SEEING the availability of wheelchairs in both international and domestic airports in the Philippines is a good indication of the awareness of airport authorities in helping passengers with disabilities.
I have no questions about the services of the airlines right after leaving home at Charlotte, North Carolina and making the trip to Cagayan de Oro City by passing through New York, Vancouver and Manila a month ago.
Wheelchairs are a basic in customer service by airline companies for their physically challenged passengers.
Truth be told, I thought I would have a problem with the wheelchair services in Manila more at Laguindingan Airport in my province of Misamis Oriental. I was surprised that when I arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) there was already a wheelchair ready for my husband Ronnie.
It was a welcome respite from the long flight to get to the Philippines and it dawned on me how the national government did its part to help persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Even if it's a small service, it's still a success. It was also coincidental that I met Dr. Enrique “Ike” Ampo, who was with a group that campaigns for improved services to PWDs. But it's not all sunshine and I would like to talk about this little incident that I consider personal and it's about the personal attitude of those manning the wheelchairs which airport officials should address as well.
We're not even talking about the concerns and even criticism over the use of the wheelchairs. While arriving at the NAIA there was a long line of wheelchairs and I remembered that prior to the trip, Ronnie reminded the travel agent that he needs a wheelchair as soon as we land due to his medical condition. As soon as we secured a wheelchair I listened to the conversation of the airport personnel, who helped Ronnie sit on it and as a Filipino by birth, who understood both Visayan and Tagalog, I understood them all too well.
“Wow daku a oi-iplakaw na (Wow he's huge—let him walk),” said one of the personnel who then turned to the person handling the wheelchair occupied by Ronnie and told him “nakakaon ka ba bug-at kaayu na (have you eaten, that's heavy).”
I was behind them when they talked and carried our baggage and while they don't know if I understood them or not, I just smiled. But I was also upset for their rude remarks towards my husband, which may have been heard by those nearby. At first glance, Ronnie appears to be alright but in truth he could not walk far because he is in a lot of pain due to neuropathy and back pain that had been bothering him for years.
Those airport personnel should be reminded that a person's physical appearance should not be the basis for determining whether he or she should use a wheelchair.
For all we know they are suffering in silence. This is where the Departments of Health and the Department of Tourism can step up their campaign to educate those airport personnel in charge of handling and helping people ride the wheelchairs to be courteous at all times and refrain from making rude and irresponsible remarks to their clients.
It's a long way to go for Dr. Ampo and his group to achieving their goals but in fairness they are making progress.
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A shout-out to all who passed the bar exams whose results were recently released. A special shout-out to to the sons of friends, Atty. Titot Neri, Egay Uy and Oscar Musni. I’ve been following the achievements of Atty. Ernesto Neri a leader both in campus and outside and if he continues to work the way he is doing right now he would end up becoming the future mayor of Cagayan de Oro City.
Congratulations as well to Atty. Olegardo Jose Uy. I don’t know him personally, only his parents Atty. Egay Uy and Juliet Uy. Salutations are also in order to Atty. Fender Rhodes Bello Lumbatan. Many years ago every time then barangay Carmen chairman and now Representative Rolando Uy is absent in his paid-TV program over at Cagayan de Oro College TV or as a guest on my TV programs, he would send a young lady who was smart and seems to be ahead of her time. Hearing her talk, I knew then that this lady would go places someday.
To the new Atty. Beverly Ann Selim-Musni, YR(younger) a welcome addition to the father, mother and sister who work as lawyers, congratulations.
To the daughter of our neighbor at Melecia Homes Subdivision, congratulations Atty. Hanna Mabayo. May all of you succeed in the legal profession.