---------------------UNJUST SOCIETY------------------
~ I'm in the state of deep melancholy~
~Yesterday, we went to a place somewhere in Alabang.
This place was called "Elcee-Ghagez"
~ a 16 hectare land donated by a childless couple for people who were abandoned by their family
due to their unwanted disease.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- - - - - - - - - - mental disability - - - - - - -
It's sad to know that these people were disapproved by their families. They're just simple human beings who needs LOVE and ACCEPTANCE. They're humans too and they have the rights to be respected and be welcomed to our society. Yes, they are different but it doesn't mean that we should treat them as an outcast.
- - - - - - - - - - - MY STORY - - - - - - - - -
When we arrived, there are lots of grandmothers who were sitting at the corner and happily talking while the sun is shining brightly. They saw and approached us. At first, I thought that we were in "Home for the- Aged People" but when I mingle with them, it's totally different. They act like innocent children who are excited to be praised by their teacher.
One old lady kept on pointing her head and I cannot get what she's trying to say. Soon, I realized that she's asking for my hairpin. My classmate gave granny her own hairpin and when the time for us to depart, she asked the old lady to return it but then, the old lady gave her a comb~ it means "granny was asking her to comb her hair and put the hairpin on."
For us to leave without hurting them, I hugged the grannies and told them to take care of themselves. An old lady asked me "when are we going back?" I said: " Maybe next time." I don't want to hurt their feelings so I lied. Then we went out.
My intuition was right. They are not just simple old grannies. They have a mental disability. They are mentally retarded and it's hard to know that they were abandoned by their family.
We had an orientation about that place. I found out that people who lived in that specific place were mostly mental disabled. Their patient varies from 4-74 years old. In our orientation, I found out that these people were rejected by their family and the society. There are patients who were caught from the streets, mongoloids, people who have cerebral palsy, special child, and other people who are excluded by our society.
These individuals are very sensitive and prone to have tantrums. They are hard to control and were classified to different sections. The upper. lower, and the severe cases. The Upper class can be trained efficiently while the lower class needs to be guided thoroughly. People who had Cerebral Palsy wore a wheelchair. The best way to approach and help these people is to let them feel that they are ACCEPTED. Because of their sensitivity, they can know whether you like or disgusted with them.
The first cottage we went in is full of people who had mental disability. At the corner, lies a person with a Hydrocephalus. His head is so big and he doesn't talk, he just looks at you. It's really a painful scene to see children suffering. One child was really cute but then his right hand was tied with the stretcher and it's really a heart-breaking scene. I touched his face and he just smiled at me. A gentle smile that makes me wonder"Even a child who looks innocent was abandoned by his family?" Another child was in a crib and she kept on crawling, looking, and yelling to people who just came inside. There were patients who were in a wheelchair, hands tightly gripped together, eyes were abnormally structured, and looked so helpless.
Inside that room, I felt so weak. I want to scream and cry. i want to help them yet I all I can do is let them feel that I appreciate them. It's so hard~ I want to cry but then if I do that, maybe they would feel that I pity them and they would be hurt and I don't want that to happen. All I did was approach them and smile as best as I can.
We also went to the SPED section (special child) . They are too friendly and in fact they were glad to see us. One student asked us to write a message in her notebook and I left a note for her. I felt great doing it. After that, we went inside the bus and went home.
Interacting with these individuals was a great opportunity. I've learned a lot and I can say that I am very lucky. These people should be well taken care and give importance. We should not discriminate them. In fact, we should not be afraid of them. They are shallow people indeed. But then, even if they are, THEY'RE NOT USELESS. Most of these people have great talents too. Some were gifted in the ability of sports and arts. Lastly, let us remind ourselves that THEY DIDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. It's God's will.
Instead of rejecting them, let us make them feel that they belong in our society, that they are accepted, and need to be respected. Lastly, remind ourselves that even though they hurt us and they act strangely, don't misjudged their behavior. Since in the first place, THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING. So please, let us UNDERSTAND them.
~Yesterday, we went to a place somewhere in Alabang.
This place was called "Elcee-Ghagez"
~ a 16 hectare land donated by a childless couple for people who were abandoned by their family
due to their unwanted disease.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- - - - - - - - - - mental disability - - - - - - -
It's sad to know that these people were disapproved by their families. They're just simple human beings who needs LOVE and ACCEPTANCE. They're humans too and they have the rights to be respected and be welcomed to our society. Yes, they are different but it doesn't mean that we should treat them as an outcast.
- - - - - - - - - - - MY STORY - - - - - - - - -
When we arrived, there are lots of grandmothers who were sitting at the corner and happily talking while the sun is shining brightly. They saw and approached us. At first, I thought that we were in "Home for the- Aged People" but when I mingle with them, it's totally different. They act like innocent children who are excited to be praised by their teacher.
One old lady kept on pointing her head and I cannot get what she's trying to say. Soon, I realized that she's asking for my hairpin. My classmate gave granny her own hairpin and when the time for us to depart, she asked the old lady to return it but then, the old lady gave her a comb~ it means "granny was asking her to comb her hair and put the hairpin on."
For us to leave without hurting them, I hugged the grannies and told them to take care of themselves. An old lady asked me "when are we going back?" I said: " Maybe next time." I don't want to hurt their feelings so I lied. Then we went out.
My intuition was right. They are not just simple old grannies. They have a mental disability. They are mentally retarded and it's hard to know that they were abandoned by their family.
We had an orientation about that place. I found out that people who lived in that specific place were mostly mental disabled. Their patient varies from 4-74 years old. In our orientation, I found out that these people were rejected by their family and the society. There are patients who were caught from the streets, mongoloids, people who have cerebral palsy, special child, and other people who are excluded by our society.
These individuals are very sensitive and prone to have tantrums. They are hard to control and were classified to different sections. The upper. lower, and the severe cases. The Upper class can be trained efficiently while the lower class needs to be guided thoroughly. People who had Cerebral Palsy wore a wheelchair. The best way to approach and help these people is to let them feel that they are ACCEPTED. Because of their sensitivity, they can know whether you like or disgusted with them.
The first cottage we went in is full of people who had mental disability. At the corner, lies a person with a Hydrocephalus. His head is so big and he doesn't talk, he just looks at you. It's really a painful scene to see children suffering. One child was really cute but then his right hand was tied with the stretcher and it's really a heart-breaking scene. I touched his face and he just smiled at me. A gentle smile that makes me wonder"Even a child who looks innocent was abandoned by his family?" Another child was in a crib and she kept on crawling, looking, and yelling to people who just came inside. There were patients who were in a wheelchair, hands tightly gripped together, eyes were abnormally structured, and looked so helpless.
Inside that room, I felt so weak. I want to scream and cry. i want to help them yet I all I can do is let them feel that I appreciate them. It's so hard~ I want to cry but then if I do that, maybe they would feel that I pity them and they would be hurt and I don't want that to happen. All I did was approach them and smile as best as I can.
We also went to the SPED section (special child) . They are too friendly and in fact they were glad to see us. One student asked us to write a message in her notebook and I left a note for her. I felt great doing it. After that, we went inside the bus and went home.
Interacting with these individuals was a great opportunity. I've learned a lot and I can say that I am very lucky. These people should be well taken care and give importance. We should not discriminate them. In fact, we should not be afraid of them. They are shallow people indeed. But then, even if they are, THEY'RE NOT USELESS. Most of these people have great talents too. Some were gifted in the ability of sports and arts. Lastly, let us remind ourselves that THEY DIDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. It's God's will.
Instead of rejecting them, let us make them feel that they belong in our society, that they are accepted, and need to be respected. Lastly, remind ourselves that even though they hurt us and they act strangely, don't misjudged their behavior. Since in the first place, THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING. So please, let us UNDERSTAND them.