Wearing signature large glasses and a quirky mustache-painted face mask, Cliford hopped off the bus that parked at D’Farm, San Isidro, Bacolor, Pampanga, ready to enjoy one of the most anticipated events of the summer with his friends from the hospital, the annual Kythe Camp.
Cliford is a survivor of ewing sarcoma, or bone cancer, and an amputee. However, Camp was an opportunity to show a number of his strengths and talents: despite having only one arm, he is a natural swimmer, and happily splashed along with the other campers in D’Farm’s spacious pool; he also proved to be talented at billiards—with the assistance of his friends, who helped position his cue stick, he easily sank his stripes in a game of eight-ball. During downtime, he used his arm to hold the microphone at the karaoke machine and show his knack for music in belting out Journey’s “Faithfully.”
Cliford was proud to receive this year’s “Most Promising Camper” award during Kythe Night. His bright smile, participation in camp activities, and rapport with his fellow campers earned him this distinction.
Cliford’s talents and kuya-figure personality carry over into his life in AFP hospital, where he is known to watch over the younger ones and serenade visitors with the complete lyrics of Disney’s Frozen. Having celebrated his 14th birthday last May 16th, Cliford has high hopes for the future, balancing his dreams with genuine kindness to those around him.