A deaf content creator couldn’t hide his happiness when he met a fellow PWD working in a fast-food chain in Laguna last April.
Gen Z Archie Drilon recalled their interaction and his reaction that was caught on cam when he first met Reymond Bacarro Abonitalla, a service crew.
“Na-meet ko si Reymond. After that, nung nakita ko siya, alam ko agad na hindi siya hearing person. Kasi I noticed that he is using body language. I saw the nameplate na siya ay PWD. So, kaya nung nagkatinginan kami, sabi [ko], ‘Deaf ka ba?’ Tapos sabi niya, ‘oo,’” Archie said in an interview with The Philippine STAR.
Since he was enthusiastic to get to know him better, Archie approached Reymond.
“Hindi ko siya kilala. Sabi ko, ‘Teka lang, deaf ba ‘to?’ Parang hindi naman siya sumisenyas. So, in-ignore ko lang siya, hindi ako tumingin kasi nagta-trabaho ako eh. Finally, sabi ni Archie, ‘Uy, halika dito. Ang cute mo naman. Halika dito, deaf ka ba?’ Ino-observe niya pala ako for a long time,” Reymond said.
For Raymond’s part, he was also happy to meet a fellow PWD.
Adding, “Sabi ‘I am really inspired by your story kasi you are brave enough to do this. I hope this will be a standard for everyone.’ I was very, very happy seeing him. Meeting another one [deaf] I hope he can also be successful like me, finding a job.”
According to Archie, it was very unusual to see a PWD crew in their province that’s why he was happy to meet Reymond.
It was also a good reminder for him as at that time, he was looking for a job after graduating from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde with a degree in Visual Arts.
“Honestly, I was about to give up na rin. Kasi in Manila, nakita ko marami naman mga company na maraming deaf na nagwo-work,” he said.
“Nakikita ko ‘yung changes dito sa Los Baños. Now, job opportunities have been laid out and more people have more awareness. It’s the same thing like in Manila. It’s really wonderful. So, I hope that it will also be like a special place like in Manila,” he added.
Reymond was also thankful for the companies that accepted him despite his disabilities.
“So, nakita nila na I have this potential. So, they keep on inspiring me to do my best and they helped me a lot. Now, as a deaf, I realized I actually can and they take care of me. Sometimes, there are some miscommunications because I couldn’t really hear,” he said.
“My parents take care, they help me become independent. Purpose ko naman talaga is to support my family and to save some money because I know I don’t want to become a problem for them and I know I can be discriminated but I still feel happy,” Reymond added.
Wendy, Reymond’s sister, admitted that their mother was worried about her brother’s future and that they were very grateful for people who became instruments to provide a better life for PWDs.
“‘Yung mama namin, ‘yung pinaka-worry niya talaga is, may future ba ‘yung anak ko? Kasi deaf eh. And doon sa amin po kasi, walang opportunities for them. So, nung dumating talaga kami sa Los Baños, nakita namin na, ‘Uy, may mga companies pala na nagre-recognize ‘yung mga kagaya nila.’ Sobrang grateful kami. In-embrace ‘yung kanyang ‘deaf-erence’ eh,” she noted.
“For the hearing community, maraming salamat din. And I know that some of you really appreciate the deaf,” Reymond added.
Reymond and Archie have a message to fellow PWDs as they want to continue empowering them to keep fighting in life.
“I don’t want them to be lost, depressed or feeling left out in the society. I hope that they will never give up and I hope more advocacies, more stories like this, volunteering or some stories that would make an inclusive company or inclusive environment for the deaf community so they can learn as well. And I hope that they can continue learning about the deaf community so they can be included,” Archie said.
“Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry too much. Those discrimination that we have been experiencing since we were a child, mapapagtapusan natin ito, ma-overcome natin. There might be some people who wouldn’t really understand what we are. But if we keep on peering or if we keep on being visible to society, then they can recognize who we are. For the deaf, they can smile. Huwag matakot. Huwag kayong laging galit. It’s always important to have a good heart and continue sharing love and serving. But, kahit mag-isa lang kayo, just keep on going. Like Archie did,” Reymond stressed.
