27/07/2026
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 | Back on your feet: Leo Mansueto's journey of resilience and purpose
Thirty-four years ago, Leo Mansueto climbed a coconut tree with a simple goal of earning enough money to put food on the table and send his three children to school.
Each day, he harvested tuba (coconut wine), selling as much as two gallons to support his family's daily needs. Whenever there was extra work available, he also took carpentry jobs, earning between Php 300 and Php 500 a day. Like many fathers, Leo measured his days not by how hard the work was, but by whether he could provide for the people waiting for him at home.
Life was never easy, but as long as he could work, he believed his family would never go hungry.
That belief was put to the test in 1992.
While harvesting tuba from a coconut tree estimated to be around 15 feet high, Leo lost his footing and tragically fell to the ground. He landed flat on his back, leaving him with a cracked spinal cord that permanently affected his mobility. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, and despite undergoing traditional massage therapy upon recommendation, he never fully recovered.
In an instant, the work that had sustained his family for years was no longer possible.
The accident changed the way Leo moved, but it did not change the values he had carried all his life. Although he could no longer climb coconut trees or take on physically demanding jobs as he once did, he remained determined to find ways to earn an honest living. For him, becoming a person with disability did not mean giving up his role as a provider - it simply meant finding another way to fulfill it.
Today, at 64 years old, Leo continues to live in the peaceful barangay of Langin, Ronda, Cebu. Though age and disability have slowed him down, they have never taken away his determination.
"Bisan sa kapobrehon, naningkamot gihapon aron mabuhi [Despite the poverty, I still strive to make a living], he shared.
The years brought both joys and hardships. His wife, who devoted her life to caring for their family, passed away in November last year. Yet amidst the loss, Leo takes pride in knowing that two of his three children finished their education and now have families of their own. He is also a loving grandfather to two grandchildren.
With limited livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities in remote communities, Leo turned to farming and became a member of the Langin Integrated Farmers Association (LIFA). Agriculture became more than a source of income - it became a way for him to continue living with dignity and purpose.
"Ug moundang ko, wala na koy income ug makaon. Mao nang naningkamot gyud gihapon ko [If I stop, I won't have any income or food to eat. That's why I'm really striving to keep going], he said.
Recognizing his determination, Leo became one of the first beneficiaries of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program's cattle fattening project in the association.
For Leo, receiving cattle meant far more than acquiring livestock. It represented another opportunity to continue providing for himself through honest work despite the challenges brought by his disability.
"Dako kaayo ko'g pasalamat ninyo sa SAAD sa kaning mga baka nga inyong gihatag, kay tabang kini sa amoa nga mga kabus, [I am deeply grateful to SAAD for these cattle you provided, as this is a great help to us who barely make ends meet], Leo said.
Determined to make the most of the intervention, Leo personally cares for the animal every day. Whenever he has extra money, he buys commercial feeds. When finances are tight, he gathers forage himself to ensure the cattle is properly fed. Patiently, he looks forward to the day it reaches market size, hopeful that the additional income will help sustain his daily needs.
For many, the cattle may simply be livestock. For Leo, it represents something much greater - the chance to continue working, remain independent, and prove that disability does not diminish a person's ability to contribute when given the opportunity.
As the nation observes National Disability Rights Week, Leo's journey reminds us that disability is not the measure of a person's worth or potential. While it may change the path one takes, it does not take away the capacity to dream, work, and persevere.
Leo expressed heartfelt gratitude not only for the assistance he received but also for the people who made sure that support reached even the most remote communities.
"Ako, magpasalamat ko kaninyo ug sa nagpasiugda ani kay naapil intawn mi. Pasalamat ko ninyo nga bisag bukid kaayo ni, naabot gyud mo diri. Nag-aghod gyud ang mga staff sa SAAD nga anhion mi diri aron mapadangat ang tabang sa amoa. Salamat kaayo."
(I would like to thank all of you and those who initiated this program for choosing us. I am grateful that, despite this place being deep in the mountains, you actually made time to be here. The SAAD staff really made the effort to come here to bring us assistance. Thank you very much.)
More than three decades have passed since the accident that changed Leo's life. Though he may no longer climb the coconut trees that once provided for his family, he continues to rise in other ways - through resilience, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to move forward.
Leo's story is a reminder that persons with disabilities are not defined by what they have lost, but by what they continue to achieve. Given the opportunity, they remain capable of contributing to their families, their communities, and the agricultural sector they proudly call home. # # #
Writer: Imaculate Grace L. Negre, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer
