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.