PWD shows how disability has not stopped her advocacy, street protests
Josephine Lucero, 56, a person with disability (PWD) has been fighting for workers' rights since the 1980s. She is an amputee and has been fighting for the causes she believes in while hobbling on crutches with other street protesters.
Lucero and her daughter joined groups of protesters during Monday's last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte in Quezon City.
“Ako talaga sanay na sa ako sa ganito. Yung anak ko ngayon parang ayaw niya, kasi alam mo ba yung EDSA revolution before? Kami ang nandun sa harap. Yes, nandun ako sa history, kaya sa mga ganito parang gustong gusto ko ('m really used to this. My daughter is hesitant, I think she does not like doing this. You know the EDSA revolution before? We were there in front. Yes, I was there, a part of history. And so when the call comes, I know that I have to be part of it),” she said.
Lucero was head supervisor at Tahanang Walang Hagdan in Cainta, Rizal.
“Head supervisor ako don sa showroom sa Cainta, bale 1984 or 1985 hanggang 1989-1994, pero dirediretso ang work ko dun dahil dinala kami sa abroad para lang sa mga mangagagawa namin dahil kailangan din naming kumita (I was head supervisor in a showroom in Cainta, from 1984 or 1985 to 1989-1994, then we were sent abroad for our workers there because we also need to earn money),” she said.
Tahanang Walang Hagdan is a non-government organization that provides livelihood and shelter to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
“Since then naman, maganda yung work habit namin kahit may kapansanan kami, naki-keep up namin yung kabuhayan din namin pero ngayon, yung isda na lang. Kalahating (kilong) galunggong P120. Paano mo mapagkakasya yun sa anim ang anak? (We have a good work habit even though we have disabilities. We can provide for our needs. But now, half a kilo of fish is P120. How can you feed six children with that?),” she said.
Lucero has been joining street protests to call on the government to give PWDs financial and medical assistance.
“Di ko alam kung paano, lalo yung mga PWD namin, ang panawagan ko lang kay President Duterte sana pakinggan niya kaming mga may kapansanan at bigyan niya kami ng allowance tulad ng senior citizens (I don't know how our PWDs can make their representations but as for me, my only call to President Duterte is for him to listen to us PWDs and give us an allowance like the one given to senior citizens),” she added.