Pinanigan ng broadcaster na si Karen Davila at ng TV personality na si Vickie Rushton ang isang ina na may anak na may autism na nakaranas umano ng diskriminasyon sa isang sikat na resort and spa sa Cebu.
Nakaka-relate kasi sina Karen at Vickie sa inang may anak na may special needs.
Ang anak ni Karen, 50, na si David Sta. Ana, 17, ay may autism din.
Ang nakatatandang kapatid ni Vickie, 28, na si Toto Kian, 31, ay may Down syndrome.
Nangyari ang insidente sa Plantation Bay Resort and Spa sa Mactan, Cebu, kamakailan.
Sinita ng lifeguard ang bata habang naliligo dahil hindi nito mapigilang mapasigaw dahil sa sobrang tuwa.
Naglabas ng review sa social media ang ina tungkol sa resort, at inilahad ang masamang karanasan nilang mag-ina.
Kasunod nito, nag-isyu ng statement si Manny Gonzalez, shareholder ng Plantation Bay resort.
Ibinunton ni Gonzalez ang sisi sa ina. Kinuwestiyon niya ang pagiging responsableng ina ng nagreklamo, at sinabi ring walang autism ang anak nito.
Kumalat sa social media ang liham ni Gonzalez.
Matinding batikos ang inabot niya dahil sa aroganteng pahayag at kawalan ng simpatiya sa ina at anak nitong may autism.
Maging ang Autism Society of the Philippines, isang non-profit organization na isinusulong ang kapakanan ng mga taong may kondisyong autism, ay nabahala sa karanasan nina maipages.
December 8, naglabas ng apology letter si Gonzalez upang akuing nagkamali siya at dahil sa “my poor handling of a guest complaint a couple of days ago.”
KAREN SLAMS EXECUTIVE OF LUXURY RESORT
Kaugnay ng naunang pahayag ni Gonzalez, nagpakawala ng maaanghang na salita si Karen sa Twitter.
Pahayag ng ABS-CBN News anchor (published as is): “Shame on you Manny Gonzales of Plantation Bay for trying to school a parent of a child with autism on what the symptoms are.
“You are a disgrace to the tourism industry.
“Your words & heartlessness do not belong in the world today that seeks to include all persons with needs.
Nag-tweet si Karen nitong Miyerkules ng umaga, December 9.
Nagpakita siya ng suporta sa inang may anak na may autism. Alam daw ni Karen ang pakiramdam ng may anak na may ganoong kondisyon.
“I stand up for all parents of kids with special needs.
“I understand our responsibility to manage the behaviour of our children, no parent deserves to be treated in this manner.
“A non apology apology just hurts even more.”
Ni-repost ni Karen ang apology letter ni Gonzalez.
Tweet ni Karen: “The original response of Manny Gonzalez on Trip Advisor to the parent of a child with autism was taken down. This is his apology letter to his first response.”
VICKIE RUSHTON: “I CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL BAD”
Nagkalat naman ang pahayag ni Vickie tungkol sa isyu sa social media accounts ng beauty pageant enthusiasts.
Si Vickie ay kandidata sa Binibining Pilipinas 2020 pageant. Isa rin siyang Down syndrome advocate.
Ni-repost din ni Vickie ang suporta ng netizens sa kanya, kalakip ang statement niya hinggil sa isyu.
Proud si Vickie sa pagiging vocal tungkol sa kapatid na may Down syndrome.
Ani Vickie, maging siya ay na-bully dahil sa kondisyon ng kapatid.
“Last night, I’ve read what happened to Fin and his mom when all they wanted was a happy getaway," simula ni Vickie.
“I can’t help but to feel bad because as a sister to Toto Kian, I have witnessed how other people can be mean at times before.
“I was even bullied for having a brother with Down Syndrome.”
Nanawagan si Vickie ng pang-unawa pagdating sa mga taong katulad ng kanyang kapatid at ni Fin.
“You know what, they have simple joys and their heart is so pure that no matter how bad others may treat them, they still see the goodness in people.
“I want to advocate for them because these children depend on us to voice out what they can’t say and to fight for them.
“Let us educate ourselves because there is so much we can do for them and it’s as simple as embracing them and being kind to them.”
Ngayong Huwebes, December 10, napaulat na nakipag-ugnayan na ang Department of Tourism sa Department of Justice upang imbestigahan ang “poor handling” ng Plantatio Bay sa karanasan ni maipages at anak niyang may special needs.
Isa ka bang showbiz fan na laging updated at naghahanap ng latest chika? Share what you know. Join here! https://bit.ly/PEPChika