Story of ‘cursed’ man with rare skin condition goes viral on social media

PHOTO: Facebook/Jesselyn Rebutar
PHOTO: Facebook/Jesselyn Rebutar

Earlier this month, Jesselyn Rebutar shared photos of her cousin on Facebook because she wanted the world to know about his condition.

26-year-old Antonio Reloj from Banga, Aklan, was born with the rare skin disease ichthyosis, which causes his skin to grow very thick and scaly. His unusual appearance has led people to believe that he is cursed by malevolent spirits or is a supernatural being himself.

Since he was a child, Reloj has been teased because of his appearance. He is used to hiding inside their home for fear of being attacked by people who don’t understand his disease.

Rebutar’s post went viral on social media and was eventually picked up by Rated K.

In an interview, Reloj narrated how he has been bullied since he was a child. Some kids even threw stones at him.

Reloj’s family never knew who impregnated his mother, who was mentally handicapped. In 2003, his mother disappeared and left him with relatives.

Having no real friends, Reloj enjoys spending time with his cousins and aunts. He used to go with them to the Church and the market, but he now prefers to stay home.

He enjoys tinkering with the radio and hopes to be an electrician someday.

Reloj’s skin has gotten worse because of the heat. His eyes have also started to go bad.

Rebutar is hoping that with the help of social media, more and more people will understand her cousin’s condition.

To know more about Reloj, check out this short feature by Rated K.

You can also read about the story of Mui Thomas, a rugby referee from Hong Kong who has the same condition.



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