you are disABLED
colored icing. He looked anxious, like a baby whose security blanket has been pulled away.
“Hello sir. I am Cookie and this is my cousin Vanessa,”
I said with a smile; pointing to my short, energetic cousin who was signing to the man across us, interpreting what I had just said.
“We’re here to get to know you and your life as a cook for this established restaurant-bake shop if that’s okay with you.”
Okay, he nodded with his head.
"So, how long have you been here sir?”
Since the time Casa Feliz opened, he signed.
“Do you like working here?”
Yes, it is fun to work here because I am surrounded with friends and I can do what I love, cooking.
“Have you always taken a passion for cooking?”
Yes, you can say that I have always looked at cooking with passion. When I was younger, I would make mud cakes and I would pretend to sell them to my playmates. It was much simpler then, he signed; a glint of nostalgia shining through his eyes.
“Simpler how, sir?”
Before, I thought that as long as I am a good cook, I can work in any restaurant of my heart’s desire. Sadly, in the real world, it is quite hard to be employed if you have a disability like mine. Your employers will consider how you will be able to
“So, how long have you been here sir?”
Since the time Casa Feliz opened, he signed.
“Do you like working here?”
Yes, it is fun to work here because I am surrounded with friends and I can do what I love, cooking.
“Have you always taken a passion for cooking?”
Yes, you can say that I have always looked at cooking with passion. When I was younger, I
"He chose to whole-heartedly accept that God has gifted him with hands that were made to cook that God chose to not give him the ability to talk in order to focus on creating edible masterpieces with his hands."
“It’s not the disability that defines you; it’s how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with.” – Jim Abbot
If anyone can relate to what Jim Abbot said, then truly it would be the mute staff from Casa Feliz – a little bake shop/restaurant tucked inside the quiet streets of Marikina City. I have visited this quaint place a lot over the years and I have to say, seeing and interacting with their mute employees has always amazed me. First, it is the only place I know of that employs PWD’s (Persons with Disability). And second, I have always wondered how they were able to live a normal life in a society wherein disabilities are seen as hindrances in fulfilling a task. This is why the moment my group mates and I decided that we will be starring Casa Feliz in our magazine; I jumped at the chance to finally have a heart-to-heart talk with one of the employees who have amazed me so much.
Seated on the antique gold-rusted metal chair, I was finally face-to-face with a tall, lanky man donning a starched white chef’s hat and a white apron splattered with confectioners sugar and different
by Isabella Cueto
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Oculto/September 2013