Catbalogan City, Samar — On a day meant to honor a new wave of Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates, a name from a previous batch stole the spotlight—unexpectedly and quietly.
Lyka Plana, Top 1 of ALS Batch 2021–2022, was not part of this year’s graduating class. In fact, she didn’t even attend the ceremony. But as heartfelt tributes unfolded during the ALS Graduation and Moving Up Ceremony for S.Y. 2024–2025, Lyka’s name was called, her achievements remembered, and her story honored.
In a symbolic gesture, Governor Ann Tan accepted a painting created by Lyka—an artwork that now speaks louder than words. It was a tribute not just to a young artist, but to a survivor.
“I had no idea I was going to be recognized,” Lyka later said in an interview with OpinYon 8. “I wasn’t even there. But I’m deeply grateful.”
From Bedridden to Becoming
Lyka’s journey to that recognition is not one paved with ease. At 16, she was struck by a rare skin disease that gradually worsened. Her bones weakened. Her face changed. Eventually, she lost the ability to walk. For years, she was bedridden—physically weak, emotionally wounded, and spiritually tested.
“I never cried in front of my family,” she said. “I always smiled and said, ‘Kaya ko ini.’ But deep inside, I was in pain. I was being judged. People used me as a ‘bad example,’ even to scare children. That hurt.”
There were moments darker than most.
“I asked God, ‘Grabe ba gud ako ka maraot nga bata?’ I tried to stay strong, to be patient, but when I couldn’t walk anymore, I felt like I lost everything. I even attempted suicide. I didn’t die, and I got even more frustrated,” she recalled, half-laughing, half-crying.
Then came the moment that changed everything—her mother’s unwavering faith.
“Siring ni Mama, ‘Ne, ayaw pag-away ha Ginoo. Hiya la it makakabulig ha imo. Kun diri ka na makakalakat, ayaw kabaraka—Ako it magiging tiil mo.’”
That promise carried her through.
By 2019, she defied the odds and began to walk again. She stopped taking maintenance medication. By 2021, she was back on stage—this time, as ALS Top 1, giving an inspiring graduation speech. Her voice had returned, and it came from someone who had once felt silenced.
“Bisan Simple la nga Kindness, May Dako nga Epekto”
Lyka never forgot the kindness of her ALS teachers—their quiet patience, their belief in her when she couldn’t believe in herself.
“First day ko ha ALS, atras-abante ako. Mayda ako fear of people. Pero tungod han ira pag-guide ngan kindness, nagkaada ako hin kusog. Danay an simple nga kindness ha aton, dako na para ha iba.”
That belief carried her far. Today, Lyka is not only a graduate with honors from San Jorge National High School, but also Artist of the Year, Conduct Awardee, and Outstanding Performer in Arts.
Her paintings now carry both beauty and testimony—of what it means to rise, even when the world expects you to stay down.
Her Life, Her Message
When asked what she believes now, Lyka doesn’t hesitate.
“I’ve realized we all have a purpose. And bisan gaano ka imposible it sitwasyon, God can make it possible. I’ve seen that in my own life.”
She is now seven years into recovery, walking without medication, painting with a steady hand, and inspiring many—without even trying.
And though she wasn’t at Tandaya Hall to walk across the stage, her story walked right into people’s hearts—quiet, honest, unforgettable.
Lyka Palaña, Top 1 of ALS Batch 2021–2022
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