I saw the photo below on my newsfeed and it reminded me of the time back in Gaisano Legazpi Mall.

I had my back pack with me, I was tired from searching for an item, and I had to go somewhere. It was almost 1pm… When I got to the area where the elevator was (right beside the stairs — please take note of this), there were groups of students hanging out waiting for the elevator. Still, knowing my rights, I waited all sweaty and with tired legs. I stood by the wall to support me as I stand. knowing that even with my crutches, I might slip because I was just tired.

I was already standing near the elevator door to make it easier for me to go in — then lo and behold — when the elevator door opened, the group swarmed in that even the operator was shocked. She looked back and forth from me to the kids who were just staring at me. There was no more leg room. I could sense she wanted to help but, the kids refused to budge (please take note most of them were male). One male student who was also waiting outside the elevator made that gesture to not go in and told his friends to just take the stairs. That broke the long silence of waiting who will give me room. Unfortunately, none of the students inside budged and just starred at me blankly, and I just smiled at the operator and said, I’ll wait here….

I waited with the male student who spoke up and his classmates. Soon, more students came and I was a bit hesitant I was getting a ride. I guess the group of student felt it that when the elevator door opened, the male student once again encouraged his group to take the stairs and this time frankly stating they can walk properly and there were many students waiting to get a ride. The operator, on the other hand, stopped the other students from rushing in and told them I was waiting earlier and that I had to go in first… and I did. Because of the male student’s statement, there were some students who also took the stairs instead of the elevator, making the number that went in lesser.

I have had this problem many times and I don’t get it really. There’s a sign and all that the elderly, PWDs, and pregnant women are to be prioritized. I don’t blame the operator — honestly, sometimes they are left in a situation where the people who took the elevator are the problem. Good thing I didn’t have this problem at Ayala Malls Legazpi.

It’s a sad fact how most students nowadays are unable to understand what priority and respect mean. There are only a few who do and I commend schools like Aquinas University and the student’s parents for it (I shared a table with a High School student once — Hubert — who shared his table (he offered) instead of me joining a larger group.

I do pray people here in the province, especially here in Sorsogon, will eventually get used to the fact that there are PWDs who live independently — do their own grocery, pay their own bills, work, and even go to the mall and shop on their own — and facilities like elevators are a great help to help us cope up — and I hope kids are also taught how to act accordingly…