Malling in a wheelchair

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Taking a cue from LadyCess, I tried going malling in a wheelchair. H & I needed to run some chores, and I was just extra-tired that day but wanted to get out of the house. And so, a wheelchair seemed to be an efficient idea.

Handicapped SignSo there we were at the SM Mall of Asia, renting a wheelchair for an unlimited time. You can rent strollers and wheelchairs by the hour too. We paid P180 for the “ride-all-you-can” rate. All he had to do was leave a valid ID, pay the fee and off we went.

Oh, the stares, the stares. I don’t like attention, and boy, I didn’t realize a wheelchair attracted attention fiercely. Maybe mallers aren’t used to seeing people without grey hair in wheelchairs. It made me uncomfortable. Some were really staring to the point of rudeness. C’mon people, just because a pregnant woman’s in a wheelchair doesn’t make me a circus freak. I know I shouldn’t have let it bug me, but it did made me think — do I stare at people in wheelchairs too?

There ARE good people. H did the pushing, but not all doors in the mall are wheelchair-friendly. When he needed an extra hand to open the doors, a helpful maller would hold the door open for us. Thank you kind people! Bless them, bless them.

We got our chores done and chilled out together! Usually, I’d sit in a bookstore or in a chapel when I’d get tired, and H would continue walking around the mall. This time, we did everything together. We were able to pay the bills, get some documents photocopied, and got some quiet time gazing at the calming Manila Bay.

Two hours in a wheelchair was enough. While H wasn’t tired from pushing, I was tired from sitting. The two hours helped me rest AND get chores done, but my lower back began hurting. I knew I needed to walk it out. It was time to go anyway, and so we walked slowly towards the parking lot together.

Would I do it again? Sure! I still need to get some shopping done, and if I find myself feeling too heavy to walk but not too tired to stay at home, I’d consider using a wheelchair again. It was an efficient use of malling time — you get your to-do list done without straining yourself.

Thanks again to LadyCess for the idea!

Image credit: Sam Felder

25 Comments on Malling in a wheelchair

  1. Jenny
    June 23, 2009 at 10:33 am (15 years ago)

    My OB also went around the mall in a wheelchair when she was preggy. She had triplets kasi, so she was really huge and hard a hard time getting around. :)

    Jennys last blog post..Birthday Party Souvenirs

    Oh wow triplets?! :) Is your OB’s name Dr. Mae by any chance? 😛

    Reply
  2. lady cess
    June 23, 2009 at 10:37 am (15 years ago)

    the stares could be quite uncomfortable, but there were a lot of very nice people too. salamat sa inyo! me naman, I used the chair for 3 hours.
    yes, the greatest part was you did things together with your hubby. we gotta admit, ang sarap ng feeling, diba, parang you love each other more after the wheelchair experience :)

    lady cesss last blog post..My 8-month Old Belly

    Bonding experience, yes! And your kids enjoyed also diba? :)

    Reply
  3. bursky
    June 23, 2009 at 3:41 pm (15 years ago)

    i wish you had the chance to tease H, “come on honey… push! push! push!” lol

    burskys last blog post..my inheritance

    LOL! Oo nga noooooo. Next time! 😀

    Reply
  4. kreez
    June 23, 2009 at 4:43 pm (15 years ago)

    I can imagine those people staring, and some people can be very rude too, but that was one efficient way of doing chores and bonding with H.

    kreezs last blog post..What’s in a name

    The stares really made me uncomfortable!! But yes at least we got our chores done together!

    Reply
  5. rowie
    June 23, 2009 at 5:09 pm (15 years ago)

    Shucks lapit na, Tones! 😀

    rowies last blog post..Parenting Seminars

    Bilis ‘no?! Yikes!

    Reply
  6. Anne
    June 23, 2009 at 5:31 pm (15 years ago)

    OMG! I could just imagine the stares!!!!
    they can be very RUDE and judgmental, why is that???

    I cannot believe your so close, hang in there hun!!!

    We’re here for you!

    Annes last blog post..Monday Matters #2: Comment interaction game

    Thanks Anne!!! *hugs* Yeah the stares were pretty ew. I learned to ignore them later on, but by that time I was done with wheelchair mode already!

    Reply
  7. Rach (Heart of Rachel)
    June 24, 2009 at 12:13 am (15 years ago)

    I understand how uncomfortable the stares were at the beginning.

    I think that going around the mall in a wheelchair while you’re pregnant is a great idea. I wish I had thought of that when I was pregnant.

    Rach (Heart of Rachel)s last blog post..Yohanism #33 – Yohan in Prep

    It was fun in a way and pretty efficient!

    Reply
  8. kg
    June 25, 2009 at 12:09 pm (15 years ago)

    i remember an unfortunate incident in SM MOA once, when were there with my mother [who has lung CA]. we used wheelchair then because she was weak to walk. we were waiting for the elevator, lining up properly and fortunate that other people gave way to let us in line first. while waiting, this very insensitive woman with around 2 to 3 companions cut in front of us! parang walang nakita! and to think that there was a very big sign that says give way to people in wheelchair! she also had this very large stroller that contained shopping bags! no baby! naku! muntik na ako napaaway! at hindi nadala sa tingin at parinig! hay! i can’t believe that some people can be so insensitive!

    hala…kumulo dugo ko sa pag-alala! he! he! anyway, MOA is a great place for people in wheelchair! hope you enjoyed your malling! :)

    kgs last blog post..What I love about Tagaytay

    ARGH! Nakakainis naman yan! I can’t believe people can be that insensitive!

    Reply
  9. Monina
    June 30, 2009 at 2:55 am (15 years ago)

    I should’ve tried this when I was pregnant! Sounds like fun!:)

    And Toni, thank you for leaving a comment on Joshua’s 2nd bday. For some reason, I couldn’t post a comment back. When your little one comes along, you’ll feel like you do want to hold on to time… because it really does fly.:) Take care!

    I will do what you do, document document document! :)

    Reply
  10. smarie
    July 5, 2009 at 7:09 pm (15 years ago)

    it helps a lot, especially with the parking! lol! you can park in the area especially for this xD sabay tayo and walking when you get away from the security guard’s view.

    and when you get tired, you can just sit down at any time :) or in my case, hubby sometimes sits down when he’s tired of walking na also. lol

    altho i had several people come near me and ask what’s wrong with me… huh? lol! mga tsismosos

    smaries last blog post..Flowers (and cactus, hehe)

    Haha yes! We’ve done that once. The security guard permitted us to park in the handicapped space because I couldn’t walk so far. That was the day I needed a wheelchair.

    Oh my! Those chismosos were so… chismosos! Ano ba yon! Really asking you pa what’s wrong with you?! It’s not like it’s their business!

    Reply
  11. Kimberley
    December 3, 2009 at 9:53 pm (14 years ago)

    I don’t understand why people stare so much when they see a wheelchair. I guess because it’s something different and they are not use to seeing people use them as much as walking. Since my spinal cord injury I’ve had people just sit or stand next to me and stare for the longest time. It can get pretty annoying, but after awhile you learn to just get use to it.
    .-= Kimberley´s last blog ..Another Proud Dukie Moment =-.

    I’ve learned from my experience to be conscious of how I behave when I’m around those in wheelchairs.

    Reply
  12. wheelchair
    March 8, 2011 at 3:19 pm (13 years ago)

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    March 9, 2011 at 12:42 pm (13 years ago)

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    March 15, 2011 at 3:36 pm (13 years ago)

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  15. dai
    July 6, 2011 at 4:51 pm (13 years ago)

    hey. i’m now on my 7th month and finding it hard to walk or stand up for too long because i also have slipped discs. my family is planning on going to the science discovery center. from what store can i rent a wheelchair from in MOA? thank you so much for this helpful blog entry. cheers!

    Reply
  16. Guard Card Requirements
    September 26, 2011 at 7:04 am (13 years ago)

    Thank god the security guard permitted you to park in the handicapped space…

    Reply
  17. Roan
    June 26, 2017 at 2:00 pm (7 years ago)

    Hi! Do they still have these? Wheelchair fo rent in moa?

    Reply
    • Nicole Ann
      June 29, 2017 at 12:20 pm (7 years ago)

      Oh yes they do. If ever your gonna go and rent in there, please if you have time could you email me at sancheznicole59723@gmail.com. I would like to know your experience, your first hand use with the wheelchair could help my thesis. Thank you so much.

      And by the way they need a valid ID for renting and there is also a discount for senior citizens. Just show a Senior card.

      Reply
  18. Notional
    April 19, 2018 at 3:00 pm (6 years ago)

    I can imagine those people staring, and some people can be very rude too, but that was one efficient way of doing chores and bonding with H.

    Reply
  19. Robert Chase
    August 30, 2018 at 4:56 pm (6 years ago)

    I appreciate your work and you trying to give me better articles. Excellent explanation all point like an expert writer.Amazing, helpful information a lot of thanks. Great collection of articles to maintain the wheelchair.I read full post very carefully that gives me extra energy to survive my disabled life as a new human .Please post such an awesome post day by day.

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  20. chris
    September 10, 2018 at 7:03 pm (6 years ago)

    People can be so judgmental. You just have to learn to rise above it all!

    Reply
  21. Only Mobility
    September 16, 2018 at 3:33 pm (6 years ago)

    Informative and interesting Blog! Beautifully written, as usual, I like the post. Thank you so much for nice sharing with us. Keep posting!

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