Team DailyPedia
Yesterday, an uploaded video by Facebook netizen has been making its round throughout social media. Taken last August 27, 2014, the video shows how a foreigner with his dog is trying to get inside Robinsons Place Dumaguete but the guard would not allow them to.
According to a report from worldfactsnews.com, the man’s name is Mark Cohen, Director of The International Institute for Assistance Dog Training. And his dog is not like any ordinary dog. “Happy”, as Cohen calls it, is a certified Assistance Dog.
Cohen is a medically-certified Person with Disability, having a neurological disorder which requires him to always be with his Assistance Dog.
This actually was not the first time the big mall refused to let him in.
Mark Cohen arrived in the Philippines on August 14, 2014. He plans to retire here. On August 17, he went to Robinsons Place Dumaguete with Happy. Unfortunately, the guard on duty would not let him in because of the mall’s strict “no pet allowed inside” policy. The foreigner was blocked and even closed the entrance door when he tried to get inside. The situation got worse when they called the police and accused Cohen of public disturbance. He was then brought to the police station in handcuffs.
One week later, Cohen sent a letter to Robinsons management and TeamHukad, a Facebook page for locals of Dumaguete. It reads:
“Letter from Mark Cohen.
cc:TeamHUKAD
Hello all, For your information, this is the chronological dialogue that I’ve been having with the management of Robinson’s Mall. I appreciate their kind consideration.
My message to Robinsons:
My name is Mark Cohen. Director of The International Institute for Assistance Dog Training I am a medically-certified Person with a Disability and have a neurological disorder which necessitates my having an Assistance Dog to mitigate that disability. I am not blind, I can drive a car, but do have variant symptoms similar to epilepsy, Parkinsonism, and sensitivity to changes in the environment such as temperature and intensity of light. At one moment I can have a blood pressure measurement of 180/120 and 10 minutes later 70/40, resulting in syncope. I have learnt to live with my disability, do take medication in a compliant manner, and would be unable to function if I did not have my certified Assistance Dog “Happy” as my companion.
On August 17th I was denied access to the Robinsons Mall in Dumaguete when I was with my certified Assistance Dog “Happy”. The security guards employed by Robinsons Mall called the Police claiming I was “disturbing the peace”. The Police took me to the Police station in handcuffs, and later released me without charging me with any offense. The Republic Acts 7227 and 9442, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, which are laws of the Government of the Philippines, do in fact allow me access with my Assistance Dog to your mall and to any public place or mode of transport.
The International Institute for Assistance Dog Training is an informal volunteer non-profit organization that strives to teach professionals, students and families how to train dogs to be Assistance Dogs for People with a Disability. We freely distribute information explaining the tasks and benefits of Assistance Dogs, and attempt as best we can to help to educate the public regarding national and international access laws for medically-certified Persons with a Disability that have certified Assistance Dogs or Guide Dogs that have been specifically trained to mitigate their disability.
We are currently producing a documentary on Rights of Access to Public Places and Transportation by People with a Disability (PWD) who have the need of an Assistance Dog to mitigate their disability. Since 2004 we have covered the countries of Canada, the U.S., Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Israel, Ecuador, Colombia and Chile, and are currently producing in the Philippines. I’m preparing some documentation for you.
On Monday August 25th you can visit my website, Facebook pages, and YouTube channel, all containing photos, videos, interviews, documentation with excerpts from the laws of the Philippines and other countries, as well as international laws that all protect the rights of access for Persons with a Disability in the presence of their certified Assistance Dogs.
I won’t visit the mall again until I’ve spoken with you at your convenience, and when you’ve had time to review all the documentation and videos. I want to work with you to make my next visit to your mall a very positive event for Robinsons Mall, Persons with a Disability, and the citizens of the Philippines in general.
I arrived in the Philippines Thursday August 14th. I plan to retire here, and am very happy to be here. I have lived in many countries in Asia, South and Central America, the Middle east and North America, and the Philippines is my favorite. Thanks in advance for your kind consideration.
Any questions or concerns please let me know. Please say hello the security guard Wiley for me. He’s a really nice guy.
Mark Cohen Globe: +63 9179 611 134 Smart: +63 9184 524 213 Email: [email protected]”
Through this letter, Cohen was hoping the mall involved will act on the incident and will let him enter the next time he visits.
So last August, 27, he again went to Robinsons Place Dumaguete. But as the video shows, he was not allowed ‘again’ to enter the mall. He even tried to explain himself to a police officer but his case was taken for granted. For hours, he waited outside, lying on the ground with Happy, hoping that someone from Robinsons’ management will talk to him, but to no avail.
This very recent incident was posted at the a Facebook community named Hulagway ug Kasikas sa Dumaguete:
With many people reacting negatively to this scenario, Robinsons Place Dumaguete released their statement, defending their cause:
Hulagway ug Kasikas sa Dumaguete commented to this photo saying, “The management didn’t offer the said help, it was in fact Ms. Sam Du who offered him a free laptop and wifi at Bo’s Coffee.” They also added that Happy is not a pet but a Guide Dog.
The video uploader also wrote her piece, stating,
You guys are so inconsiderate towards disabled people. God will do you guys justice when time comes, mark my words.
common guys robinson malls are the suckiest and gloomiest malls of all… aside from that they have the dumbest management personnel of all… while they have their own rules, they are still under the Philippine law… they don’t even know the difference between a “pet” and a “guide”… rules can be bent… making an exception doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re breaking em… what a dumb f@#$ management… and would you rather roam inside the mall alone knowing that there are people that will “possibly” help you or would you rather be with your “assistant dog” whom you know can definitely help you? i am so disappointed… tsk tsk tsk… seems like i won’t be going to any of your malls ever again…
Robinsons Dumaguete, obviously you have no idea what an assistance dog is. There is a reason these dogs are “certified” in the first place – they are not like ordinary dogs that you vehemently keep away from your customers “for safety reasons.” These dogs are trained. Why can’t you make an exemption? What should it take for you to understand a disabled person’s need? Your rule is no different than any lame, old school government office. And if you’re so stern about your policy, why can’t you at least face him?
To the Robinsons Dgte. Management, you are inconsiderate, yes we know you have rules that is no pets allowed to enter in your mall, but there are exceptions especially for those persons with disabilities. If you go to other countries they considered it. Your mall really show how Philippines is so left behind..
No, the management of Robinsons Dumaguete are not just inconsiderate…..they are stupid not to know the simplest difference between a pet and a guide dog. And a bunch of liars too……
His condition and the situation doesn’t necessitate the presence of his dog. He was in a public place. If he has an episode, there would be people there to help him. What would his dog do? Wouldn’t it just call for help. It certainly can’t help him to stand up or stabilize his blood pressure. If he was blind, it would make a lot more sense. But since he wasn’t I think he was just being stubborn.
ZN, the last time I checked, in the philippines, when there appears to be a drama or an unusual event such as epileptic attack on a public place, people don’t help, they watch.
To be honest, that’s the right thing to do.
If someone’s having an epileptic attack, you don’t touch them unless you’re moving them to an open space or putting something soft under their head. Other than that, you don’t touch them.
You don’t do CPR. You don’t inject them with meds. You just wait for it to pass until it’s done. After the attack ends, you reorient the person of what just happened and talk to them politely.
The dog won’t call for help. Instead, it will tell the person of their impending attack and they with behave accordingly. They’re independent, and they won’t need help from anyone.
Yes your right Light Bringer and they will take videos and photos instead of help. Some other event that dogs do better than human.
not sure if you’re serious or simply trolling… if it is the former, then, please, for your own sake… at least do some research… stop acting like you know when you really effin don’t… you’ve only managed to show how ignorant you are on the matter… (“service dogs”… spare a bit of effort and JFGI.. please)
Dog’s senses are far better than human. The dog can sense if the person they are assisting would have an episode 30 minutes prior; they can predict it. The dog can find help by alerting authorities or medical alert team or dial a preprogrammed phone ( whichever the dog is trained to do ). Service dogs are also trained to calm the person they are assisting. They are trained to provide emotional support and are wearing vest with the details of the person they are assisting.
If the people around him inside the mall can predict or sense an impending seizure / episode, then yeah, i’d support the “no pets allowed”. And last time I checked, dogs are more humane than human.
Mark Cohen isn’t stubborn. We are just ignorant about Service dogs and what they can do. He isn’t stubborn; he just trust his service dog because it is focused on him and is linked to him unlike the people around who may or may not help him.
and you are stubborn too.
Francia you are so stupid!!
Attention Robinson’s Dumaguete: You really have no idea and very much ignorant about people with disabilities. There are PWDs that refuse certain assistance because of they don’t want the “pity” that is a stigma to such conditions. They want to live like other people and don’t want to be a burden to society. In fact, the dog would probably know more how to save the person more in case he encounters a sudden attack than any of you “know-it-alls”.
Dude? The dog is just there to call for help if he ever has an episode. The dog won’t perform cpr or inject emergency meds. They can’t train dogs to do that stuff. His disability doesn’t require assistance dogs in public areas. The guy was just being stubborn. Also, aren’t coffee shops and the ilk are situated near the periphery of the building? Why does he need to go into the mall proper if all he needed was to use wi-fi?
ZN, No, actually, even before the event takes place, the dog warns the person that something is about to happen. In fact, I laud Mr. Cohen’s move to put up a wake-up call to the public how mall management can simply discriminate people. Same as to the cebu pacific manager who denied flight to a child who’s scheduled to have a medical operation in Vietnam because of a measly damaged (folded) passport. Seems like there’s some sort of management issues with Gokongwei companies, don’t you think?
Baka gusto lang ni ZN maiba ang opinyon niya. Haha.
Aahhahaha! I’d like to see you perform CPR on a person having a seizure.
Ha ha ha!! Stupid ZN
It seems you do not have an idea what an assistance dog is capable of. Try looking it up on youtube. You will be surprised.
To ZN:
It would be wise for you to actually research on what you know nothing about. I am a Filipina American with both mobility and neurological disabilities and were it not for a power wheel chair you may not know or see my neurological disability.
I have a service dog who is considered as “medical equipment” and not a pet. Mr. Cohen should not have to prove time and again that he is disabled.
Moreover, no one has a right to tell Mr Cohen what his business is in visiting that mall.
My service-medical-alert dog safeguards me when my oxygen tubing gets dislodged from the O2 concentrator and wakes me up to hand the end of the tube to reattach it. I can live alone with my service dog because she will go into the fridge to get my drugs when she senses that I may be in the beginnings of a asthma attack.
Mr/Ms ZN, what qualifies you to assert this statement that Mr Cohen doesn’t need or require an assistance dog in the public areas of the mall. Why do you think it would be better to restrict Mr Cohen and his assistant to the periphery of the mall building if all he wanted was to access the internet?
Is Dumaguete now a separate country that refuses one’s basic rights and freedom?
Shame on Robinson Management and shame on all of you, ZN included, who lack the education and compassion for folks who just want to go about their business freely like the rest of the population who do not face the challenges that PWD.
yeah i agree ZN
Oh, an addition to my looooong list of reasons why being a Filipino is a curse.
FUCK YOU ! ! ! BY SAYING WE ARE CURSE AS FILIPINOS, YOU ARE MORE CURSE YOURSELF. IF YOU DON’T LIKE OUR COUNTRY, TO HELL WITH YOU. THEN DON’T COME TO OUR COUNTRY. WE DON’T WANT FUCKIN’ PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN OUR COUNTRY.
AUDI, quit the blabber. You’re annoying and kind of me feeling shame that I’m a filipino because of you.
LIGHT BRINGER: IKR!
AUDI: why so sensitive?
hindi yata sila nakakaintindi nang explanation nya at di nila alam yung meaning nang “Assistance dog/Service dog”. sa ibang lugar pwedi ngang pumasok yung assistance dogs kahit sa hospital at mga banko. Minsan talaga mas hayop pa ugali nang tao sa hayop.
Di niya kailangan ang aso niya sa loob ng mall kasi marami nang tao doon. Di naman magpe-perform ang aso ng mga emergency procedure. Ayaw niya lang kasi iiwan ang aso niya. Hindi ito sa pagiging back-woods ng Pinas kundi common sense.
ZN nung nagkaron ka ng epileptic attack, or nung panahon na na-snatch ang gintong kwintas mo sa kalye, tinulungan ka ba? shempre hindi mo alam ang isasagot mo kasi hindi mo pa naexperience. Pero ang sagot jan ay papanoorin ka lang.
kaya wala sa ayos ang rason mo.
Agree to light bringer.
True dat, LB. Masyadong weak argument ni ZN. Wait, hindi ako naghahanap ng gulo, ‘kay? Anyhow, alam kaya ni ZN what could happen to a person with a neurological disorder when things go high notch at an unknown time? How ’bout something seemingly trivial happens to the eyes of others, then wala namang gusto magtanong kung okay lang siya, may kailangan ba siya, so? Alam ba ng mga tao paano mag-react at these types of situations? ZN, you might think it’s just a ‘dog’, but this ‘dog you’re saying was ‘trained’ to respond to people who needs assistive actions. Even untrained dogs also know how to react, of course, owner nila eh, alam nila na may sama na mangyayari. Kung that didn’t happen to you kahit grabe mo pagalaga sa dog (other creatures, kahit tao *lol*), then may pagkukulang ka. Aminin mo. ZN, lemme ask you, if you’re an owner who wants to go inside a certain establishment, but they refuse you to do so because of the common regulation that states, “No pets allowed.” Well, heck, mas pipiliin mo nalang hindi pumasok kaysa maiwan aso mo. Siguro ‘yun gagawin mo. What type of an ‘owner’ are you if that’s not what you’d do at that moment? Common rebut here would go like, “Animals lang ‘yan. Pabayaan mo lang. Wala ‘yang pakiramdam. Lower lifeforms. Blah, blah, blah.” Well, pshaw, hindi ko pinaglalaban ang animal rights dito, pero it could be my side statement lang. Okay, ang gulo ko = =”” pero at least ang nakikita ko, mas magulo pa ang reasoning mo kaysa sa akin. *No hard feelings, Bro*
ZN
Wag na kasi mangelam pag di naiintindihan. Kakulangan sa kaalaman tas nagrereact agad na kala mo alam na alam yung sinasabi.
Nakakasense yung aso bago may mangyare sa tao kaya kailangan niya yung aso kasama lagi. So kung biglang magreact yung aso, may oras pang magintake ng gamot o maginjection siya o kung ano man magagawa niya agad bago siya tuluyang atakihin. Manood ka ng discovery channel pre para maliwanagan ka. Wag mo din iniismall aso. Di porke hayop yun wala yun kwenta. WAG KASING HATERS. Tinuruan ka ba ng magulang mo maging bastos? Kung wala kang magandang masasabi wag ka na lang magsalita. Binabawasan mo lang pagkatao mo. E kung ikaw ganunin ka kaya. Ano maffeel mo? Pakabait ka!
ZN, wag kana lang kaya magcomment. Nakakahiya ang katangahan mo.
Baket? Pag naepileptic shock ba xa, makakatulong ka ba?
Pag nagkaron ng attack ung tao, alam mo ba kung anong gagawin mo? Alam mo ba yang “emergency procedure” na pinaguusapan mo?
Malamang, ung taong may epilepsy at ung aso niyang TRAINED ang nakakaalam. Niwawarn siya ng aso niya kung napapansin niya na na magkakaroon siya ng attack, kaya nakakapagprepare siya bago ito mangyari. Malamang alam niya kung anong gagawin niya.
Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam sa “procedure”, eto ang nahanap ko sa google:
“If you are with someone who is having a tonic-clonic seizure or fit: move them away from anything that could cause injury, such as a busy road or hot cooker. cushion their head if they’re on the ground. loosen any tight clothing around their neck, such as a collar or tie, to aid breathing.”
TBH Wala ka namang gagawin kundi antaying matapos ung seizure, eh. Alam naman yan ng tao. Ignorante lang ba? May google naman diba. Pagaralan mo kaya muna ung topic mo bago mo ipagtanggol ang mga pagkakamali nila.
Lahat ng ginawa ng Robinsons Mall ay mali. Aminin mo na.
May certificate yung tao. Allowed siyang pumasok by LAW. The man was patient and mature about the whole thing. PInagtatanggol niya lang talaga ang rights niya, pati ang rights ng lahat ng mga gaya niya.
Pano kaya pag hindi ka pinapasok sa mall dahil lang sa maitim ang kilikili mo? Malamang magagalit ka. Malamang ipagtatanggol mo lahat ng mga gaya mong maiitim ang kilikili.
ZN, kung common sense lng pag-uusapan, parang wala ka noon. Ang aso palaging nasa tabi niya kasi kampante siya, mas mababa ang posibilidad na atakihin siya, kaya nga assistance dog tawag dahil malaki naiitulong niya na ma prevent kung ano man sakit niya. At yung aso ay certified assistance dog, Certified means garantisado, may proper training. At kung ang rason mo yung aso ay d kayang mag perform pagka nagka emergency, tama ka doon, pero na-isip mo ba na mas mabuti na walang mangyaring emergency? Doon palang malaki na ang naitulong ng aso. Tatanungin kita mas gugustuhin mo bang aatakihin ka nang sakit mo kung may paraan naman para maiwasan ito? Sabi nga nila eh “Prevention is better than cure” 😛
ZN utang na loob. Bago ka mag comment pag aralan mo muna ano ang ginagawa at importance ng service dogs. Given the fact na certified pa ang service dog nya. Mas mapagkakatiwalaan pa kesa sa tao. May mga service dogs na trained to provide physical and emotional support. Hindi man maka perform ng emergency procedure ang service dog, pwede naman sya mag alert ng first responder or medical team bago pa lumala ang situation. Kahit nurse pa yan, hindi yan naka focus ng todo sa inaalalayan nya unlike sa service dog na sayo lagi ang attention at nararamdaman.
why do you keep on reiterating about seizure? that’s not the issue here … review ur comments first before posting it 😉
tama kasi matanda yan eh dapat may kasama !
im sure LEE PLAZA would let him in… why support robinsons if they dont want you there. in my opinion as long as the person/dog has a certificate which normally they do. they should be allowed. i was once on a flight from NY to LA and sat beside someone who is like Mark. she had a dog on the plane actually INSIDE the plane beside her. the dog just slept on the floor for 6 hours and boy was it cool. Same dog also a golden Ret.
Di niya kailangan ang aso niya sa loob ng mall kasi marami nang tao doon. Di naman magpe-perform ang aso ng mga emergency procedure. Ayaw niya lang kasi iiwan ang aso niya. Hindi ito sa pagiging back-woods ng Pinas kundi common sense.
wala ka talagang alam tungkol sa mga trained dogs, ZN. go home and plant kamote
Hindi kaya spamming lang tong si ZN? Ahahahahaha..
papansin masyado si ZN. BIGYAN SIYA NG JACKET!!!
Posible din na wala lang talagang alam sa service dogs. Siguro kinakagat yan ng aso palagi sa lugar nila kaya yan ganyan hahahaha
Oi ZN, are you being paid for doing those comments? Halos lahat ng mga main comments, andyan ka para kumontra, kalokohan. Ayos pa naman grammar mo sa english pero ang babaw ng reasoning mo.
paulit ulit na lang tong uninformed comment mo. i youtube mo muna ang assistance dogs tapos balikan mo ako if you already know better.
to ZN sinabi ba niya na mag perform ng emergency procedure? kung wala kang alam tumahimik ka na lang at mag basa ka nalang ng mga Republic Act .
Robinson’s Dumagete management: a bunch of liars — no they did not offer assistance to the disabled person. Inconsiderate, stupid and arrogant. I cast wrath on you.
BE VERY CAREFUL AT ROBINSONS DUMAGUETE…THEY HAVE THE ARROGANT MANAGEMENT.
The most stupid management.
Baka pay ahas nila lumabas ok lang ha
He is with his dog for a reason. He wouldn’t be accompanied by “Happy” if he is not comfortable with him. Again, he already stated that he is a disabled person who is accompanied by a trained dog. Why would we entrust his health to a resident nurse provided by the mall who has no knowledge of his health whatsoever? People should at least be considerate. The reason why I think people still hire people rather than choosing complete use of technology is because people can think for themselves hence, in this point should have at least used their brains and override the policy on “no pets allowed”. They think Mr. Cohen is just being stubborn when in fact they have been missing the “HE IS DISABLED” truth.
HIS DISABILITY doesn’t prevent him from going from place to place nor does it require an assistance dog AT ALL TIMES. What do you think the DOG was gonna do when Mark has an episode? DOES it use CPR or INJECT MEDS? DO you know how silly you sound when you say its better to trust a FREAKIN’ DOG over a TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. Chances are that the dog would just call for help if Mark ever passes out or something.
ZN, your argument is of arrogance and ignorance. You have no idea about Mr. Cohen’s disability, nor do you know anything or what training had the dog undergone. check your facts before blabbering here in the comment section.
i agree with light bringer, i was just reading the comments, but i cant help it…paulit2 ang rason ni zn…infairness to him/her (dont know what the gender is) ok ang english nya, its just the argument is stupid,lol
Hi ZN, noticed that you are defending Robinsons Place Dumaguete in almost every comments here. Do you mean na tama ang ginawa nila at all? Let me reiterate na walang taga Robinsons na humarap to accommodate Cohen, Sam and Love did. And the guards are clearly not aware what a pet dog is and what an assistance dog is. While it may be true that he may not need an assistance dog at all times, it still a certified assistance dog, and by law (maybe not in the Philippines yet) both the PWD and the assistance dog should be allowed in public transpo or establishments. The real issue here is not a pet dog VS an assistance dog, but how the Robinsons reacted to the situation. They even committed fraud with their so-called official statement. Sabihin na nating papansin si Cohen at sana sa labas nalang siya nag Wifi, still and clearly, Robinsons could have done better.
Ofcourse ZN, the dog wouldn’t inject nor perform CPR because that would be profoundly absurd. But still, he has the right to opt for the assistance of his dog. He’s choosing his dog for a reason and no it does not sound silly at all. He clearly stated that his dog “helps mitigate the effects of his disabilities”. Do you think a trained professional who he just met can do that? The dog is not there not SAVE him from any sudden ATTACKS, he’s there to PREVENT THE ATTACK. Case in point, he’s obviously aware that there are establishments who does not allow pets to enter that is why he brought papers certifying his disability and certifying Happy as his assistance dog. The mall should have atleast given duly consideration.
Gosh……you are oozing with ignorance, stupidity and in humane attitude….hope karma will get hold of you
ZN. Yung trained medical professional na sinasabi mo. Mas malakas pa ba senses niya kesa sa aso? Yung aso. At least yung trained na aso totoong alam mong may malasakit sayo. E yung trained medical professional mo. Pasweldo lang habol sayo e. Di mo nga alam kung may malasakit talaga sayo e. Baka sabihin lang nya. Ang bilis ng pangyayare e biglang inatake wala ako magawa. IKAW NA BRO! IKAW NA IKAW NA!
Ay tangek… service dogs are not equal to pets. They are sticking to the concept of pet. E hindi nga pet yun e. Naglabas pa ng formal message, hindi rin naman alam ang pinagsasabi.
:// might as well boycott any robinson’s mall all over the country… robinson’s dumaguete management is a bunch of stupid people who don’t have any idea nor knowledge about PWD’s and Assistance Dogs. pity to the management of robinson’s dumaguete who lacks knowledge… I bet that the Happy does know more than the people sitting in the management of robinson’s mall.. kudos to mr. mark cohen and happy…
I for one will post this on my facebook page and ask all Americans and others not to ever shop at Robinson Malls all ove the Philippines… God bless you Mr. Cohen
DUDE. He wasn’t blind. He wouldn’t need a dog to assist him if he was in a public place that was full of people. There would be tons of people who could help if he’s in an emergency. HAPPY won’t do emergency procedures if Mark ever has an episode. I think that guy just wants to blow this whole situation out of hand. See the stupid reactions people have to this. Like really? Boycott a mall chain just because they won’t let a guy and his “required” assistance animal inside?
dude, clearly, you have no idea what this case is about. All you know about dogs are for sniffing bombs, drugs, and to guide a blind. you’re such an ignoramus claiming to know why this man should not be with his dog.
i pity you for not understanding… again my stand is if the person has a certificate for his dog that it is a service dog then i dont have a problem with it. if it will help save the life of the person then by all means. it all biold down to the core values of a company. robinsons= cebupac = SUCKY CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! mahal na nga ang benta BULOK PA ang SERVICE!
dude if you are in his shoes let us see what you would FEEL! isip muna bago mag comment! sheessshhh
i agree with light bringer, i was just reading the comments, but i cant help it…paulit2 ang rason ni zn…infairness to him/her (dont know what the gender is) ok ang english nya, its just the argument is stupid,lol
I’d like to see you do the same thing then.
You should go follow an epileptic man and predict whether or not he’s going to have an attack. It’s easy for a dog to do it, since they have a better nose than you do, but I’d like to se you try.
He’s not blind but he’s suffering from a neurological condition that makes him sensitive to various conditions. You don’t know when or where those symptoms may happen so having a dog with him is more convenient. Although the mall is a public place, you won’t be certain that there will be people around him when something unfortunate happens.
Hay naku. Kawawa ka naman at hindi mo alam pinagsasabi mo. I pity you, Zn.
Dude, common sense please? The dog is always at Cohen’s side. Why? Because the dog make him feel at ease and comfortable that he won’t suffer an attack due to his illness. If you point out that the Dog can’t perform necessary operations when it comes to an emergency, you may right about that, BUT did you ever think it is better to prevent the attack than to have that you so called Emergency? And please read and understand the article above, it’s a CERTIFIED Assistance Dog. Do you know what it means or you just post your opinion without understanding the whole thing?
When will you learn that people are not reliable but would rather do “rubber-necking” than get involved if someone becomes medically or emotionally compromised!
An assistance dog mitigates the person’s disability.
Extreme case in point, I was choking from a severe sudden onset of an asthmatic attack and my service dog brought his front paws and pushed my chest, just enough pressure applied to stop the escalation of the choking event. And then she brought me my medication.
You are so clueless, and not worth my commenting here any further
To the staff of robinsons place dumaguete i think you are very inconsiderate. He’s a DISABLED man for crying out loud he’s medically-certified to be disabled, and as said he needs an assistance dog.
WHAT PART OF THAT COULDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND?
You even closed the door and let him lying on the ground for almost an hour on top of that you even LIED just so you wouldn’t be humiliated THAT’S JUST SO STUPID
don’t you know that telling a lie is bad
This makes me wonder
DO YOU EVEN HAVE A HEART OR A MIND?
Cause i know for a fact that most people that has those 2 things would have let him in and wouldn’t have lied to the public
SHAME ON YOU
His medical condition doesn’t prevent him from moving around and stuff. He could still enter the mall and leave his dog for a while. He was just being stubborn. WHY would he even wait outside for an hour or so? IF he really needed to use wifi he could’ve gone somewhere else.
If I got it correctly. He tried to enter for the 2nd time after he made the letter to the mgmt.
I think he was trying to raise awareness about the thing for allowing him and his assistance do to the mgmt and wanted to see if they would be considerate enough to talk to him. 🙂
He was told that there were going to be mall officials who would talk to him. Obviously, you’d wait for them to get your well deserved wifi.
FYI ZN, before u comment here, be sure its logical. The dog can help/know how to handle the situation more than any other consumers/workers at that F******* MALL. And ZN, Medical practitioners always takes time to diagnose a case, yes they can do emergency actions in the meantime but they need to know first of the history of that person to prove his suffering from a said illness and at that time Mr. Mark has no one except his trained Dog. What would u do ZN if someone have a seizure when ur around,I bet my ass, u’ll just watch (OseserO)…Ur one of the reason we Filipinos are known worldwide as ignorant fools, Please don’t add up. We need Foreigners to invest here to make our ECONOMY stable same as OFW’s sending lots of cash.
Robinsons Dumaguete Shame on You kabayan!! 2014 na tayo ngayon pano natin masasabi na world competitive tayo kung simpleng bagay di natin naiintindihan… ipamukha mo pa yang rule mo na ikaw mismo di nakakaintindi…ang disability di lang yan physical na nakikita… maraming aspekto yan… his service dog is there for a reason… di lang yan pet na tinagurian… c’mon… lam ko mas matalino tayo kesa sa pinapakita mo….
TRUE!!
ignorance is bliss!!
Grabe naman kayong humusga. BAKIT hindi inintindi nung guy na iyon na bawal ang animals sa loob. Whether pet or service animal(kung hindi absolutely necessary). Di naman siya bulag na di makaka-pasyal pag walang guide. Pangalawang beses na yan nangyari pero bakit di niya pa rin na gets sa pangalawa. Nagmamatigas lang siya ng ulo dahil gusto niya mag bend backwards and forwards ang mga tao para sa kanya. DI naman ganyan ka debilitating yung condition niya. Di naman siya i-transport ng aso sa hospital kung mag pass-out siya. Di naman yan mag administer ng epi or something. Tatawag lang yang ng tulong kung may mangyayari kay Mark.
That was his RIGHT as a PWD to have his accessibity aid with him at all times. At ikaw ang mas nakahusga dahil minaliit mo yung kundisyon niya. Di mo ba nabasa. Nassense nung aso yung mga signs and symptoms nung kundisyon niya. Kung tatawag man yun ng tulong, at least, makakatawag yun ng tulong bago pa lumala yung kundisyon. Ano, aantayin mo pang humilata yung tao bago siya matulungan? That might be too late for him. The establishment SHOULD have bent to him because that was his right and privilege as provided for him BY LAW. Please read up on BP 344. The fact na pangalawang beses nang nangyare yan means that the Philippines is not yet barrier free for PWDs. Hindi siya yung dapat magbago, yung sistema.
Dude may mga service dogs na trained makadetect ng onset ng isang panic attack/ epilepsy/sudden drop in blood sugar levels etc. even before may maramdaman mismo ung tao. Of course hindi makakapag-CPR ang aso or do any other emergency procedures, at hindi un ang purpose nya. Nandun ung aso to serve as a warning for him, so makapagprepare sya either pumunta sa pinakamalapit na clinic sa mall or tumawag ng doctor or to get help etc. But the dog needs to be by his human’s side at all times. May mga service dogs din na kailangan ng isang tao dahil for example may PTSD sya at ung aso is a source of comfort or to distract him from his panic attack. Clearly you have to know more about service dogs before you judge saying that they can be left by their owners alone for a while because there’s a human nearby nman.
May mga malls nga na nagpapasok ng mga toy dogs na hindi nman service dogs as in pets lang. And what about ung mga K9 that some guards use when they patrol inside malls? Dba service dogs rin sila? Ang job lang nila ay slighly different sa isang personal service dog na assigned lng sa isang tao, and is trained a little differently.
I think the reason kung ganyan ka ay dahil sa sobrang stubborn nya at naghintay pa sya sa entrance ng mall for an hour waiting for someone to talk to him. Personally I think what he did was a little “OA” but I understand the point that he’s trying to make and Robinson’s does not understand that. And their refusal to take the time of having a representative of Robinson’s to talk to him in person is what pisses people off.
You sure are stupid.
@ZN… you are an imbecile and you obviously don’t know what your talking about. Guys, baka taga Robinson’s to kaya defensive much (LOL)… Seriously, do your research — a service dog knows when fatality is about to happen and will inform his owner about to prevent “bad things” from happening… Luoy ka kaayo… 🙂
Sige ZN aka Robinsons PR man, i-push mo yan lahat ata ng posts nirereplyan mo who you kiddin hahaha “…di naman sya i-transport ng aso sa hospital kung mag pass-out sya…” hahaha you’re hilarious, man!!! Ignorance is true bliss.
have you tried studying/researching what trained animals are? do you have any ideas about the disability of the person involve? if you don’t have any experiences over these issues, then I hope you stop sending these repetitive comments of yours and go somewhere, maybe at the mall area where close minded people like you often stays. I’m not an expert over these kind of things but I have sufficient information why the service dog should’ve been allowed inside the premises. both, the person and the dog are certified that they need each other to ensure safety for both, meaning they have sufficient documents to provide reason why they need to be together (regardless how the dog helps the disabled individual – the thing that you are ignorant of. read some medical books about service dog to enlighten yourself)
another issue in this, Mr. Cohen is not going to the mall just to use the internet but to prove his point and to also talk to someone representing the mall so he can explain his side (but unfortunately, no one came). Mr. Cohen also wanted to show how single minded the mall authorities are about these issues. he’s not being stubborn “dude”, he wants to have a fair and just treatment for him and with other people strolling to the mall, he needs the dog (not to have an emergency procedure – that we all know is likely impossible for the dog to do), the dog is needed to provide psychological assurance to the patient and maybe, try and help during emergencies like what you are saying, however, barking or running for help is just the tip of the iceberg for service dogs, they can perform measures, no human can do.
Simple lang toh, if the mngnt provided their side personally/answered the letter from Mr. Cohen, and provided their reasons why they can’t let the Trained (not a pet) Dog in the mall, then tapos na siguro toh, pero ang problem kung ano ano pag ekek pinagsasabi nila.
ZN, you sound like someone from Robinson’s management, trying to rationalize their failings. The fact of the matter is, the Management pulled a immensely dick move. Service dogs are chosen carefully, and spend years of their lives being trained. The process starts DAYS after the chosen puppies are born. Not eve LAW ENFORCEMENT or the MILITARY goes through the selection process these dogs undergo. These dogs then go through a VERY RIGOROUS assessment that will test a dog’s restraint, obedience, perceptiveness, etc., and if the dog will react properly in an emergency situation, before being certified. These dogs are probably safer and more well behaved than most people who visit the mall (which invalidates the main reason Robinson’s Dumaguete did not want the dog in the mall in the first place.)
Judging by the way the quoted the word assistance in their public statement, Robinson’s management seem to doubt that Happy was indeed a guide dog. They could have at least met up with Mr. Cohen face to face to clarify things, which would also be the polite thing to do befitting of the managers of a big Mall chain. In conclusion, the management behaved very unprofessionally (and in my opinion ,they let their positions and titles get to their head too much) , and did not do all they could do before calling the cops.
ZN, would you please just stop with your ignorant ranting already? Dear heavens, have you even done any reading at all on the incredible usefulness of assistance dogs? On epilepsy? On seizures? Do your reading first and then come back here and comment like the educated wise-ass you’re pretending to be. “Di naman ganyan ka debilitating yung condition niya”? Dude. Epilepsy. Thousands of people die each year from sudden epileptic seizures. Medical research shows that preparation before these unexpected episodes could save lives. Which is exactly what Mr. Cohen’s assistance dog is for.
You know what the dog would do in the event of an oncoming seizure? Well, if Happy was with Mr. Cohen for a long enough period, he could give a warning. For as early as 55 minutes before the attack. See how much time that would give for people to be alerted as to the man’s condition? Do you think anyone else in the mall would be watching his every step, aware of his condition, enough to alert other people 55 minutes before his attack? Oh, and have you ever heard about the bystander effect? When there are a lot of people in an area where someone’s in trouble, most of the time they just… watch. As a person dies. Unless specifically asked to help. Which is what the dog might have done.
And what else might the dog have done? Put its body in between the seizing individual and the floor to break the fall at the inception of a seizure. Activate a life-alert system. Find someone to help. Stimulate the person during a seizure. I’m not so sure if Happy could have done all that, but just from a bit of research, I already have an idea of how pretty darn useful he would have been. And all I did was search on Google. Tsk. Do the same thing, will you, before showcasing your stupidity to the world in your comments?
You, sir, have no freaking idea what you’re blabbering on about. Stahp. Just stahp.
Isa pa tong ZN na ignoranti. You point out that Kung hindi absolutely Necessary, e absolutely necessary nga eh kasi kailangan niya yung aso sa tabi niya para mababa ang chance na aatakihin siya nang sakit niya. Kaya nga may papelis yung tao para ipakita necessary yung aso na nasa tabi niya. Sa tingin mo bakit tinawag na Certified Assistance Dog yung aso at kumpleto pa nang papelis? Para saan ba yung aso? Bakit kailangan palaging nasa tabi niya ito? May GOOGLE naman para mka search o kahit common sense man lng. Wag kang mangmang, kasalanan yan.
ZN. May internet ka diba? Libre lang mag research at alamin kung ano at anu-anong klase ang service dogs. Yung rason mo baluktot. I don’t want to wish you having the same disability with Mark Cohen but I wanted you to feel it para malaman mo ang importance ng service dogs. Hindi lang sila trained to guide. Trained sila para maka predict ng seizure 30 minutes before mag trigger, trained sila to give alerts if deaf ang ina-assist nila.
e ikaw ZN. nagmamatigas ulo ka lang din sa wrong judgement mo.
ZN, putting aside the subject… What about those K9 dogs (im sure you do know K9)? Why are they allowing them inside? You do know what K9 dogs are trained and certified for i assume. Can someone of your caliber identify that there’s a bomb inside an bag that looks very expensive than the tuition fee of where you are honing your level of intellect is? That’s what draws the line between “service” and “pet”… And in case it has not reach your vocabulary, try enlisting for the army and be called “service man”. Perhaps a bombshell would knock out your troll senses and wake your human senses again.
Upgrade your data banks my dear troll. You’re outdated and obsolete.
ZN, you obviously aren’t aware how severe Mark Cohen’s condition is. Before you post insensitive and inconsiderate comments, do some research, first about Mark’s medical conditions and then about service dogs.
To the staff of robinsons place dumaguete i think you are very inconsiderate. He’s a DISABLED man for crying out loud he’s medically-certified to be disabled, and as said he needs an assistance dog.
WHAT PART OF THAT COULDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND?
You even closed the door and let him lying on the ground for almost an hour on top of that you even LIED just so you wouldn’t be humiliated THAT’S JUST SO STUPID
don’t you know that telling a lie is bad
This makes me wonder
DO YOU EVEN HAVE A HEART OR A MIND?
Cause i know for a fact that most people that has those 2 things would have let him in and wouldn’t have lied to the public
SHAME ON YOU
Hindi lahat ng mga taong may assistance dogs ay bulag. Hindi lang ang pagiging bulag ang disability. Kailangan ng mga ibang tao ang kanilang aso para mabuhay nang independent at para hindi humingi ng tulong sa ibang tao. Buti pa si Happy marunong umintindi. Yung guwardiya at pamunuan ng Robinsons ay talagang mas masahol pa sa hayop.
This dog is well-trained.. I am not sure about the Robi Dumaguete guards.. lol
“The Republic Acts 7227 and 9442, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, which are laws of the Government of the Philippines, do in fact allow me access with my Assistance Dog to your mall and to any public place or mode of transport…” – M. Cohen
> I think the management don’t understand this… shame… tsk tsk
Ang disable with a pet assistance hindi pwede pumasok pero ang mga holdaper shoplifter at mga magnanakaw na kasabwat nang mga gwardia nio pwedeng pwede pumasok mga ulul!!!
I am disgusted by the stupidity and ignorance of robinsons dumaguete, they are not even aware of the condition of the person that help dogs like these are able to detect slight changes incase a person is about to be attacked by an episode and warn their handler. I doubt that rob nurses can do that. They should be sued for this violation of human right! Ignorant and stupid is how Robinsons dumaguete should be described. An outrage!
In that case, what if the management allowed the dog inside the mall. And then the person with the dog dedided to go to a restaurant to eat. He sit. Then suddenly on the other table, a 6 year old kid complain of difficulty of breathing, with high pitch sounds and became pale to bluish in color/appearance because the said kid had history of asthma and have allergy to dust, flowers, animals and alike. What will you do or what is the best that you can do to eliminate such this case?
well to robinson mall I think I can understand you as you have never had a disability and I hope you never will but if in the case you have one and you have a dog that can save your life and some idiot says to you no you cant use our facilities as we don’t allow dogs into our malls or shop or government office what ever it is, and then you take a sudden illness what happens then can we take legal action against you well I think we can, its in your rules of the Philippines that assistant dogs are allowed in public places. and as for those idiots that think the dog is going to cause their child to have a asmatic attack get a brain ,these dogs are so well trained and behaved that they don’t pose a risk to any bodies health in any way .so Robinsons mall wake up as one person will place a embargo on your stores and malls I will never shop in your malls and will do what I can to make sure others do the same I will only shop at SM malls that do have consideration for service dogs.
Call for medical assistance…
Mr. Cohen, I suggest you to move in Cebu, they can understand better to circumstances. Also they have way better facilities and amenities.
Spot on! Cebu is the way to go…
Mall Management is so inept and embarrassingly ignorant. Certified service dogs are not only for the blind. Very stupid reasoning.
Why is is assistance dog in quotes? wtf do they think the dog does? serve tea??? Yes, Happy the dog is very happy to assist Mr. Cohen with organizing his schedule and guides him confidently through a dangerous world with life-long illness just for the hell of it. Good job Robinsons Dumaguete.
It’s sad that this happened to Mr. Cohen, a visitor in our country and he is even planning to retire here. Such a shame. We are known for being polite and hospitable with guest. I think its about time that SM Mall should think of opening here in Dumaguete!
This is the product of being in a third world country where all who sat in the government are a bunch of lazy and selfish officials who only cared about how much the could save in their pockets.. this is a reflection of how “BEHIND” our country is. A progressive country do not act like this. For me, its not just the management who should be responsible but also the government officials who continues to nurture the Ph people to be ignorant and sad to say, illiterate beings. No wonder why we are being discriminated by other countries. It breaks my heart to know that we were once a powerful nation and because of the so-called freedom.. here we are recognized among the poorest countries in the world.
Don’t be stupid and ignorant Robinsons this will only explode into a bigger problem for you, not to mention it will influence other future foreigners who would want to retire in the Philippines. You are only making us look bad.
I know how dumb security guards are. They will just do what they were asked to do. They don’t have judgment/discretion in various situation. hopeless..
“…The Republic Acts 7227 and 9442, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, which are laws of the Government of the Philippines, do in fact allow me access with my Assistance Dog to your mall and to any public place or mode of transport.”
If this RA governs the law of the Land? He should be suing Robinson…
I totally agree with you. You don’t raise your voice and scream because now that become public harassment. You don’t do that to people performing their duties. He could have been charge with public disturbance . Lucky for him if he was in the States he could have been shot by the cops. I find it very disrespectful to the Filipino that you are a guest and your screaming. Let the law prevail. He should sue Robinsons Mall
Hi authors and readers. Really appreciate that we all share the same sentiments. That this shouldn’t be happening and that there is a need for movement towards an inclusive and accessible community. But if also like to share that we should be calling these people “Disabled” there are “Persons/ people with disabilities” or PWDs. If you notice many priority lines and reserve parking slots in malls already use this term. It’s called person-first language. To highlight that they are people first before the disability. If you read this, it will be very much appreciated if you can make the shift and be more conscious of your language. So don’t call a child with autism autistic, use child with autism. Or a child with Down syndrome. A lady who had a stroke. A person with visual impairment. Actually don’t call anyone autistic or retarded at all. We use these terms too loosely, these are actual conditions and their usual presentation shouldn’t be used as some sort of characterization to make it a valid adjective to describe people in the daily. It gives off a bad connotation of the condition too. And I tell you, these kids who have them are as cute as any 🙂 So for the title, he should be a PWD with an assistance dog. It may sound small or silly or useless but it means a lot to many of them. It’s one small step to make a big difference. Thanks! 😀
*too many typos in the first one d/t autocorrect and hasty typing about a cause I am passionate about
Hi authors and readers. Really appreciate that we all share the same sentiments. That this shouldn’t be happening and that there is a need for movement towards an inclusive and accessible community. But I’d also like to share that we shouldn’t be calling these people “Disabled” they are “Persons/ people with disabilities” or PWDs. If you notice many priority lines and reserve parking slots in malls already use this term. It’s called person-first language. To highlight that they are people first before the disability. If you read this, it will be very much appreciated if you can make the shift and be more conscious of your language. So don’t call a child with autism autistic, use child with autism. Or a child with Down syndrome. A lady who had a stroke. A person with visual impairment. Actually don’t call anyone autistic or retarded at all. We use these terms too loosely, these are actual conditions and their usual presentation shouldn’t be used as some sort of characterization to make it a valid adjective to describe people in the daily. It gives off a bad connotation of the condition too. And I tell you, these kids who have them are as cute as any 🙂 So for the title, he should be a PWD with an assistance dog. It may sound small or silly or useless but it means a lot to many of them. It’s one small step to make a big difference. Thanks! 😀
E mga bobo pala nag papalakad ng robinsons eh. Tanga nu po promise basa basa kau pag may time kung bakit kelangan nya ng ganyan guide dog kung di po simple or ordinaryo na dog yan kung safety lang paguusapan mas may tiwala pa ko sa aso na kasama nya kesya sainyo mga bobong taga robinsons mga tanga walang pinag aralan at sinungaling mga hindot kakgigil kau abnoy
That’s why I don’t visit Robinson’s Mall .. Aside of it being an Old Fashioned mall, they also have the worst management ..
Ayala Malls, Eastwood Malls & SM are pet friendly ..
best thing you can do is hire many squatters and picket the place.
“We do not allow pets inside the main mall for the SAFETY OF ALL CUSTOMERS” thats ROBINSONS MALL policy right?…I Would like to ask the ROBINSON MALL MANAGEMENT AND OURSELVES for argument sake….A Certified Assistance Dog granting the worst case scenario even though they are certified and vaccinated..they can bite and cause rabies or can trigger asthma or allergies…..did the ROBINSONS MALL OR US consider the worst case scenario for us humans?WHERE TALKING HERE OF SAFETY right?..MY QUESTION IS …WHICH IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS 1 CERTIFIED ASSISTANCE DOG OR A THOUSAND UNCERTIFIED HUMAN THINKING WALKING AROUND THE MALL?we humans tend to know everything and where always right….if we want to be fair then lets be fair clearly….we forget that MOST POWERFUL WEAPON EVER CREATED WHICH IS HUMAN THINKING…so we humans are far more dangerous that dogs and in this said Incident that happened to Mr. Cohen and his pet dog we forgot the one most important value for us humans….. HUMANITY HUMANITY HUMANITY…….
“We do not allow pets inside the main mall for the SAFETY OF ALL CUSTOMERS” thats ROBINSONS MALL policy right?…I Would like to ask the ROBINSON MALL MANAGEMENT AND OURSELVES for argument sake….A Certified Assistance Dog granting the worst case scenario even though they are certified and vaccinated..they can bite and cause rabies or can trigger asthma or allergies…..did the ROBINSONS MALL OR US consider the worst case scenario for us humans?WHERE TALKING HERE OF SAFETY right?..MY QUESTION IS …WHICH IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS 1 CERTIFIED ASSISTANCE DOG OR A THOUSAND UNCERTIFIED HUMAN THINKING WALKING AROUND THE MALL?we humans tend to know everything and where always right….if we want to be fair then lets be fair clearly….we forget that MOST POWERFUL WEAPON EVER CREATED WHICH IS HUMAN THINKING…so we humans are far more dangerous that dogs and in this said Incident that happened to Mr. Cohen and his servicet dog we forgot the one most important value for us humans….. HUMANITY HUMANITY HUMANITY…….
Saba Ryan imohang english wa nagkadimao..humanity, humanity..pag puyo uy!
Ok lang yan pre. It’s the thought that counts. Hindi naman English ang first language natin. 🙂
hahhahahaha LOL
Sorry sir, im a little lost here WHAT THE FUCK IS “A THOUSAND UNCERTIFIED HUMAN THINKING WALKING AROUND THE MALL”??? Zombie ba ito??? Flash mob ba ito??? Humanity humanity humanity #facepalm
Aba e mga tanga pala management ng Robinsons Mall na yan. We hav a bill that supersedes any rule that they have about animals. happy is not just an ordinary dog, he is an assistance dog trained to help a PWD. If the management cannot understand ir differentiate the difference between a pet dog or a an assistance dog, then they themselves should be trained properly. This is a direct discrimination to PWD. You. Don’ even need to be trained, younjust need to have a heart and act like a proper human being.
why does robinsons mall need to release a statement indicating that the foreign visitor wasn’t blind…. the fact that he has an unstable condition should be considered!!!! plus it is also mandated by the law that he is allowed to such consideration of bringing a watch dog…and ONE LAST THING NEVER TAKE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN’T DO!
Para dun sa kupal na ZN na reply nang reply na Mr. Cohen doesnt need the dog because hes not blind: first of all, educate yourself. Blindness is not the only disability. His is a neurological disease which as he said gives symptoms akin to epileptic seizures. The dog is not only there to call for help, the dog is there to alert him if he is about to have these symptoms. Yes, trained service dogs can do that. Remember how they are more sensitive than humans? Yeah. Madali lang naman yan igoogle so do the world a favor and stop being so ignorant. Prevention is better than cure, and in this man’s case, the dog is there to alert him if he is about to have an attack, so that he can take meds or ask for help before it actually happens. Hindi lang naman seeing-eye ang service dogs. They can help PWDs in ways more than one.
Mahiya ka. Talo ka pa ng aso.
Actually im ashamed with my own race, filipino’s are not really friendly, they are just being friendly, because they want something, filipino’s are selfish… sa kalsada pa lang, walang tigil ng singitan, kahit sa mga pila, sa grocery, coffee shop, public Cr, hindi marunong mag antay, puro panlalamang ang ginagawa, makakita ng away or makakita ng inaabuso, kundi papanoorin lang vivideohan… di ba? Nakakahiya…
True that … bulok sistema dito, that is why after finishing college I intend to leave this God forsaken country and like you I’m also ashamed of my own race
Ah ok, i agree na maraming bulok na sistema sa bansa natin. Pero yung ikahiya mo na pinoy ka? Wow! May tip ako syo, kumuha ka ng baril at itutok mo sa ulo mo tsaka mo iputok at umasa na sana sa reincarnation kung meron nun, citizen ka ng planet mercury.
Shame on you, Robinsons.
the dog is a certified assistance dog. same as those K9’s of the police force. does it means that police K9 are not allowed inside the mall also? they both fall under the same category, animals are not allowed and might pose a threat to other customers…
Well, that’s JG Summit for you. What has been happening at Cebu Pacific flights all the time is also taking place at Robinsons Malls like this one. I even heard that Digitel/Sun (while the company was still in Gokongwei’s hands) immediately denies employment applications from PWDs. Ganyan ba talaga sila? The SM Group of Companies is not like that, by the way.
I guess that sometimes simple house rules take precedence and allowing the dog is perhaps viewed by management as a bad precedent.
para sa lahat kong mga kapatid na nagkomento d2 sa nangyare sa Robinsons Place Dumaguete ay Lahat po kayo ay TAMA sa inyong mga komento pero Hwag na po Tayong magPersonalan at Gumamit ng mga Masamang salita at lahat na Problema ay Mayroon Solusyon…at para nman po sa Robinsons Management Alam ko Mayroon po kayong Customer Service at sana Lumabas at Hinarap nyo itong PWD Foreigner at Pinakinggan nyo ang Explanation nya at Ok i AGREE na mayroon kayo Policy na Bawal ang Pets pero Pinakita na ni Mr.Cohen ang Certificate na Assistance or Guide Dog ang Kasama nya at Hindi Ordinary Dog at sana Binigyan nyo nman po ng Consideration si Mr.Cohen lalo na sya ay isang Foreigner at makakaGanda pa sa Image Internationally ng inyong Company at may Kasabihan tayo na In every Rules there is an Exemption,dba?Kung halimbawa ang Dog na kasama nya ay Nangagat Alam ni Mr.Cohen na may Pananagotan sya sa Biktima at sa Robinsons at Alam ko na may Insurance yan kase d2 sa amin sa London khit saan sya magPunta Papapasokin sya dhil Dala nya ang mga Dokumento ng Assistance Dog nya at Inuulit ko po sa inyo Robinsons Management Hindi po Ordinary Pet Dog yon dhil Well Trained Dog… Please Listen at marami pong Salamat!!!
As a foreigner myself, married to a Filipina, and living in the Philippines. I am disappointed to learn of Mr. Cohen’s ignorant behavior at Robinsons in Dumaguete.
Robinson’s policy is very clear – No dogs allowed in the Dumaguete mall. Not even a “well trained service dog” if the dog even was.
However I know there are some malls in Manila which allow small or toy dogs, such as the SM Mall of Asia, but the dog has to be carried around in a carrier or stroller.
There is a risk of communicable diseases from dogs in the Philippines such as rabies. Does the dog have a valid health certificate signed by a licensed Philippine veterinarian?
On his first visit to the mall Mr. Cohen was refused entry with the dog. He then created a disturbance (all hell broke loose) at the mall entrance which warranted the mall guards to call the police, who in turn, handcuffed Mr. Cohen then had to physically lift him into a police car and take him to the police station.
On his second visit with the dog, he was again refused entry. This time he lay down at the mall entrance for hours in protest.
On his third visit, however, according to Robinsons, he no longer had the dog with him and was allowed to enter the mall.
Mr. Cohen claims he is a medically-certified Person with Disability, he has a Neurological disorder which can result in syncope (a short loss of consciousness) resembling epilepsy and parkinson’s disease and is sensitive changes in the environment such as temperature and intensity of light (should be forbidden to drive with this condition). He claims this condition requires him to have the Assistance Dog.
Does he have a certificate to show this?
How then did he NOT require the Assistance Dog on his third visit to the mall?
Mr. Cohen claims to be “The Director of the International Institute for Assistance Dog Training”. I have checked this on the internet and to my amazement THIS INSTITUTE DOES NOT EXIST. Indeed a facebook address was opened on 31 July 2014 with minimum entry.
I believe Mr. Cohen to be a complete nuisance to the public. He is a bad example of foreigner behavior. Indeed he has a disorder that could easily be resolved with a good kick in his ass. How does he expect to retire in the Philippines when he behaves in such a bad manner. Has he forgotten he has entered the country on a tourist visa. Shame on him.
Para nyo(rob dumaguete) na din sinabi na ang mga mall sa mga maunlad na bansa ay hindi safe puntahan dahil allowed sa kanila ang ganyan…baka sa sm o iba pang mall pwede dun ka na lang mark pumunta
It obvious that these mall managers dont even know the difference between a pet &an assistance dog. HALLER! You ignorat fools! Cguro masmabait pa si Happy kaysa mga managers na yan!
Napaka bobo nung mga tao nga nagsasabi na ayaw lang iwanan yung aso nya sa labas ng mall. Halatang walang kaalam alam sa assistance dogs. Manood din kasi ng discovery/natgeo channel pag may time wag yung puro salita halatang first time lang malaman na may mga gamung case pala eh. Buti pa ang Ayala Malls pwede magpapasok ng pets sa loob. Di tulad ng SM at Robinsons mga ugaling hayop ang wini welcome.
AMPERSAN/RYAN/ZEN!? what about if K-9 BOMB sniffing DOG will go inside this robnson mall what woould u think they will do….. its the same with trained aasistant dog do u think they will not alowed it? its stiil a trained dog what ever situation was…. itsa simple as ” consideration”…. if we think of dangerous matter its always around us its only depend how we react about it…
What you do to others is what you do to Jesus. When the man is about to enter you immediately close the door, When the spirit of Jesus is about to enter you just close the door for him. Robinsons Place Dumaguete such a cruel management. Filipinos are not like that. Filipinos are very helpful and humble.
Please refrain of saying that being a filipino is a curse… We are a loving people.. Every raise has its bad side but don’t judge as with every single mistake.. We dont care.
Here is an excerpt from the law… regarding accessibility.. so please search kung ano ba sinasabi niyang meron tayong ganung provision…
Republic Acts 7227 and 9442
CHAPTER 6 – Accessibility SECTION 25. Barrier-Free Environment
he State shall ensure the attainment of a barrier-free environment that will enable disabled persons to have access in public and private buildings and establishments and such other places mentioned in Batas Pambansa Bilang 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law’. The national and local government shall allocate funds for the provision of architectural or structural features for disabled persons in government buildings and facilities. SECTION 26. Mobility The State promote the mobility of disabled persons. Disabled persons shall be allowed to drive motor vehicles, subject to the rules and regulations issued by the Land Transportation Office pertinent to the nature of their disability and the appropriate adaptations or modifications made on such vehicles. SECTION 27. Access to Public Transport Facilities The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall develop a program to assist marginalized disabled persons gain access in the use of public transport facilities. Such assistance may be in the form of subsidized transportation fare. The said department shall also allocate such funds as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the public transport program for the disabled persons. The Accessibility Law,’ as amended, shall be made supplementary to this Act. SECTION 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations The Department of Transportation and Communications shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provision of this Chapter. – See more at: http://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/republic-acts/republic-act-7277/#sthash.J0ob3Up2.dpuf
Hndi ba nila magets na kealngan ung aso para sa knya ? grabe natatawa ako sa comment ni ZN ? hndi kba marunong mag basa ? The Republic Acts 7227 and 9442, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, which are laws of the Government of the Philippines, do in fact allow me access with my Assistance Dog to your mall and to any public place or mode of transport.”
Kaya tayonga mga pinoy nabbgyan ng negative feedback dahil sa pag asta ng mga ibang tao sa pilipinas “The Republic Acts 7227 and 9442, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, which are laws of the Government of the Philippines, do in fact allow me access with my Assistance Dog to your mall and to any public place or mode of transport.” SENTIDO KUMON !
I don’t think the mall had any right to deny him access and I understood this once he stated in his letter that the law permits him to be with his dog. Regardless be it for comfort or safety, he had the right. And I dont think mall management rules weigh more than the law enacted by the government. However, people from our country tend to overlook such laws bec it’s too inconvenient for them thinking they know better. Jaywalking for example is mostly overlooked by the public. Yet they rage at the drivers when someone gets hit. And for the haters, i dont think you understand how hard the dogs were trained just to get certified. Their training wasnt just a tesda crash course because i am fairly aware that when the safety of an individual is directly affected, they dont take things lightly. The mere fact that this person trusts his dog so much means that his dog earned it. That’s all.
Robinsons’ Management is a big shame to Filipinos. You all are the epitome of ignorance and stupidity that a lot of people claim Filipinos to be, unfortunately for all of us other filipinos who try to prove those observations wrong. A simple judgement call could have been made by someone who uses common sense and read those certificates could have turned the situation around. Drown yourselves in the sewer with the rats and take your loyalist NZ, who apparently is trying to be a know it all or is part of your management team,with you.
BTW, if you were not as stuck at the 1800’s as you guys apparently are, you would’ve known that our friend dogs don’t just help the blind and deaf (which is not something that you guys are capable of). They are also used for assistance such as:
– Service dogs refers to dogs not specifically trained for visual or hearing impairment, but trained to do other work, such as mobility assistance dogs, seizure alert dogs or othermedical alert dogs, and psychiatric service dogs. In the United States, the term “service dog” may be used synonymously with “assistance dog,” and is occasionally used for other types of working dogs as well. These dogs can in some instances be dual classified as Therapy Dogs.
– A medical response dog is a service dog trained to assist an individual who has a medical disability. Typically, they are dogs whose job does not handle primarily epilepsy or psychiatric-based conditions, though some seizure response dogs or psychiatric service dogs may also be referred to as medical response.
– Many medical response dogs “alert” their handlers to conditions before they occur. For example, service dogs partnered with diabetic persons may be trained to detect when the handler’s blood sugar becomes too high or low. hypo alert dogs are used to alert their diabetic owners of dangerous changes in their blood sugar levels. In addition to or in the absence of this training, medical response dogs are also often trained skills to help in their handlers’ symptoms, such as bringing medications or a telephone, providing bracing and other mobility assistance, or any other number of tasks.
– Tasks for seizure dogs may include, but are not limited to:
1. Summoning help, either by finding another person or activating a medical alert or pre-programmed phone
2. Pulling potentially dangerous objects away from the person’s body”Blocking” to keep individuals with absence seizures and complex partial seizures from walking into obstacles, streets, and other dangerous areas that can result in bodily injury or death
3. Attempting to rouse the unconscious handler during or after a seizure
4. Providing physical support (and the secondary benefit of emotional support)
5. Carrying information regarding the dog, the handler’s medical condition, instructions forfirst responders, emergency medication, and oxygen
Additionally, some dogs may develop the ability to sense an impending seizure. This behavior is usually reported to have arisen spontaneously and developed over a period of time. There have been some studies where dogs were trained to alert impending seizures by using reward-based operant conditioning– with partial success.
With that little background info, I CAN’T BELIEVER HOW BIG OF AN IDIOT YOU GUYS ARE.
yeah you’re right Ray… I think Rob Management from Dumaguete needs first to undergo refresh/review from DEP-ED specifically English 1 before discusing to them about the LAW. OMG! (house pet vs trained pet) i believe HAPPY is smarter than those k9 dogs they allow to go inside the mall for inspections or lets say K9 and HAPPY is just same smart, its just that they have different skills acquired from training. Talking about safety of other customers?? THE F!!! so they think HAPPY is askal(asong ulol)? #Mark Cohen #Happy
the Philippines are full of dumb shitheads anyway. both guards and mall management. it’s a wonder how people (non-citizens) would like to live there.
Hi. Not to start any war but, not all of us Filipinos are like that. But yes, there are those kinds that even us, fellow Filipinos, can’t deny about. I just hope that there remains good people in the management, rational and considerate enough to respond to this right away. I don’t want to hear any more of Mr. Mark having to wait for hours outside the mall. He just doesn’t deserve it.
Mr. John and Lance Gokongwei, Sabihan mo po ung mall manager ng Robinson Mall Dumaguete na walang modo ang mga security guards na hindi pinapasok ang may kapansanan sa loob ng mall. Kaya gusto ko malinawan kung bakit ayaw ng mga tauhan ng mall na papasukin si #Mark Cohen sa loob ng Mall? Gusto namin Patalsikin ang mga ilang mga tauhan kasama ang mga Security Guard sa Robinson Dumaguete kasagsagan ng pagmamalupit ang isang may kapansanan na may kasamang alagang hayop. Kahit Bawal pa dapat bigayan ng assistance ang mga may kapansanan sa pagpasok sa mall. Salamat po at gawin niyo ang tamang aksyon at solusying ang mga problema nito.
I don’t understand what it is you think you are “protecting” your customers from by barring a certified guide dog – an animal specifically trained to cater to the needs of a human being. How you can find a threat in that mere fact baffles me. Let’s not undermine his prescription to a guide dog as well by making our own prescriptions, like a random nurse you just got from who knows where. To say the least, nurses and guide dogs don’t offer the same services. PLEASE educate yourself, Robinsons. So much shame on you.
What would you expect from the same people who manage Cebu Pacific, who are inconsiderate and insensitive to the needs of people with disabilities.
So they should not let sniff dogs to go in the mall too hahahaha
They are pets too hahahaha
And lying that they gave him assistance? hahaha, down with robinsons 🙂
i’ll go to SM and Ayala Malls instead hahaha
I think ZN is somewhat associated with Robinson. Mali-mali pa yung reasoning mu geng…
Robinson’s Place Dumaguete is one inconsiderate establishment. They obviously don’t know a thing or two. Their mind and understanding in a lot of matters is verbatim. In every rule there should be an excemption. The mall behaves like a second-rate establishment, that is why perhaps they didn’t have a chance to become on top. Such disgrace. #BoyCottROBINSONS
This is far too depressing.
The mall’s statement sounds so wrong in so many ways. The argument is too vague and just full of empty words with little to no proof. Moreover, such argument was even denied by the person (not a part of their ‘management’) who kindly offered assistance to the man, who was also polite enough to decline. Where is the respect? Where is the justice? The man didn’t deserve the hours it took him just sitting outside the mall he wanted to enter. I’m not saying that they should bend the rules but what about customers’ assistance?
I’m not happy, Robinsons. Your rules may spell it out for me but I don’t see any rightful action towards solving this.
It’s sad to hear news regarding some Filipino’s ignorance. Yes, there are rules. But, that doesn’t mean we should ‘always’ comply with those imposed rules. It just shows how lame some people handle things in this kind of situation. Honestly, things like these make me feel ashamed of our country. Kaya nga di aasenso kasi hindi tumitingin sa mga bagong posibilidad. Ayan tuloy, palaging huli ang pinas.
As for ZN, i pity you. You can reason out your opinion but what’s lacking is your critical thinking. What if a relative of yours has disorders like those of Marc? What will you feel if they’ll experience the same thing as what Marc did?
Siguro nga strict rules so kailangan talagang itupad, pero for me, I think it’s time for mall owners to think of possibilities like these and do something about it. It’s time for the rules to be changed and improved. Strive for the better. GISING MGA PINOY!
Since Mr. Cohen has a variant symptoms similar to Epilepsy as he stated which could lead to a possible seizure, this short vid might educate you a little about what a epileptic seizure service dog can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Pt9Cjj9JQ
And for you ZN, tignan mo nga muna yung video bago ka magcomment. Prove mo nga sa amin kung pano di makakatulong ang aso in their own ways? Nakakadetect pa nga ang aso kung may incoming na seizure, at least malalaman na ng owner and take medications para maprevent. Prevention is better than cure nga dba? Eh yung nurse na sina-suggest mo o yang pinagsasabi mong lalapitan ng aso ang mga tao, makakadetect kaya at mapre-prevent? That’s already something big kesa may scene pang mangyari. As far as I know, trained talaga tong mga service dogs, which Robinsons would like to call “assistance” dog, to do what they can do alone before calling for help.
Do more research pa nga ZN, wag ka na umepal. And if yung “stubborn” reasoning mo talaga ibubuga mo? Basahin mo na lng yung mga laman ng Republic Acts stated in Mr. Cohen’s letter.
And as for you Robinsons Management, I think if Mr. Cohen’s given a chance to demonstrate his intentions in the future on your mall, not only you will learn more and be educated about assistance dogs pati na rin mga tao sa Dumaguete. He stated this in his letter just in case you didn’t read, “I want to work with you to make my next visit to your mall a very positive event for Robinsons Mall, Persons with a Disability, and the citizens of the Philippines in general”. Pero wala e, sinayang niyo yung opportunity, nagawa pang magclaim ng statement na di totoo, pinamukha pa na nasa “dark age” pag-iisip ng management niyo. Isa to sa mga rason kaya tinatawag na third-world country ang Pinas dahil sa ganitong pag-iisip.. Di man lang magawang kausapin si Mr. Cohen.. Automatic naman ata na nag o-override yung rule dahil official Philippine Government Law yan na effective sa case ni Mr. Cohen, may sariling gobyerno ata tong Robinsons Dumaguete.
sa eroplano nga katabi niya service dog bakit sa mall hindi? sa ibang malls papayagan rin kaya siya?
Sabihin na nating madame ngang tao, eh imbis na tulungan kung may mangyare man sa kanya im sure makikiusi lang karamihan jan yung iba vivideohan pa o pipicturan.hahahaha
In my OPINION it’s unfair to say that one of the reasons why we are still on the 3rd world country is just because of this incident. Elderly w/ disability and animals like dog have a very soft spot in my heart, but what i can see is an “adventurous” foreigner trying to put the mall guard and policeman on a damn if you do, damn if you don’t situation. I believe this mall policy applies TO ALL locals of Dumaguete. If mall management allowed him considering it’s a strict policy, then what about the others? He should went to other establishment where pets are allowed certified to whatever or just pets.I actually pity him because HE IS NOT FILIPINO, our loved ones here who are disabled and have medical condition don’t need dog to go to other places. We take care of them of ourselves and ensure their safety.
how stupid!! robinson can`t even understand what assistance dog is.! how pathetic robinson ito kayo o ,../.. -_- …\.,
if “happy” a dog and no pet policy inside the mall,why there’s a K-9 roving around almost all the mall’s and establishment?and why there’s a pet shop inside the mall?make sense?
if no pet allowed?why theres anywhere in the country?in public office,senate,even in palace…..crocodile “buwaya” is any where and they in barrong and saya gown……..LOL
“Prevention is BETTER than CURE.” Mas maganda ng may Assistance Dog kesa sa wala. Hindi kasi alam ng tao/ security guards kung anung feeling ng magkaroon ng disability nang katulad ng ganito. Dapat sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, mas iniintindi natin ang mga taong ito. Well in fact, siya ay banyaga. Pero mas pinili ang Pilipinas kung saan siya ay mamalagi tapos, ganito pa ang isusukli natin sakaniya? Ganyan ba tayo Philippines as a hospitable persons? Grabe naman! Konting consideration naman sa mga taong may disability. Si Sir Mark Cohen nga eh buti positive padin ang pananaw niya sa Mall regarding the issue kahit papaano, napaka-professional pa din niya. And ang mga tao ngayon, hindi mo kung sino ang pagkakatiwalaan mo eh. Kaya nga may companion siya which is, yung Certified Assistant dog niya na si “Happy.” Sana hindi na maulit ito..
It appears to me that they attempted to help him, this man is not poor old john, Folks this is the Philippines, get over it. I have been here for 8 of the past 10 years. If you do not like it they are not hold you here. with the fuss this guy is making I am sure he will be black listed and sent home…you are a visitor to this country they have different ways and it is not the same as your home country…you may cross the wrong person …you are already a marked man since you are not native….. As i have heard others say.,, if you do not like it GO HOME
This is not a discrimination, and rules are rules. The management of the mall is certainly at fault too, where they did not respond immediately to the scene. Robinson’s mall’s attorney should know this. Maybe it’s time to replace him.
IF YOU CAN DO THAT IN YOUR COUNTRY, THEN GO BACK! disabled / retired foreigners opt to go to the philippines since they cant afford to hire a private nurse! cheaper to marry a poor filipina….
Karma is a bitch and when it hit you, Robinsons Management, I wish you all the luck. You should start learning how to be a bit considerate. And lastly, familiarize yourself about what’s going on around you. It took you several days to release a formal reaction or whatsoever regarding this matter. You should know what a “Guide Dog” is. You’ll never know when you’ll have to need this kind of assistance one good day. Bless us all!
Okey, Let say …Service Dog is allowed sa loob ng mall……Sino ang sisisihin nyo kung gamitin ng mga terrorist ang isang service dog at mag implant ng bomb sa loob ng body ng aso/ o kaya gamiting accessories ang service dog para isagawa ang isang crime sa loob ng mall o kaya mga hustler na magnanakaw sa mall……you never know kung pano mag isip ang mga criminal and terrorist para makalusot to do all this thing……..pano kung isa kayo sa injured o namatay sa pagsabog…….sino ang sisisihin nyo ????
Pa clear ko lang. Nung Dumating yung foreigner may dala ba syang “Any Documents/Certificate” na talagang Assistant dog yung kasama nya. Ehh kung wala Prof. Di ko papapasukin yan. Di natin alam kung ano nasa isip ng tao diba. either he is Good or Bad. For the Safety. Isapa, Second na dumating yung foreigner sana dumala sya ng Papers to prof. Parang wala Ehh. (Kung nakadala din naman sya. pwes di ko nakita sa mga post Dito and dami kaya). But then Proweba lang naman na talagang Assistant Dog sya. di yung Sabi nya Ganya Ganito is not enough for me.
Diba PWD sya. Anu ba pwedi naman talaga ipaassist yung mga kailangan nyang bilhin. Ewan ko lang kung alam ng Security Guard yun. O bka Umiral muna ang PRIDE.
I Accept any Comments to Clarify me more about this Issue.