I-WITNESS “Damdaming Walang Mukha" airs Monday (October 4-"Moebius Syndrome" episode )

How can you express your satisfaction or love to somebody if you can't even do a simple smile due to "Moebius Syndrome"? Sandra Aguinaldo analyzes the difficulties of having this kind of neurological disorder and the family support needed to overcome this rare disorder.

This simple movement of the facial muscles, often taken for granted, has the ability to paint a personality, aid in medical diagnosis, and build social skills. Without it, a person may appear dull and unapproachable.

Such is the dilemma of some individuals with Moebius Syndrome, of which facial paralysis is a distinct symptom. Moebius Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that affects less than 2,000 people in the world. Here in the Philippines , it is even rarer to find people with this condition.

Being born with clubbed feet, crossed eyes, difficulty in swallowing and speaking has made individuals with Moebius Syndrome and their families open to ridicule and taunting. But despite this, patients have developed a strong bond, relying on each other for care and support. Often, it is the family members’ faces that reflect the smile that is invisible to others. When asked how he shows his happiness, Paolo, a 17 year-old boy with Moebius Syndrome says, “I smile from the inside". -GMA

“Damdaming Walang Mukha" airs on Monday, October 4th, on GMA-7's I-Witness.