Text and photos by JAKE SORIANO
THE message of the estimated 12,000 “angels with wings” dancing to the beat of Taylor Swift’s pop hit “Shake It Off” was a simple one: awareness, acceptance and inclusion of persons with autism in society.
“What we want is for the Philippines to be autism-OK,” said Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) president Mona Veluz during the annual Angels Walk for Autism at the SM Mall of Asia on Sunday.
An autism-OK Philippines, she explained, is one that adequately accommodates the needs of persons with autism, a developmental disability characterized by impairments in interaction and communications.
An estimated 600,000 Filipinos are diagnosed with autism.
The Sunday gathering, where thousands wore wings, aimed to raise awareness of autism and how people with the disability can enjoy inclusion in society. The event marked the celebration of the Autism Awareness Month.
Said Veluz: “Sana 10 to 20 years from now, hindi na kailangan ng ASP, ng mga organisasyong katulad ng ASP, sapagkat kung may autismo ka, OK lang yun (We hope that 10 or 20 years from now, we would not even have a need for organizations like ASP, because it would not matter if you have autism. You would do OK).
To achieve this end, Veluz highlighted several goals that ASP is pushing. These include building more-autism friendly spaces and more compassionate work places, having adequate job coaches and professionals working for the sector, livelihood opportunities and a reliable information portal.
She urged parents from the crowd, composed of persons with autism and their families, civil society organizations, business personalities and government officials, to work for a future with better employment environments for their children.
“Meron po tayong mga anak na maliliit. Pero hindi sila maliit forever. Kailangan ngayon pa lang, maghanap na tayo ng lugar kung saan sila maaring makakuha ng disenteng trabaho na babayaran sila ng tama. Hindi po sila OJT forever (Our children won’t be children forever. We need to start working now to have inclusive work spaces and opportunities for them so they don’t get stuck in non-permanent posts forever),” Veluz said.
A relatively small gathering when it began in 2007, the annual Angels Walk for Autism attracted more and more participants as years passed.
And this year’s attendance is seen to set a world record for the largest crowd wearing wings. The energy of crowd that filled the mall was described as one that induced goosebumps.
“Nakakakilabot po kanina nakikita namin kayo dito sa stage. Lahat nagsasayaw. Lahat may pakpak (All these people dancing and wearing angel wings gave us goosebumps),” quipped ASP chair Emeritus Erlinda Koe.
She expressed confidence that this year’s gathering will set a world record. “Ang record ngayon ng pinakamaraming naka-pakpak in one place ay only 1,200 (The current record is only 1,200 people wearing wings in one place).”
The biggest wing-wearing contingent this year was from Cavite. Teams from Laguna and Mandaluyong also came in big numbers.
Diwa Partylist Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, in her keynote address before the crowd at the MOA, shared her experience living with a sister who has autism.
“She was diagnosed with autism when she was five,” shey said. “Nung panahon pong yun, 80s, wala pa masyadong, hindi pa namin agad alam kung anong gagawin (It was the 80s and we had little clue what to do).
She added that her sister was the object of ridicule and pity, and the experience led her to campaign for an autism-inclusive society.
“We should realize that people with autism are not people to be pitied,” Aglipay said. “People with autism can live fulfilling lives.”
As a legislator, Aglipay also highlighted two bills for persons with autism, which she is supporting in Congress: one she filed on increasing special education (SPED) schools and another she co-authored with her husband Rep. Mark Villar on granting tax deductions to parents and legal guardians of children with special needs.
Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. in his address, encouraged collective efforts of governments, parents and other concerned groups in making localities autism-inclusive.
The ASP lauded Mandaluyong for having a comprehensive program for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
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