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Friday, March 29, 2024
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HomeGUEST COLUMNYassss!: Inclusivity and pure abilities

Yassss!: Inclusivity and pure abilities

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There’s so much buzz about the 36th Negros Trade Fair because it is an event that everyone from all corners of the Philippines and even those from outside the country, look forward to. It is a tourism and economic event popular for showcasing great finds – from sumptuous delicacies meticulously prepared by Negrenses and Bacolodnons, to export quality products.

Anne Marie Makilan, one of the school’s stakeholders, with her son Gab and daughter Christianna Marilet. Her love for her son who needs special care and education made her embark on a passion project that aims to equip children with special needs much-needed life skills to make them productive and empowered.
Anne Marie Makilan, one of the school’s stakeholders, with her son Gab and daughter Christianna Marilet. Her love for her son who needs special care and education made her embark on a passion project that aims to equip children with special needs much-needed life skills to make them productive and empowered.

The yearly holding of the trade fair is always a huge success. But this year’s staging of the Negros Trade Fair dubbed, “Hidlaw” in Glorietta in Makati is extra special because aside from the fact that the long-running trade fair returned after three years, it also gave differently-abled students a platform to flex their gifts. Yasss! For the first time, the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) integrated the students with special needs to mainstream by involving them in the fair.

Brent Nighel Anzano and JB Arroyo flew to Manila for the first time, to be part of the famous fair. JB showed guests how he creatively paints banig bags while Brent demonstrated how-to trays and photo frames from wood, coconut and capiz shells. And in the morning of the first day of the fair, all handcrafted photo frames on display at the fair were sold out! A balikbayan bought everything that the Transition Class made and brought the fair. The buyer returned the following day and bought hand-painted banig bags. Bottles of sandwich spread on display were also wiped out. More customers came in and placed advance orders for October and November.

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All bestsellers! Hand-paninted banig bags, bottled spiced vinegar or sinamak, sandwich spread and native photo frames and trays!
All bestsellers! Hand-paninted banig bags, bottled spiced vinegar or sinamak, sandwich spread and native photo frames and trays!

JB the painter got a customer and fan – no other than former COMELEC Commissioner and now Rep. Rowena Guanzon who champions the cause of PWDs! While going live on Facebook, Cong. G brought her viewers to the booth where the boys were doing the demo and showed her followers on social media how gifted the two adolescents are. She asked JB to make her a customized hand-painted banig bag and was game for photo ops with the boys, the school staff and teachers.

“I am happy that our children with learning disabilities are participating in the Negros Trade Fair. They are our pride and joy, and must be included in social and economic activities,” stressed Guanzon, who represents P3PWD in the House of Representatives.

All bestsellers! Hand-paninted banig bags, bottled spiced vinegar or sinamak, sandwich spread and native photo frames and trays!
All bestsellers! Hand-paninted banig bags, bottled spiced vinegar or sinamak, sandwich spread and native photo frames and trays!

Cong. Bing also promised the students, their parents and whole faculty and staff that she will be coming home to Bacolod in November to join the kids in their Friendship Games under the Pre-Vocational Program of Happy Beginners School of Learning are displayed. The couple placed an advance order of banig bags for October.

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The teenagers became an instant hit when their talents were showcased at the trade fair. Guests who visited their booth never fail to spend a moment just watching them meticulously make handicrafts using their bare hands. JB’s mother Wendy, posted on her social media page how thankful she is for the community’s appreciation and support. Her photo and video posts show how busy her son is painting native bags in the condominium where they are staying in Makati because they’ve been receiving a lot of orders of customized hand-painted native bags since the fair opened.

To refresh your memories, these two boys who are currently making history by being part of the Negros Trade Fair, belong to the Transition Class that earlier showcased their skills in the Department of Trade and Industry’s One Town One Province (OTOP) Provincial Trade Fair Center in a shopping mall in Bacolod in July.

The Transition Class busy preparing ingredients of their bottled spiced vinegar.
The Transition Class busy preparing ingredients of their bottled spiced vinegar.

ANP Vice President for Advocacy Mary Ann Colmenares said inclusivity is a priority of ANP. “When Jojie Locsin of Tumandok Crafts asked me if she can bring the children to our national media launch, I thought it was a brilliant idea to share with our media friends. We welcome the many opportunities that should be available to the kids so they feel empowered and productive,” said Colmenares.

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Colmenares said it is Tumandok Crafts that gives the students a chance to work with things they process.

Locsin on the other hand, shared that at first, she was not appreciative of persons with disabilities as she had no exposure to them. “But being in a group that visits the school for value transformation activities with their teachers, I learned that these children have special skills and talents. That’s when I was moved and decided to help them. I do look forward to these kids growing and becoming full-fledged entrepreneurs someday with the encouragement they will be getting from their families and the communities,” she said.

Greg Guanzon, nephew of Rep. Rowena Guanzon, making a native photo frame made of wood,  coconut and capiz shells.
Greg Guanzon, nephew of Rep. Rowena Guanzon, making a native photo frame made of wood, coconut and capiz shells.

She believes allowing them to participate in the trade fair will give the public a chance to see what the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) like Brent and JB can do, and will help open the minds especially of families with members with special needs, to give them their needed support.

Prior to the break given to the students in a number of exhibits that featured their skills and products, Anne Marie Makilan, one of the stakeholders of the school, has introduced a program that aims to equip the students with the necessary life skills like cooking, doing chores, doing clerical work, handicraft making, food processing, among others. She recently launched a pre-vocational program in Special Education which she calls, “Pure Abilities”. It is specifically designed for children with special needs ages 10 to 18 years old.

“Being a mother to a son with special needs, I believe a program that focuses on addressing the challenges faced by adolescents when it comes to performing chores and acquiring life skills must be made available to help prepare them for life after they leave school,” said Makilan.

Dr. Mark Anthony Talatala (in black, right) of the Autism Society of Neg Occidental. He is instrumental also in raising awareness on Autism and Children with Special Needs in Bacolod and the province.
Dr. Mark Anthony Talatala (in black, right) of the Autism Society of Neg Occidental. He is instrumental also in raising awareness on Autism and Children with Special Needs in Bacolod and the province.

She stressed these children, differently-abled they may be, possess gifts that must be tapped and harnessed to make them productive citizens who can later earn from what they are good at like handicraft making and painting.

“These are pure abilities! Pure abilities of students with special needs but who act no different from children their age when it comes to doing chores and performing life skills. They may be differently-abled but they are capable and able,” emphasized Makilan.

This is also the reason why Makilan never stops looking for partners that are willing to help empower the students.

Meanwhile, Colmenares of ANP hopes the media will feature these children and their gifts so that the community will be educated about differently-able individuals as members of the community who also possess certain skills and can be productive individuals too.

When asked if ANP is open to the possibility of helping sharpen the skills of the students, she quickly replied, “I have a ceramic factory which I am renovating now to be able to give people the chance to express their creativity through ceramic and clay. Once I open, I would like to invite the kids to play and work with clay. I promise you, it will be an advocacy that we will adopt in ANP.” Isn’t that great news?

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. (partly hidden) pointing at a hand-painted bayong bag as Teacher John explains to them the how students with special needs are trained to utilize their talents and skills positively to him and his wife Manay Gina.
Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. (partly hidden) pointing at a hand-painted bayong bag as Teacher John explains to them the how students with special needs are trained to utilize their talents and skills positively to him and his wife Manay Gina.

Kudos to Tumandok Crafts, ANP, P3PWD and to all partners in this advocacy that aims to help children with special needs be part of mainstream! God bless your hearts and may we all be one in pushing for inclusivity not just for the differently-abled but for all sectors that are rarely given a platform to be seen, heard and appreciated.

The week-long trade fair that ended Sunday, did not only give the students with special needs the exposure they needed. The platform given to them by ANP and the NTF opened a lot of opportunities for these kids to sharpen their skills and reinforce abilities as many specialists, individuals and organizations offered help to the school.

“We only had this little goal to expose and integrate the kids into the mainstream to spread awareness and appreciation for the gifts they have. But God has greater plans. The students’ participation in the trade fair opened the eyes of many, inspired individuals and families of children who are differently-abled. Now, the school is receiving a lot of offers of help from strangers telling us they too have relatives with special needs, specialists, organizations and good-hearted people. The school, which is in its 10th year, is just an instrument of God. We are mere instruments,” a teary-eyed Makilan said.

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Yasmin Pascual Dormido
Yasmin Pascual Dormido
Yasmin Pascual-Dormido is a mega hyphenate, juggling multiple careers. A veteran journalist, media consultant, lecturer, baker, and fitness buff, Yasmin has added the feather of Doctor in Public Administration to her cap.
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