Candy Pangilinan recalls early challenges as a single mom

August 7 ------ Comedian-actress Candy Pangilinan shared some of the challenges she faced in the early years when she was a single mother to her son, Quentin. The mother and son were featured in the latest vlog of Kapamilya actress Ivana Alawi, where she bought all the things that Quentin wanted– from clothes to electronics.

Quentin has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Candy admitted how expensive and limited therapy was back then. She recalled jumping from city to city just for her son to receive several therapies. Quentin would start with Occupational Therapy, which is followed by Speech Therapy to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, to Physical Therapy, and would end with Dyad therapy.

“Walang masyadong therapy, sobrang rare at sobrang mahal. Ang mahal ng therapy–– hahanap ka talaga. From QC nag tra-travel kami to Pasig and Mandaluyong. Simula kami sa OT tapos sa Speech tapos ABA tapos sa PT tapos sa Dyad. Eh kaka panganak ko lang nun–– wala akong trabaho,” she recalled.

When Ivana asked the celebrity mom how she managed to do it, she candidly shared that she didn’t know how it was possible, but maintaining her faith in God and her love for Quentin helped her overcome the challenge. “Hindi ko alam. Parang lahat ng sweldo ko napupunta sa therapy, lahat talaga. Meron siyang sariling driver. Sa kotse na siya nakatira kasi nag lilipat-lipat siya ng therapy… One year old nag thetherapy na siya. Sinabihan ako ng doctor nung time na yun na it’s good that we have early intervention para eventually ang aim natin [is] he will be able to talk and walk,” she added.

Apart from therapy, Candy remembered how she would bring Quentin to prayer over as well for his spiritual well-being. Now that her son has grown much older, she shared that he is still undergoing therapy and is now receiving Comprehension therapy as well. The comedian-actress then expressed how each individual with autism is unique in their own way and shouldn’t be put in the same box. “Malaki ang sakop na spectrum ng isang autism. Ito palagi kong sinasabi, nakakita ka ng isang may autism, hindi siya pareho sa iba. It’s always different–– parang sa isang tao, every person is unique. Every person with autism is unique as well,” she said. Meanwhile, Quentin is currently working at a restaurant in Quezon City where he can be seen taking orders, setting tables, and serving food.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com