At 40, Arlinda serves as the focal person of the Municipality of Daanbantayan's Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in Cebu, championing the rights and empowerment of more than 2,500 persons with disabilities across 25 associations. Many of these groups are led by women with disabilities, that Arlinda continues to nurture and uplift.

Her journey, however, was shaped by a life-altering moment. At 19, she was hit by a stray bullet, resulting in a spinal cord injury and loss of lower extremity function. It took her a while to accept this sudden and drastic change in her life. The thought of losing her ability to walk was terrifying for someone who had always been active and physically fit.

“I went through a very difficult phase in my life after that incident. I got depressed and was so afraid to move forward, but I realized there must be a reason why this happened to me. I feel that I was meant to fulfill a greater purpose with this second chance at life,” she said.

As a PDAO head for three years, Arlinda has shown that anyone can lead and empower a community regardless of gender and physical capabilities. Under her leadership, PDAO has focused on capacity-building through training in organizational management, livelihood development, financial literacy, and digital upskilling, among others.

“For me, leadership means inspiring others, working toward goals that uplift my members, and ensuring their voices are truly heard," said Arlinda.

In 2024, over 30 members benefited from PLDT, Smart, ATRIEV, and NORFIL Foundation, Inc.’s Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT), where they learned essential skills and knowledge to integrate digitalization into their businesses.

“My advocacy is to empower more persons with disabilities and ensure they never feel inferior. I want to encourage them to live normally and not be afraid to step out of their homes because we are still blessed,” she said.

Arlinda’s story is a reminder that neither gender nor physical limitations can stop someone from creating meaningful changes in their community. She believes that with determination, humility, and faith in God, anyone can fulfill their responsibilities and lead with impact.

“Women can do it, too. We lead with love, compassion, and deep consideration. These qualities allow us to understand people’s needs and make thoughtful decisions. I believe this is the unique advantage of women—we lead not just with our minds, but also with our hearts,” said Arlinda.