"Perfectly Imperfect" by Luisito Natividad

Candace smiling for a camera shot in late 2017.

Each individual has a different gift, talent, and vision that were given by our God. With that, can a disability or being handicapped be considered as a blessing? In this day and age, many people are identified as handicapped or being disabled, however, that doesn’t stop them from fulfilling their purpose in life.











Candace smiling for a camera shot in late 2017.
One of them is Candace Cortez, a girl of 25, who is a visionary and a talented artist. Growing up in a simple family, Candace is the eldest amongst her siblings. She was born without a complete set of fingers, and a clubbed foot.

Candace during her childhood with her cousin at a Flores De Mayo parade.

Candace’s condition was made fun of by other children, and was despised being seen. Candace actually needed shoes made especially for her. This made her father decide that she needed to go through cast cement treatment on her foot and leg for it to be corrected, so that she can walk without fear. Due to the treatment of her condition, whenever Candace needed new shoes, her parents had to buy two pairs.
As a child, Candace was not hindered by her condition; as a matter of fact, she liked to draw on her cast. This drawing hobby was started by her father; when he saw Candace sad, and can’t join with her friends in playing games that include running activities. The doctors and nurses who would check her cast were always amazed and overjoyed as they could see how pure her heart is, through her drawings on her cast, even in her condition. After a few treatments on her leg and foot, she was able to walk again. She went back to high school, and her talent in art took off where she enjoyed drawing characters from animated movies and so much more.

Candace’s sketches.

Candace’s sketches.

Candace’s sketches.

 Candace’s gift was not just in the arts; she also progressed academically and became one of the top notch students of her year. Upon graduating high school, she earned 1st honorable recognition.

Candace graduating from high school with much recognition.

 

 

 Starting college, Candace’s drive for a greater future ignited even more. She took up a Bachelor’s degree in Science in Information Technology in Informatics. This was not Candace’s first choice for a college degree. She wanted to pursue a degree in animation, but although information technology was not her first choice, she has shown even more determination and perseverance to strive for the best. At the end of her college year, she became Cum Laude in her batch.

Candace’s recognitions including Cum Laude recognition.

Candace’s graduation photo.

 

Not every story is a fairytale. Candace also experienced comparing herself to other people and trying to please others. While in college, she was a battered girlfriend in a dysfunctional relationship. It was her first relationship, so she was afraid of letting go despite of her situation. Because of this struggle, she became more focused on other people, and forgot who she was and her purpose in life. She kept everything to herself, and chose not to tell her family.
One day, Candace became very much broken and felt empty, despite of every achievement and her most kept relationship. She found herself seeking help and asking the Almighty God to be with her in her journey through life. Unimaginably, Candace immediately felt that a great weight on her chest had been lifted. Since then she decided to align her life and will according to the plan of our God.


Candace in her early years at church.

Aligning herself with Almighty God doesn’t mean that she will no longer go through hardships, circumstances and struggles anymore. As a matter of fact, she did, and she remains true to herself knowing that she will continue to have trials in her life. Candace decided to let go of the driver’s seat and the steering wheel of her life, and give it to God. At present, Candace works as a freelance 3D graphic artist.

 

One of her many 3D art.

Candace with her colleagues at work.

 Currently is serving our God in a bible believing church, as a backup singer and worship leader.

Candace leading the worship service at Destiny Church.

 

 

 

Candace conducting a life group and having a little talk with her friends.

 

As a life coach, she is also currently handling different women from all walks of life. Candace wants her life to be a testimony that no matter how wrecked or hopeless your life may be, Our God can and will always help. He is just one call away to those people who need Him.
Having a chance to interview Candace, she explains what keeps her going despite everything.

https://youtu.be/ks5euOszx1w

She enumerated that there are reasons why she keeps on going.

Candace said that, “One is passion, second is the need, and the third one is purpose. Passion is, siguro kase since my childhood, people know me as an artist. Self-proclaimed artist.” Candace jokingly said.
“I draw a lot I love building stuff from kung anu-ano lang ganyan. And by that time that is who I am. And without doing what I think who I am parang sa tingin ko I’m empty. So doing what I love keeps me going. And the second one is the need, knowing that artist is a part of a country, part of a society I think they are important. They can give something to people, artists are known by parang they express things through artworks, through movies. So it can reach more people by media, by using those kinds of stuff to really become the voice of those people and katulad sa movie, mas ma ta-touch mo ‘yung tao. If ‘yung palabas is makaka relate ‘yung tao. And as an artist they can express kung ano yung nararanasan nila. In a way na mas effective so I think people who are good in that kind of field will give impact doon sa ibang tao." Candace remarked.

"The third one is the purpose actually connected ‘yan doon sa passion and need. Hinuli ko ‘yung purpose because I believe God put you that potential that passion to become the solution for the need. I believe you are born for something great, you are destined to fulfill a position that can give or supply or provide ‘yung need ng society ‘yung need ng isang person. And that keeps me going knowing that if you give up soon if you give up earlier merong mga taong ‘di rin ma fu-fulfill ‘yung dreams nila because you never tried harder or even struggled to achieve ‘kung ano ‘yung purpose mo.” Candace ended.

When asked what she can say to the people who want to give up on their dreams or lives, Candace answered with confidence and without any hesitation.

She said, “Siguro familiar tayo sa quotation na ‘Giving up is not an option’. I believe doon sa quotation na ‘yun because nobody born ng walang purpose. I think you are born because you are meant for something great. I think ‘yung mga people, depressed people kaya sila depressed because in the first place they never know kung ano sila kung para saan sila; first bago ka mag give up know who you are, know what God created you to become, know kung ano ‘yung kaya mong ibigay. And the gifts that you have in your life, really ‘yun ‘yung mga bagay na for sure can give a hand to other people. You can reach out other people through that gift."

She continued "And if you give up, I am sure that you will really, at the end of the day. Sabihin nating mamatay ka diba. Parang manghihinayang ka na ‘di ka man lang nag try diba. Ako personally kung ano ‘yung lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko. I have struggles in life, may insecurities ako kasi nga ganto ‘yung daliri ko, feeling ko kahit maraming achievements hindi padin ako magaling pero everyday ina asses ko bakit ako buhay pa. ‘Pag na depress ako, bakit ako na depress pa. Eh ‘di pa ako patay, I believe God nilalagay niya ako sa position na ‘yun to hone me, to fight and mag grow. So giving up is not an option but the struggle ‘yung circumstance na nararanasan mo ngayon is a trial, a test na kailangan mong masagutan ng tama. So that after ma-passed I am very sure that you are no longer that person before, at nag level up ka at mas nang mature ka and mas gumaling ka. I advise na every struggles at kung ano man nararanasan ng person na ‘yun, push forward move forward; because I am sure after that struggle after that situation magiging better siya at ma me-meet niya ‘yung requirements or ‘yung qualities ng person na destined na siya. ”

Candace then (picture on the right) and Candace now (picture on the left below).


Candace now fully lives abundantly with God and with her family and she has found love for herself. This love radiates not only on herself, but to the people around her. Through perseverance, God gave her a way to pursue her desire in animation through an academic scholarship.
Candace’s inspiring story proves that no matter how difficult life is, a person should never give up. This world that we live in is not perfect. None of the people, the society, the environment, or the nations will satisfy our need for completeness or perfection. We will end up confused, broken and seeking endlessly on the wrong things, but if we fix our eyes on our God who is perfect; we will learn how to see beyond the imperfection of this world , and maybe in the end. We can be a world that’s perfectly imperfect, and loves God and the people around us.