Clubfoot is a birth defect where an infant is born with one or both of their feet turned inward. It is one of the more common birth defects, as it is reported that 1 out 1000 babies are born with the congenital condition. However, if given proper attention and care at a young age, it is possible to treat the condition without any surgery. In the Philippines, there is a rise towards clubfoot care and awareness, including the launch of the National Birth Defect Surveillance Project in 2025, and policy changes regarding increased access towards clubfoot-related treatment. But it was not always like this before.
Chall An was born during a time where clubfoot care was scarce, and faced difficulty growing up with bilateral equinovarus clubfoot, a condition where both of her feet had clubfoot. As a child, she brimmed with curiosity and an enthusiasm to explore. However, she would soon feel dissuaded by children her age that made fun of her because of her condition – focusing more on her feet than the person who possessed it.
Sometimes, she would be called “lumpo” by her peers, commenting on her inability to be able to achieve anything substantial in her life. However, as Chall grew up, she learned to garner more confidence in herself and pursue the things she wanted and could do, all while not allowing herself to be limited by her condition.
During a mock defense, she met Madel Yu, a wood crafter who was her panelist at the time, and bonded over having PWD-related thesis projects. It eventually blossomed into a friendship, which led to the creation of ANYU Handicrafts in 2021 – a PWD-owned and women-led Filipino brand born from the duo’s passion in design and crafts. Their business primarily focuses on handcrafted premium wood & leather products such as wallets, bags, and keychains, with Madel specializing in wood crafting while Chall specializing in leather crafting.
Recently, they have also started hiring part-time PWD workers in an effort to empower the PWD workforce through upskilling and providing more opportunities to them. Moreover, they have partnered with different organizations to bring awareness towards clubfoot. For instance, they signed an MOU with the PGNOC, the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health, and Welfare, through the Philippine National Clubfoot Program, in a commitment towards empowering people with clubfoot and providing more access towards clubfoot care.
In an interview with DZMM Teleradyo, Chall An recalls a realization she gained after meeting parents of children with disabilities wherein they remarked about feeling optimistic for their children’s futures after meeting her, “Hindi pala dapat ikahiya na PWD ako – that I have a disability, but we can transform it into THIS-ability and empower others as well”.
ANYU Handicrafts aims to break the stigma that individuals with disabilities are not capable of great things. Their slogan “If we can do it, #ANYUCanDoIt2!” is a testament that one’s conditions do not define them as a person, and should not be a limiting factor for anyone to move forward and achieve what they want in life.