Dear Mr. Editor,

The past week, the celebration was held all week long, for the persons with disability. There were numerous accolades and fetes, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, all covered by the mass media.

This made people , normal at that, understand and commiserate with our brothers who have disabilities either in their state. In one of the live interviews over the television, it was underscored that to ridicule persons with disability is now a crime.

With all due respect and compassion, there are laws that govern the plight of our brothers, but these are ignored. One good example is the building code of the Philippines, that requires buildings and walk ways must have ramps for the wheelchair of the disabled. But lo and behold, you can count only a few who observed this requisite.

At one time, I know of a chain of supermarket, that has kindly offered a space for the blind for massage. This gave the people legal and moral income to support them selves and their families. We knew that this magnanimous gesture, gave us insight that the owners of the establishment cared.

We are astonished to learn, that the masseurs had to share their earnings with the supermarket, on a 60/40 arrangement, with the latter in favor of the blind. It is ironic, that last week while everyone was having celebrations, the majority of these masseurs have to leave, (or shall we say were unjustly fired), all because the management decided to get a bigger share of the pie, thereby increasing the ratio to 50/50.  How about that for the books, Mr. Editor? Are we being blind ourselves of compassion?

Wish our new administration in the local government could find them suitable place to move their place of business, just like the senior citizens and the drug rehab buildings, under their auspices. Let us not forget our dear citizens the plight of those of us without sight.

 Lorraine Angela M. Jovellanos

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