About a decade ago, I was asked this question during an interview for a
call center post:
call center post:
“I’m blind. How would you describe the color blue to me?”
I was stumped. How do you describe a color shade to a person who
doesn’t even know what a color looks like to begin with?
doesn’t even know what a color looks like to begin with?
You don’t know what you don’t know, Rico Blanco sings. If you aren’t
blind, you really wouldn’t have an idea how visually impaired people perceive
things, how they go through everyday living – unless you experience
blindness itself.
The folks at Residence Inn had a solid idea on how we, 20-20 vision-blessed beings, can take in that experience. They asked us to dine in the dark.
blind, you really wouldn’t have an idea how visually impaired people perceive
things, how they go through everyday living – unless you experience
blindness itself.
The folks at Residence Inn had a solid idea on how we, 20-20 vision-blessed beings, can take in that experience. They asked us to dine in the dark.
This is not a candlelit dinner, or one where you have the teensiest
sight of log burning from afar. We were absolutely blind; blindfolded
then led to a pitch-black room with zero lighting. We can’t even see our
seatmate’s teeth even if he/she grinned and we had already removed the eye patch.
The walls were painted a non-reflective flat black finish, so there were absolutely no visible
reflections in the visual field.
sight of log burning from afar. We were absolutely blind; blindfolded
then led to a pitch-black room with zero lighting. We can’t even see our
seatmate’s teeth even if he/she grinned and we had already removed the eye patch.
The walls were painted a non-reflective flat black finish, so there were absolutely no visible
reflections in the visual field.
The smell of faint incense greeted us, along with live acoustic songs
played a blind man. In that space where sight is nil, everything is heightened.
Sound, the scent of food, the feel of fabric – things often forgotten
in this check-in-then-out life. I have never appreciated fish fillet, chicken
roll and vegetables better in my life (and also, the food was REALLY awesome,
especially the killer tartar sauce).
played a blind man. In that space where sight is nil, everything is heightened.
Sound, the scent of food, the feel of fabric – things often forgotten
in this check-in-then-out life. I have never appreciated fish fillet, chicken
roll and vegetables better in my life (and also, the food was REALLY awesome,
especially the killer tartar sauce).
 |
| Our last peak of the light of day. |
You know how we survived thirty minutes of eating like that? We were assisted by blind people working with the Eye Bank Foundation of the
Philippines all throughout. Sauce at 1 o’clock. Meat at 12 o’clock. Rice at 6
o’clock. Utensils at 3. Mineral bottle water at 11 , and dessert just right
beside it. It’s amazing, being guided to see by people who
can’t see.
Philippines all throughout. Sauce at 1 o’clock. Meat at 12 o’clock. Rice at 6
o’clock. Utensils at 3. Mineral bottle water at 11 , and dessert just right
beside it. It’s amazing, being guided to see by people who
can’t see.
 |
| This was basically the dinner we had. We had no idea how beautifully presented it was till afterwards. |
It’s no breeze, this life the blind is living. Directions have to be precise, and steps always taken cautiously. There’s no room for haste, only for awareness of your other senses. It’s easy to get frustrated when you can’t even locate your own mouth. Half of us just gave up after five minutes of food spills and being unable to chuck anything down our throats, and decided to eat with bare hands (I know. We’re cheats) .
 |
| Visually impaired Ms. Cindy and Dra. from the Eye Bank of the Philippines explains things to us. |
Faith and perseverance – two things tested during the blind dinner. But being blind for 30 minutes, it was very hard to trust
oneself not to make the smallest mistake. Like, spilling chicharo on
your seatmate’s lap (whoever you are, sorry! LOL).
oneself not to make the smallest mistake. Like, spilling chicharo on
your seatmate’s lap (whoever you are, sorry! LOL).
Dinner in the Dark is a truly unique dining experience. And if you get to try it, know that the proceeds will go to the Eye Bank Foundation
to aid in the medical needs and livelihood of visually impaired Filipinos. Not
such a bad takeaway, right?
to aid in the medical needs and livelihood of visually impaired Filipinos. Not
such a bad takeaway, right?
You may also make a pledge to the Eye Bank after dinner for your
eye or cornea to be transplanted to a visually impaired person when you pass
away (which I did. Pledging is free, and what would you need your eye for when
you’re dead anyway?).
eye or cornea to be transplanted to a visually impaired person when you pass
away (which I did. Pledging is free, and what would you need your eye for when
you’re dead anyway?).
I still don’t know how the hell to describe the color blue to a blind
person. But at least I know how to describe how mealtime is like for one.
person. But at least I know how to describe how mealtime is like for one.
Dinner In The Dark is a limited-time event in all Zoomanity Group theme
parks. It is held every Saturday of October till November 1, alternately in
each theme park, as part of the company’s “O”wesome October Black Safari
lineup.
The schedule is as follows:
parks. It is held every Saturday of October till November 1, alternately in
each theme park, as part of the company’s “O”wesome October Black Safari
lineup.
The schedule is as follows:
October 4 – Zoobic Safari (Subic)
October 6, Monday – Misono Restaurant (Makati)
October 11 – Residence Inn (Tagaytay)
October 18- Residence Inn (Tagaytay)
October 25 – Paradizoo (Mendez, Cavite)
November 1 – Zoocobia Fun Zoo (Clark)
Other “O”wesome October events you’d want to check
out:
out:
- Night
Safari -Zoobic Safari, Subic
Held every Saturday from October 3 to January 3 from 5:00pm onwards,
Night Safari features an animal parade, Poi dance, Aeta’s tibal fire show and a
recycle recital show, plus the night tiger safari ride.
Night Safari features an animal parade, Poi dance, Aeta’s tibal fire show and a
recycle recital show, plus the night tiger safari ride.
- Black
Magic Show – Resident Inn, Tagaytay
Runs every Saturday from October 25 to November 28 at 6pm. Had a glimpse
of this horror play and they did a fantastic job with the makeup, the lighting
and sound effects. Spooky especially for kids and those who scare easy.
of this horror play and they did a fantastic job with the makeup, the lighting
and sound effects. Spooky especially for kids and those who scare easy.
- Spookable
Month – Paradizoo, Mendez, Cavite
Happens from October 25 to November 9. Features 10,001 pumpkins VS
zombies, an animal parade and pumpkin carving activity for kids.
zombies, an animal parade and pumpkin carving activity for kids.
- Halloween
Ex-Fear-ience – Zoocolate Thrills, Loboc, Bohol
Will be launched on October 25, Saturday at 3pm featuring an animal
show, the biggest Burmese python in the country, and various barn and wild
animals housed in Chocolate Hill-looking enclosures.
show, the biggest Burmese python in the country, and various barn and wild
animals housed in Chocolate Hill-looking enclosures.
People who have purchased tickets for the October 29th
Christopher Cross Tickets get free entrance to any of these parks.
Christopher Cross Tickets get free entrance to any of these parks.
For more information on Zoomanity park’s events, visit
www.zoomanity.com.ph, or contact them at 899-9595/ 899-9824/ 847-0413.
www.zoomanity.com.ph, or contact them at 899-9595/ 899-9824/ 847-0413.
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