Convocation

Prexyl Josery P. Gamallo December 23, 2010

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We were tasked to participate in the Convocation about embracing the differently-abled that was held in SU church last December 7, 2010 at 10 am. The program started praising the Lord and reading some scriptures. There were sharers who introduced about the background of a differently-abled. Disabled people are still struggling for the right to use public transport, get into buildings, go to school or college with their friends, or to get a job. Although civil rights legislation, such as the RA No. 7277(Magna Carta for disabled persons), have helped, disabled people still often feel that the dominant culture sees them as different from everyone else because of persisting stereotypes of disability. Anyone can, at any time, become disabled, or develop a physical or mental impairment. Perhaps people’s need to distance themselves from this harsh reality makes it convenient to rely on received negative attitudes and historical stereotypes of disability. These stereotypical images are less troubling than accepting the individuality, the joy, the pain, the appearance, behaviour and the rights of disabled people.

Growing up in this cruel world I also was one of the stereotypes who did show negative attitudes to these different-abled persons. I do regret those things that I’d done to them. I am so pernicious to them. I did not consider their feelings when I did something to them. When I heard the young differently-abled boy who sang “May bukas pa”, I remembered the days when I do these harsh things to them; I felt like I was pulled down and crushed by my guilt. I broke down and cried. I felt sorry for the things that I’d done.

I was glad that I was able to attend this kind of event because it gives me a lesson on what disabled people want more than anything else, it is to be accepted for whom they are and to have their rights guaranteed in law and in practice.