Legazpi city: At an early age, Clarence Nayve knew that there was always a possibility that he would go blind. The telltale signs were there. He was told that as an infant, he would instinctively turn away from the light, often burying his face in his mother's chest whenever she carried him outside. His eyes were constantly watery, too, and he seemed to have a persistent runny nose that never quite went away.

According to Philippines News Agency, the doctors at Rizal Medical Center diagnosed him with congenital glaucoma, a rare and serious defect that prevents the eye fluids from draining, which can lead to blindness if untreated. To save his vision, Nayve underwent eye surgery before he could even speak, the first of many procedures that would eventually follow. At 7, he was back on the operating table for more surgeries to address his condition.

For a while, the surgical procedures seemed to work. After the procedures, Nayve's eyes were in relatively good condition, allowing him to return to school in Bicol. Despite being ridiculed by some of his classmates for his noticeably larger and slightly bulging eyes, Nayve excelled both in academics and sports. However, his love for basketball came at a cost, as the frequent trauma from the ball damaged the implanted tubes in his eyes, leading to a gradual loss of vision.

Nayve's vision loss did not happen all at once. It slipped away bit by bit, but he remembers the last time he saw a sliver of light was in November 2017 when he was 16. Despite these challenges, Nayve graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Literature from Bicol University in Legazpi City on June 25. His journey was marked by determination and support from his family and friends.

Nayve faced challenges in adapting to online learning and technology, but his perseverance and the support of his classmates and professors helped him succeed. Aleta Amador, his college professor, praised him for his active participation and thoughtful insights in class. Revis Lapida, his classmate, described him as having an insatiable hunger for knowledge.

As Nayve embarks on a new journey, he advocates for society to move beyond benevolent ableism, which he describes as discrimination that appears positive but reinforces the notion that people with disabilities are incapable. He dreams of a world where the achievements of PWDs are seen as genuine expressions of their potential, not exceptions.