By: Joshua Ebalane and Jon Lloyd Yogyog (University of Baguio Interns)
Dancing requires rhythm, coordination, and music.
But how does one perform when they can barely hear the beat?
For Grade 11 student Caster Lan Pacya, who was born with microtia—a condition where the ear is underdeveloped and hearing is impaired—this challenge never stopped him from pursuing his passion for dance.
Caster’s journey in dancing started in elementary school.
His father, Jonathan Pacya, believes the love for dance runs in their blood, recalling how his own father, a Bicolano, enjoyed dancing during town fiestas.
Despite his talent, Caster has faced judgment and insecurities due to his condition. “People would say my ear looks ugly, that it doesn’t fit me, that I’m different,” he shared. “It’s painful and made me overthink how others see me.”
But for his coach, Terrence Jeoffrey Soriano, Caster is no different from other students. “I made sure he didn’t feel out of place,” Soriano said. “If other kids without disabilities can do something, so can he.”
Still, his hearing condition posed difficulties in training.
His partner, Kharanissa Jamne Borlongan, had to make adjustments. “Sometimes he couldn’t hear the music, so I had to count for him,” she said.
Their perseverance paid off when they won the championship at the CARAA Meet 2025 Dancesport Competition.
Now, they are preparing to represent the Cordillera region at the Palarong Pambansa in May.
For Caster, dancing is more than just movement—it’s a way of expressing emotions and overcoming life’s challenges.
His message to others facing similar struggles: “It’s not about how people see you. What matters is how you see yourself.”
