(Late post) It
happened over a year ago, during election period. But I am certain that this
post deserves a spot on my blog. It will touch many people’s hearts and
probably call other people’s attention. Let us be more vigilant during these
times especially to the families and loved ones of Persons With Disabilities.
During election period, faces of politicians are all over
the streets, from fiesta greetings, valentine greetings and graduation day
greetings, banners and posters are everywhere. All the electoral candidates are
doing everything just to capture everyone’s attention. Campaign rallies happen
around the country and their main agenda is to encourage a lot of people from
different public sectors to attend and listen to their never ending promises to
be able to acquire as many votes as possible.
Let me tell you a story that broke my heart with the
reality with regards to election period which involves even the innocent child
with special needs and persons with disabilities.
I have a son who was diagnosed with Global Developmental
Delay Syndrome. He is now studying under SPED. Last December 3, 2012, we were
invited by an official of the local MSWD to attend the so called “International
PWD Week Celebration” that was held at Kapitolyo. Yes, you read it right, they
said that it is going to be a celebration for the persons with disabilities.
So, my husband and I, my son, and some of the PWD and special children joined
the event with the promise of free food, transportation, and raffle bonanza
where we could win lots of prizes. Of course we also expected to receive privileges
for PWD.
I think we were more than 40 people on the bus that day.
We had a long trip, yes, the food was served
(fried rice and luncheon meat) while we were on our journey. We arrived
at around 11am but we were surprised not to see any PWD on the said event. What
we saw were politicians and numerous groups of people. We expected to see a
banner welcoming the PWD because we all thought that it is an exclusive event
for the PWD since they told us that we’re gonna be celebrating the
“International PWD Week” but clearly, it didn’t turn out the way we expected.
So, we arrived at the cultural center, not knowing what
to do, where to sit and who to talk to. The PWD on wheelchairs and clutches,
the blinds, the special children entered the place, not sure where to go
because nobody exerted any effort to assist us. What happened was, we sat at
the back, occupied the empty chairs and most of us remained standing
everywhere. There were few people who told us to transfer our seats for SIX
times, obviously there were no seats reserved for us. We really don’t know what
to do while we had no choice but to listen to the Governor’s speech. After the
speech, he told us that the lunch is about to be served. Then the waiters
arranged the round tables near the stage, served the food to some people while
we are still at the back remained unrecognized.
Still not sure what to do, what to expect, and plainly,
what we are doing on the event. We were actually puzzled why we were all there.
Some of the guardians of the PWD went to the tables expecting an invitation to
have our lunch, but unfortunately, the person in charge asked for the meal stub
which we do not have. We don’t even know that the stub is needed. Obviously,
the lunch weren’t for us. Then somebody came and gave us a small piece of
siopao each without anything to drink. They served the breakfast while we were
on the bus that morning, so we ate it while we’re on our way not expecting that
we’re gonna have a siopao for lunch, as well as the kids, while the other
groups were eating a scrumptious meal on the round tables.
I was seriously disappointed and felt pity for the PWD
who traveled for more than 2 hours just to get that kind of treatment. No one
even recognized us when we arrived, nor welcomed us. A lot of politicians
spoke, from councilors to mayors of different towns, even the governor, but we
haven’t heard anything about PWD while we still keep on thinking that that was
my son’s and the rest of the PWD’s special day.
While the event goes on, the lady from the MSWD told us
to stay and wait for the raffle bonanza when we don’t have any single raffle
ticket with us. What is wrong with those people? Don’t they have the heart
inviting those disable persons just to use in a politician’s event like that?
When all of us are already mad, someone came up to us,
handed us some “raffle tickets” with the 20pesos amount printed on it. He
didn’t ask for payment though, then left us with the words “swertihan lang
talaga dyan eh!”
Later on, after waiting again, the raffle started, which
we really don’t know what kind of raffle tickets were given to us because they
are calling for a four-digit tickets while we have seven-digit raffle tickets!
What is happening???! We were so damn hungry, pissed off with super long
waiting hours sitting there listening to those people that do not tackle any
single matter regarding the PWD, while chasing my hyperactive son who keeps on
running around in all sweat.
Then we decided to stand up, hopeless that something
favorable to us would happen. We stepped up on the bus, dead tired and
starving.
We reached our homes late at night with all the
frustrations in our hearts. Honestly, I’ve cried full of regrets for saying
“yes, we will come”, because I pity those disabled persons who do not have all
the convenience in the world including ourselves who suffered to that kind of
exhaustion for nothing where in the first place, we all agreed to be there
because we thought that our kids with special needs and the rest of the PWD who
were with us could spend their special day at Kapitolyo and expected for
special programs intended for them. Unfortunately, we’re all disappointed.
I know that campaign coordinators do exist, who might be
the same person behind this situation and he/she might be the one to blame who
certainly had monetary commission for every group of people that they were able
to gather.
We were misinformed, fooled by those people.
I just want to inform everyone about this matter especially
the people responsible for this. We do not want to be neglected ever again nor
used by politicians, took pictures of us as evidence that there was a group of
persons with disabilities joined their event.
You made us all look doomed on that day wherein
supposedly celebrating the Persons With Disabilities special day. :(
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