#KinayaNiMama: Nanay Sinta, 83, pushes vegetable cart daily to support her blind daughter

At 83 years old, Jacinta "Sinta" Balagtas can still be found everyday in the streets of Navotas selling vegetables from her cart.

Starting as early as four in the morning, Sinta pushes her cart made out of wood that weighs almost as she does just to support her 52-year old daughter Kristina, who has been blind since she was two because of measles.

"Namimili ako ng gulay sa Divisoria alas kuwatro ng madaling araw. Pagdating ko magtinda na ko alas otso, alas siete, ganyan," Sinta says. "Lilibot ako sa buong looban na 'yun, hanggang doon sa Daang Hari, Bagong Kalsada, Roldan." 

Because of her disability, Kristina is unable to work and help out with the expenses. Sinta's husband has long been dead of pneumonia, and because she only earns P200 to P300 a day, she couldn't afford to pay for Kristina's medical needs.

Kristina is in need of an artificial eye, but because it cost around P200,000, they opted not to anymore because they didn't have that amount of money.

Alone, Sinta works double time for her and her daughter under the scorching heat of the sun. Although she has shown resilience and strength, she is not an exception to a lot of health conditions already. Her left eye's vision has already been blurring, and her knees have been having problems recently.

She even experienced temporary paralysis because of high blood, but by the next week, Sinta was up and back at work for Kristina.

"Gusto nga sana ng doktor magpahinga kaso wala naman siyang magagawa kasi nga, 'di ba kailangan nga nilang kumita," Sinta's neighbor Josie Mag-ugat says. "E kasi kung papahinga siya sinong mag-aano sa kanya, saan sila kukuha ng panggastos? Kaya kahit hindi niya kaya kinakaya niya."

Kristina isn't Sinta's only child, but the others have been staying in their province dealing with their own problems. Sinta didn't want to ask for help from her other children. "Kasi kung wala naman rin ano mga anak ko sa probinsya, isa pa kaming problema rito."

That's why she says, "Hanggat magagawan ko ng paraan kabuhayan namin mag-ina, gagawa ako ng paraan."

Her only prayer to God is that He give her more strength and live longer so she can support her daughter.

"Kawawa 'yung anak ko pag ako nawala sa buhay niya. Hangga't nabubuhay ako, tutulungan ko siya. 'Pag wala na ako, bahala na," Sinta said. "Kaya hinihiling ko rin sa Panginoon pa na bigyan niya pa ako ng lakas."

If you wish to help Sinta and her daughter, Kristina, contact pa.donations@gmanews.tv. —Kaela Malig/JST, GMA News