"It's more fun in the Philippines!" Ito ang katagang madalas na naririnig natin sa ating mga kababayan, na sya ring naging tourism slogan na ng bansa.
Kilala ang mga pinoy sa pagiging likas na 'hospitable' o ang pagbibigay ng mainit na pagtanggap sa ating mga bisita. Isa ito sa mga ipinagmamalaking kaugalian ng mga Pilipino sa buong mundo.
Ito rin ang dahilan kaya malapit tayo sa puso ng mga dayuhan at kung bakit mabilis silang napapamahal sa atin, sa puntong dito na pinipiling manirahan ng ilan sa kanila.
Pero paano kung ang mga dayuhang bisita na maluwag nating tinanggap sa ating bansa at itinuring na kaibigan ay biglang nagmalabis at mistulang naging kaaway? Hindi nalalayo dito ang sinapit ng isang pamilya sa Cebu na pumunta sa isang restaurant at walang ibang nais kundi ang mag-enjoy lang habang kumakain ng sama-sama. Subalit dahil sa hindi magandang asal na ipinakita ng isang matandang foreigner sa kasama nilang special child, ay kabaliktaran ang nangyari.
Base sa video na kumalat sa social media, maririnig ang alitan sa pagitan ng pamilya ng mga pinoy at isang grupo ng mga dayuhan.
Mapapanuod ang oriental-looking na matanda na tila galit na galit sa batang kasama ng naturang Filipino family habang nagsasabi sya ng masasakit na salita laban sa walang kamalay-malay na bata. Makikita din na gustong hampasin ng silya ng nasabing dayuhan ang kaawa-awang bata.
Dahil dito ay lumaki ang gusot sa dalawang panig at naging emosyonal ang nabanggit na pamilya ng mga Pilipino na nasaksihan ng maraming iba pang customer na nakasabay nila.
Pilit na inaawat ng mga kasamahan ng matanda at ng store manager ang lalaki ngunit ayaw nitong tumigil.
Basahin ang Facebook post:
ONLINE STATEMENT OF THE SISTER (Christina Gestoso Dabao) OF THE CHILD:
Today my brother, Regur was discriminated for being a special child.
Every Sunday, our family goes out and have lunch and coffee to ease up a week of stress from school and work. (Which, by the way, we practice social distancing and use face masks and face shields) But today, unlike any other Sundays, ended up quite disappointing.
We went to Coffee Bean Tea Leaf, Taft East branch in Cebu City, the usual place we go to. Since we are collecting stamps for the tumbler and the planner. Me and my family are happily drinking our drinks and chatting about the venue for an upcoming family event. Regur, unlike any other days when he has tantrums or not in the mood, was in a good mood. He was just sitting at the edge of the table near the wall, facing my other brother Christger, playing with himself and the towel he uses as a toy. On the other table was another family, when suddenly the father (a big man) told us to stop Regur from doing what he was doing. (Which is playing the towel and drinking his drink), my mom and dad quickly apologized if Regur caused disturbance to him and his family. Informing him that Regur is a special child, and cannot fully understand and does not even talk. But instead of accepting my family’s apologies, he got mad and told us to discipline my brother for not behaving normally. Again, we apologized. But he did not stop there, he stood up and got really mad at us and wanted to smash Regur with a chair. Imagine the scenario of a big adult/old enough man, to understand the situation, acting in that way. Wanting to hurt my brother for playing his towel. (Regur did not even touch him, he was just annoyed that Regur wasn’t sitting still in his chair)
My family immediately stood up to make him understand that his actions are not necessary and that he is discriminating my brother just because he cannot talk and cannot understand like normal kids do. But instead of understanding the situation, he went towards my dad and told him “f*ck you”, for not disciplining my brother well. My dad quickly responded that “it is not our fault that Regur is a special child, that’s why we apologized for the disturbance he may have caused”. He still did not stop and went towards my brother carrying a chair and is about to smash it against him.
What’s more disappointing is that the staff from Coffee Bean told me and my family to stop and move towards the other table so that the commotion will end. We did not even hear any apologies from the staff for blaming it on us for not changing seats. The man kept repeating and shouting that we should go out and leave immediately. If that was about me, or on any of my family members, i have nothing against him. And would just understand that maybe he was in a bad mood. But he did it to my brother, a loving, smiling and happy kid who does not know what he did wrong and how the situation worsen. My family moved to another table far away from them, to not cause another commotion. The man’s wife apologized and his daughter on his behalf. But the man stared at us like we are nothing but trash to the society for having a kid with special needs. There was no remorse, not even guilt and it was us who kept apologizing despite all the threats and harassment he did to us.
I just hope this does not happen to any other families. And if anyone sees a kid with special needs, they would not overreact but instead widen their perspective and understand that they are not the same as those who live normally.
Regur is okay, he still does not know what have happened. But the man’s loud voice scared him a bit. On the way home, he held my hand in the car, as if telling me he was sorry our Sunday did not end well because of him. And i want him to know, that it was never his fault. And no matter the situation is, we will protect him and we will always be on his side.
We love you, bhe ko Regur.
*this photo was taken at Lacoste, Waterfront branch before heading to Coffee Bean. Look at that innocent and happy face. Love u, Regur. ❤️ Btw, my brother took a video of the situation, but we opted not to share it here anymore. We just want to spend the holidays peacefully. ☺️
