Camansi stands proud as he receives his medals and certificates during the awarding ceremony at the Palarong Pambansa in Naga City, Cebu.
Photo by Kriztian Ibaos/FB