This year’s celebration highlighted the
country’s legacy of strong leaders that have brought the autism advocacy
forward -- for the last 30 years, across 97 chapters, with 13,000 members --
and have become the foundation on which the next generation of leaders will
build the future.
Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings chairman
of the executive committee, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the ASP’s
Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare. It is the society’s highest
recognition, celebrating exemplary leadership that has significant and positive
impact on advancing ASP’s vision of acceptance, accommodation and appreciation
of persons with autism in an Autism-OK Philippines. Beyond awareness, Mr. Sy’s
leadership has inspired tangible, measurable action through the accomplishments
of SM Cares.
“Although many are aware of autism, very
few people actually understand what it means to live life on the autism
spectrum. SM Cares and ASP come together as a community to remind everyone that
autism awareness and acceptance should be part of their everyday lives.
Awareness is a good thing, but
acceptance is far more meaningful,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SVP of SM Supermalls
and Program Director of SM Cares Program on PWD’s.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who
issued EO 711 of 1996, instituting the commemoration of the National Autism
Consciousness Week, will be honored by ASP as the Father of the Philippine Autism
Advocacy. “FVR’s leadership opened the doors for the government agencies and
private institutions to begin the path towards genuine inclusion of persons on
the autism spectrum,” shared Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP national president, “His
administration’s disability inclusive policies have put the Philippines ahead
of our ASEAN neighbors in advocating for persons with autism and other
invisible disabilities.”
The pre-walk program was led by Ms. Dang
Koe, ASP Chair Emeritus and the inaugural ASEAN Prize Laureate 2018. The ASEAN
Prize aims to recognise inspiring achievements and contributions that foster
the ASEAN identity, promote the ASEAN spirit, and champion the ASEAN way. ASP
is among the active movers behind the ASEAN Autism Network and the ASEAN
Mapping Project.
ASP also awarded the Autism Works
Partners of the Year honors to Dohtonbori Philippines, a Japanese casual dining
pioneer and to Willis Towers Watson, a global leader in risk management and
consultancy, for their unwavering commitment to creation of productive
opportunities for jobseekers with autism.
The program included the presentation of
the annual ASP Autism Angel Achievement Awards to Samantha Pia Cabanero (for
Advocacy), Eduardo Enrique Munarriz (for Athletics), and Carlo Gregorio Veluz
(for Visual Arts). It also incorporated the induction of the new ASP Board of
Trustees, composed of parent advocates; and the first set of officers of the
ASP Self-Advocates
Circle, composed of adults with autism.
Over 20,000 participants -- families,
professionals, supporters from the government and private sectors, from the
Philippines and overseas -- joined the annual walk from the MOA Arena to the SM
MOA Music Hall. The walk is held with the support of the MOA Arena, SM Mall of
Asia, National Council of Disability Affairs, ASEAN Autism Network and the
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability.
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