Dear Cebu Pacific,
I could not believe how ignorant and racist your staff were on your December 23, 2009 flight for them to disallow a special child along with her mother to board your airplane bound for Manila from HongKong because they mistook the child with autism as someone who is mentally ill. I think you should suspend those staff and put them back to school or better yet let me talk to them and teach them about autism. Or better, get all your staff attend a two-day Introduction to Autism seminar by CARD so they can understand better and not make the same mistake again regarding children with special needs.
Your apology is not accepted. With the way you handled the situation delaying the flight for an hour and embarrassing the parent. That act alone is a violation of Republic Act 9442 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Person which was signed last April 30, 2009 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The law which prohibits verbal or non-verbal ridicule and vilification against persons with disability.
If you don’t know, my daughter has autism and we were in your airplanes last year, December 25, 2008 round trip to HongKong. It was surprisingly a pleasant experience for me and my daughter, I even wrote a post about the experience in this blog because it was her first airplane trip.
This incident is a surprise for me, to actually believe Cebu Pacific is a family friendly airline. I even recommended it to my friends who has kids with autism.
If the child is not disruptive and the parents can control them, I don’t see any reason to disallow two special children on board the same flight in your airplane. During our trip back to Manila my child and I was aboard a trip with like 10 other kids, some of them are young fussy ones, crying almost half the trip, but since most of the passengers were parents, grandparents and kids, we understood that the child is probably feeling discomfort because of the air pressure.
To the parent of that child go for the suit, we will support you. Let’s teach ignorant people that their insensitive ways can not be tolerated.
To Cebu Pacific, mental retardation and autism are two different things. Learn that and learn that well!
To the airline industry I think its time to have an airline that caters to people with disability.
Your sincerely,
Earth Rullan
18 Comments
I’m back here after a long while. I just dropped by to check on a contest here that was linked in another blog when I noticed this post and read it. It’s so sad to know that this happened. Though I don’t have any bad experience yet with Cebu Pacific, I believe that what CP staff was unacceptable. Mejo na-alarm din ako, pati ba mentally ill di din pwede mag-board ng plane? E what if magpapagamot siya abroad? Dami ko palang di alam na issues on boarding planes. Thanks for this informative and sympathetic post, Earth! 🙂
.-= Beth´s last blog ..It’s Sunday’s 6th Birthday! =-.
I blogged about this incident as well.
http://graysey.blogspot.com/2010/01/in-hot-water-cebu-pacifics.html
My cousin is also a special child and what Cebu Pacific did was completely unacceptable. They should know well that being mentally ill and developmentally delayed are entirely two different things.
.-= graysey´s last blog ..In Hot Water: Cebu Pacific’s Discrimination of Special Children =-.
I support the child’s Mom for filing a case against Cebu Pacific’s ignorant and insensitive staff.
Good Job Earthling! I was’nt surprised at all..Cebu Pacific? low price tickets means low profile! bad service! what can you expect? i am not even sure if they have an insurance. I am so ashamed reading that kind of incident, i feel you for that Earthling..God prevails good deeds.. take care and your baby..muah!
it is really surprising that until now, even at the time of internet and advance information technology through different sources, people are still ignorant on these issues. it is understandable for ordinary rank and file employees who are minimum wage earners but for people are employed to international airlines, they go through rigorous trainings and seminars. this is definitely an upper management fault and shortcoming. i join calls for Cebu Pacific Management to wake up!
.-= lemuel´s last blog ..Plans for the year 2010 =-.