A mother from Bulacan said her world fell apart after finding out why her daughter refuses to turn on the camera during her online class.
In a now viral video on TikTok, Mommy Hiedie Mamauag shared her conversation with her 8-year-old daughter, Afiara.
“Afiara you should open your camera when you have online school, okay? Why are you not opening kasi ‘yung camera?” Mommy Hiedie can be heard saying in the video.
“It’s so weird, my face,” Afiara replied.
“No! You’re not weird. You’re pretty, okay?” Mommy Hiedie replied while composing herself to comfort her daughter.
Recalling the moment, Mommy Hiedie said she was shocked when she heard her daughter’s answer.
“Nung time po kasi na ‘yon, medyo emotional ako. Sinabi ko, ‘Teacher, si Afiara ayaw po mag-on ng camera.’ Sinasabihan po siya ng teacher na, ‘Fiara, your camera, i-on mo.’ Kaya vinideo ko po. Para i-submit sana kay teacher,” she told The Philippine STAR.
“Ang sakit po sa damdamin. Kahit paulit-ulit niya pong sabihin kasi wala po akong maisagot sa kanya kung bakit nga po siya ganon. Kailangan ko pong maging malakas kasi kailangan po ako ng anak ko. Ako po ‘yung magtatanggol sa kanya. Hindi niya po deserve ‘yung nanay na magbe-breakdown sa harap niya,” Mommy Hiedie added.
Afiara was born pre-mature. After a few months, she had an operation for her cleft lip.
“Nung two years old po siya, napansin ko po na iba ang kinikilos niya compared po doon sa ate niya. Pinacheck up po namin, sabi may mild autism po siya,” she said.
Mommy Hiedie took time to focus on Afiara and her three other kids. It was a hard and long process when Afiara started attending therapy.
“Sa kanila po ako kumukuha ng lakas. Sa husband ko pong sobrang supportive. Kami po talagang dalawa from the very beginning, hindi po kami naghihiwalay,” she noted.
When they received a go signal from the doctor, Mommy Hiedie enrolled Afiara to a regular school. She later started asking questions about her physical appearance.
“Kapag nag-da-dine in kami sa restaurant, nakamask lang siya. Kahit sa school, sinasabi ni teacher, bakit si Afiara, tinatanggal ‘yung ponytail niya. Lagi po niyang sinasabi na, ;Why am I different?’ ‘Why I talk like this?’ Sabi ko naman sa kanya, pag twelve ka naman na ipapaayos natin. Sinasabi ko po sa kanya na ‘yung condition niya po ay ganun talaga, pero maaayos pa naman,” she explained.
According to Mommy Hiedie, Afiara’s confidence started to decrease when she attended face-to-face classes.
“Ang unang pinagcocompare-an niya ay ‘yung mga siblings niya. Bakit raw po siya iba? Pero ‘yun nga po, pumasok lang po ‘yun sa isip niya noong nagface-to-face po siya. Nakiki-cooperate siya sa mga school activities online. Nung eto lang face to face, ayaw niya mag-on ng camera. Feeling ko po, siguro may naririnig po siya, ‘Bakit ganiyan itsura niya?’” she said.
She then asked her daughter’s teacher if Afiara could attend remote classes to protect her well-being. Mommy Hiedie said that she was surprised by the comments of netizens, comforting her daughter.
“Malaking tulong po ‘yung mga comments ng mga netizens, lagi ko po ‘yon pinapabasa sa kanya. Tumatawa po siya. Parang nabo-boost po ‘yung confidence ng bata,” she said while smiling.
Mommy Hiedie hopes to spread awareness on how to handle situations with kids with special needs.
“‘Yung mga anak po naming special, binigay sila sa amin ni Lord dahil alam nilang kakayanin namin. Maraming questions sa una kasi hindi mo maiintindihan ‘yung purpose ni Lord pero sa akin po, parang nasagot na ni Lord, ‘yung mga bakit ko dati. Siguro, to spread awareness,” she said.
“Magpakatatag po tayo dahil ‘Yung mga anak po natin, ay sa atin din po kumukuha ng lakas. Kailangan tayo po ‘yung magpakita sa kanila na hindi po sila naiiba para marealize po nila sa bahay pa lang, may love na silang nakukuha sa atin. Para ‘pag nasa labas sila, kahit ano pong ibato sa kanila ng mga tao, hindi na po nila mafe-feel ‘yon,” she added.
