‘Pinoy Big Brother’ alum Wendy Valdez laments lack of ‘PWD-friendly’ public areas

Wendy Valdez. Image: Facebook/Wendy Valdez

“Pinoy Big Brother” alum Wendy Valdez expressed her dismay at the lack of proper spaces and common courtesy towards persons with disabilities (or PWDs) while recalling an unfortunate encounter involving her son Emmanuel Seth.

Valdez’s firstborn child, Emmanuel Seth, is diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition where the spine and spinal cord are not formed properly. This would make him rely on a wheelchair to help him move properly.

On her Facebook, The former model also called out a mall in Pasay after encountering elevator attendants and mallgoers who didn’t practice “proper protocol.”

“‘Yung malalaki ang katawan, at kumpleto ang mga paa, pero hindi makapag-pasakay ng PWD, o babies na nakastroller sa elevator, kasi tamad na tamad silang gamitin ang mga paa,” she wrote. “Kaya kayo may elevator staff, to inform na ang elevators ay para sa seniors, PWDs, babies, grocery carts, pregnants.”

(To those with bigger bodies and complete feet, but couldn’t practice proper protocol towards PWDs and babies in a stroller at an elevator because they’re too lazy to use their feet. This is why you have elevator staff to inform that elevators are built for seniors, PWDs, babies, grocery carts,and pregnant women.)

She reminded the elevator staff not to “enable” the “inconsiderate and selfish” behavior of its mallgoers with “abled bodies.”

“Sira pa escalator, so adjust kami buhatin nalang ang kids and wheelchairs. Nakakahiya kasi sa mga malalakas na tao na walang consideration,” she said. “Sa mga taong malalaki naman ang binti, ilakad niyo yan. Sayang at binigyan kayo ng legs. Ayaw nyo gamitin. Kung ayaw nyo maglakad, higa nalang kayo sa bahay. Burn nyo mga taba nyo wag nyo ipunin.”

(The escalator was broken so we had to carry our kids and their wheelchairs. We’re embarrassed for those who are strong but have no consideration. To those with big thighs, just walk them. Such a waste of legs. You don’t want to use them. If you don’t want to walk, just lie down at home. Burn your fats. Don’t store them.)

“Our country is so PWD unfriendly. Haay… kaya mga PWD satin di nalang pinalalabas eh (Our country is so PWD unfriendly. This is why they should let our PWDs leave the country),” she said.

Valdez joined season two of “Pinoy Big Brother” and ended up as the third big placer in 2007. She was married to fellow housemate Bruce Quebral in 2009 until their annulment was granted in 2012.

She tied the knot again with her non-showbiz husband Normann Garcia, and they have two children together.

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