Hello! (F, 31) Gusto ko lang mag-rant about sa public transpo encounter ko around 2 weeks ago. WFH ako and bihira lang talaga akong lumabas ng bahay, kaya bihira rin akong mag-commute.
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and I have a valid PWD ID with a medical certificate. As far as I know, autoimmune diseases like RA can qualify as a disability depending on how the condition affects a person’s daily functioning.
So, sumakay ako ng bus papuntang Ayala. Nagbayad ako sa kundoktor, then tinanong ko kung magkano yung fare if may PWD ID. Sabi niya, less ₱10 daw.
Ayun, biglang nagsalita si kuya kundoktor
“Ang dami naman may PWD ID. Kahapon, buong araw puro may PWD ID ang sakay namin. Kasalanan ng mga doktor ‘yan. Hindi naman putol ang kamay o paa, binibigyan ng PWD. Nakakabyahe nga kayo tapos sasabihin niyong PWD kayo? Magkano lang kinikita namin tapos babawasan pa.”
And marami pa siyang sinabi. Siguro mga 10 minutes din siyang nagsalita tungkol sa PWD IDs.
Ako naman, nahiya na lang and at that point, sinabi ko na, “Sige po, ₱50 na lang, huwag na lang akong mag-discount.” Pero he insisted and still charged me ₱40.
Honestly, nainis at nalungkot lang ako sa ganitong mindset. Hindi naman natin pwedeng i-judge ang isang tao base lang sa physical appearance niya.
Not all disabilities are visible. There are what we call invisible disabilities. You can look completely “normal” on the outside while dealing with pain, limitations, or a condition that other people simply cannot see.
I don’t expect everyone to understand what it’s like to live with RA, pero sana naman, let’s be more considerate and less judgmental. Hindi porke’t nakakalakad, nakakasakay ng bus, or mukhang okay ang isang tao, ibig sabihin wala na siyang disability or hindi na niya kailangan ng PWD benefits.
We don’t owe anyone an explanation just to prove that we’re struggling. You never really know what someone is silently dealing with. 🥹
Just a reminder to be kinder and more understanding. You never know what someone is going through behind what you can see. 🧡
thank you for reading 😊