Bravo, Homecoming King nominees!

Homecoming king nominees selfless acts astound special needs teen. Full Story here.

Zeke Grissom, Jessee Cooper and Drew Gibbs
*. photo courtesy of Starcasm.net

Scott Maloney and Homecoming Queen
*. photo courtesy of ABC news.com

As parents, you'd want a loving environment for your children not only at home but also in school where they spend most of their time growing up, making friends and developing their characters. When I read this article it reduced me to tears. I was proud of Scott Maloney, the beloved special needs kid with the Williams disease but I was equally proud of the 3 nominated kids (Jesse Cooper, Drew Gibbs and Zeke Grissom) who unselfishly looked past their worldly satisfaction to honor a person with disability and make him feel special. Hooray! 

As a mother of a child with autism, you live with the stigma of this condition. You have to deal with how people stare at your child, talk in whispers, laugh and even make fun of his behavior. All these happening when I am present and I could just imagine how things would unfold if I am not there. I've learned to tune these things out but at times I take a head-on approach too. 

As seen in the news, there seems to be a growing number of unfathomable and horrifying stories especially in the US about how schools lead to its students' deaths be it in the form of shooting massacres and bullying either resulting to death or suicide. And when it is time to call for action, there seems to be no united stand on where to even begin: gun control, stricter enforcement of the anti-bullying act, mental illness issues, security measures in  schools... but the heart of these murders is rooted on the murderers' feelings of  helplessness, discrimination, being an outcast.

The story on Scott Maloney truly uplifts the spirit in the wake of all these sad stories. It also presents something fundamental: the simplest of gestures  - the act of kindness and selflessness, which are always the hardest to learn and practice especially so in this day and age and perhaps, if we can only start or go back there (at home, in school, everywhere) the world will be a much better place. 

Excerpts from several articles about this Happy News:

Liz Gassaway, a teacher in Unionville Community High School, believes that the nearly 500-student school in Tennessee, is "one of the best schools in the world when it comes to dealing with special needs children."

Jesse Cooper, who won the popular vote said, “I’ve been blessed with so many things. I just wanted Scotty to experience something great in his high school days.” When Cooper’s name was announced, the principal of the school stepped in and let the crowd know what the young men had decided. The gathered assembly of fellow classmates and teachers stood and gave Scotty a 30-second standing ovation once he was named king.

Students like Cooper help out in special needs gym classes and other activities. Gassaway said the boys' gesture toward Maloney sent a greater message.

"We want people to have more empathy towards people, not be scared of people with disabilities," she said. "We want to embrace them, more like the boys did."

If you know of any Happy News just like this, share them here. 

*. photo courtesy of ABC News.com

*. photo courtesy of ABC News.com

Angels for my Harperoo

The Angels

I was on a hunt for an everyday pair of earrings that Harperoo can wear and a gift for Sofie's (my niece) 1st birthday when I stumbled upon Hearts and Arrows. When I saw their collection for babies/kids in the window display, I was smitten. My eyes were gleaming. The designs were oh-so-cute and seem one-of-a-kind but when I saw the "Angels", I knew I found my gifts for the girls. Aside from how beautiful they are, somehow, it gives me the assurance of "protection". Unfortunately, there was only 1 pair left. Since Sofie's birthday was a few days away and I already bought a pair of earrings (pictured below, a heart-shaped dangling in blue enamel) for Harperoo which she wore for Sofie's birthday, I  decided to order and wait for the other pair for her. 

It took a while and a lot of drama for Harperoo's "Angels" to arrive and even thought of getting another design because I thought they would never come. But last week, out of sheer impatience and the decision to settle for another design, I went to Hearts and Arrows and was pleasantly surprised when the clerk handed me the "Angels". 

What I like about Hearts and Arrows is that you get a full service jewelry shop. When you go inside, they offer you a seat and a drink (iced tea!) and a bowl of sweets. I didn't buy jewelry with diamonds, but they freely gave me an overview on what makes the hearts and arrows cut the most ideal and beautiful diamond cut in the world. And using their special scope, I actually saw the Hearts and Arrows pictured below in their diamonds ;)

" Hearts and Arrows Diamonds are precision cut variations of the traditional 57 faceted round brilliant cut. They are cut to “ideal proportions” with superior optical symmetry and a specific faceting pattern. When all of these factors are in harmony the result is a repeatable, near perfect pattern of eight symmetrical arrows when the diamond is viewed in the face up position and eight symmetrical hearts when it is viewed in the table down position."

*. Photo courtesy of International Gemological Laboratory

The Hearts and Arrows phenomenon was discovered by accident. Isn't it such wonderful  serendipity how diamonds, the symbol of love, is actually made perfect with the visual harmony of hearts and arrows? Arrows through hearts... Cupid....? Whoa, I can get carried-away here. But it is such a beautiful story in itself. 

With every purchase, they get all your information so that they can get back to you for updates. Although the time I got my Angels, I went there without an update. Still, it's a great value shop where you get your money's worth and aside from what I've previously mentioned, here's more on why. 

First, the bag

Then the packaging

Heavenly beauties!

The best part: My Harperoo and Sofie with their Angels

Like their FB page here!

Gifts from around the world!

Half of my siblings and a good number of relatives and friends are now abroad. We're grateful where they are now and even more grateful that they always remember where they come from.

from Canada

Super A had fun with the giant Snakes and Ladders

Harperoo went for the books first

     Thanks Auntie Dotty Dotty Love for the Holiday loot!

From St. Lucia, the Caribbeans

Thanks Auntie Haydee!!!

                             

Moolah from Saudi

Thanks Auntie Lintoy and Uncle Damin!

More picture-posts to come....

National Autism Week: Jan 20-26, 2013

I received an email reply from Ms. Mona Magno-Veluz, National Secretary for ASP (Autism Society of the Philippines) , to participate in the National Awareness Week in Manila next week. 

"ASP is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to building a society where Filipinos with autism become the best of their potentials -- independent, self-reliant, productive and socially-accepted members of the community."

This is a very powerful mission statement because this is at the heart of every mother for their children with autism or not to be the BEST that they can be. 

For Manila residents, below are the Autism Awareness activities that you can attend. 

Date/Time	Activities	Venue	Lead Organizations
20 – Sunday 8 AM	Angels Walk for Autism	Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City	ASP, SM, DOTC, PARM, DENR, DPWH, HOR
21 – Monday 8 AM 10 AM &  1 PM	Launching of 1Pangako Campaign Educational Trip	DepEd Central Office, Pasig City La Sagesse Rehabilitation and Dev’t. Center, Pasig City and Stepping Stone Learning Center, Makati City	DepEd, ASP ASP, NCDA
22 – Tuesday 9 AM & 1 PM	Forum on “Understanding Passengers with Autism” (1. PNR and 2. MIAA)	To Be Announced (TBA)	DOTC, PNR, MIAA, ASP
23 – Wednesday 8AM	On the Spot Painting Contest	Conference Hall, Environmental Management Bureau, DENR Central Office, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City	DENR, DepEd, ASP, NCDA, PARM, HOR, DPWH
24 – Thursday 8 AM 1 PM	Quiz “A” Seminar on Assisting Pedestrians with Disabilities	House of Representatives, Batasan Hills Complex, Q.C. Makati City & Marikina City	HOR, DepEd, ASP, NORFIL, AHPI, Liliane Found., CWC, Buhay Party List MMDA, ASP
25 – Friday 9 AM 1:30 PM	Preparing Persons with Autism, Their Families and Carers for Disasters Empowering Persons with Autism Through Employment and Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program	Sky Dome, SM City North EDSA, Quezon City Sky Dome, SM City North EDSA, Quezon City	DSWD, SM, ASP, AHPI, CDAG, CWC DSWD, SM, ASP, CWC
26 – Saturday 1 PM	Family Support Group Meetings	ASP Office, Kamias, Quezon City and Elsie Gaches Village, Muntinlupa City	ASP Autism Hearts Phils., Inc.
27 – Sunday 9 AM 2PM	Holy Mass Family Day and Closing Ceremonies	Atrium, SM City Fairview, Quezon City Atrium SM City Fairview, Quezon City	ASP, SM, AMMPD ASP, NCDA, SM
20-27 (weeklong)	*Photo/Artworks Exhibits (Three exhibits)	TBA	ASP, UP CAMP Chapter, AAAP, AHPI

Click here to go to ASP's website for the complete schedules of activities in other areas. Unfortunately, there seems to be no caucus in Cebu. As I am on my third trimester of pregnancy, I will not be able to travel to participate but I'd rather we bring the same awareness campaign and activities here in Cebu consistently. I remember I attended one about 2-3 years ago. Maybe we can do something about this in the future.

In the meantime, my participation for now is to actively write about this cause and I am posting this to whoever finds this helpful/useful. 

Super A: Cleaning Committee

     A series of soliloquies, dialogues and conversations dedicated to my son, my hero.

Sunday mornings are usually playtime for the kiddos. I’ve transformed our living area into a miniature playground where they can do what they want… play pretend or what-have-you.

They have all their toys in a bin and bought a cart for Harperoo so she would start learning how to pack away her toys. On the contrary, she is very good at really trashing the place and uses her cart to make massive mess.

I’m on my second trimester (with our third baby) and can hardly move. I started to get down on my knees to pick up the toys while mentally making some serious swearing (even though I did say they can do WHATEVER they want) when Super A came to the rescue and cleaned up the mess… picking up the toys one by one, covering the bin and putting the bin back to its original placement. He’s a little OC, just like me.

I got up, sat back and put my legs up on our couch. And just like that, Super A saves my day.

Spunky Harper: Virtuosa

Harperoo got some spankin' Christmas gift from Auntie Haydee and immediately tickled the ivories with some vocal accompaniment in time for the holidays.

Thank you Auntie Haydee... you ROCK!