MEET THE INSPIRING WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES-

As a part of the Women With Disability celebration program held at the SM City SKYDOME last March 25, 2011, eight women with disabilities and 2 groups of women with disabilities were given recognition for their inspiring works and achievement in their fields. Most of them are leaders in their communities and actively participating in different activities empowering people with disabilities. The recognition was given by the Inter-agency Network on Women With Disabilities chaired by Carmen Zubiaga, President of WOWLEAP (Women With Disabilities Leap to Social Progress), Architect Rizal Morales, representative of Department of Transport and Communication as Co-Chair. Here are some brief backgrounds of their inspiring lives: 

DR. JEANA LACSAMANA MANALAYSAY

For her achievement in re-integrating herself in professional practice, Doc Jeana's experience is an inspiration for those who got their disabilities later in life. Her disability did not stop her to continue practicing her profession as a dentist and upgrading her knowledge to be more competitive in her field. Living with disability and the barriers she faces everyday developed her as an advocate for accessible environment for PWDs. In spite of her busy clinic schedules, she attended seminars, forums and training for PWDS in advocacy. She is one of the founding members of the Las Pinas Federation of Persons with Disabilities and together with other PWDs from different barangays, lobbied to be recognized by their local government. 

She also share her expertise and free service with her fellow PWDS in Las Pinas by organizing medical and dental mission and advocating for accessibility and 20% discount for PWDs. No doubt, she's really PWEDE!!!

MARIA VICTORIA MANRIQUE 

1.   For her commitment in promoting the interest and concerns of persons with disabilities sector in legislative agenda, the PWD sector welcomed this recognition for Avic. The respect that she gets from the sector was borne out of more than 20 years of serving the House of Representative as Secretary of the Committee on Social Services. Through the years of her representation with the NCDA Working Group, she listened to the needs of the sector and quietly pushed for the development of legislation for their benefit. She also supported most of the inter-agency activities such as the NDPR Week, CPAP Week, Women WIth Disability Day among others. 

    Ms. Manrique’s battle with chronic illness made her one with the sector and did not stop her to incessantly work with commitment. She continuously shares her time and expertise in every undertaking where she is needed. What is remarkable about her is the relationship she developed with each PWDs who knew her.She is one of the few government employees who really serve the sector given to her. AVIC is another PWEDE!

l!

D       

ARCHT. RIZAL MORALES- ISA KANG PWEDE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

June 19 is a day of national observance because it is the birthday of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. On this same day this year, falls the Father's Day, the time of the year when everyone honors all the GOOD FATHERS. Most of the people who were named RIZAL are also celebrating their birthdays today! And one of them is Architect RIZAL MORALES of DOTC . He is not just a mere DOTC employee, but an advocate of the persons with disabilities sector within the transport sector. Archt. Morales is the Focal Person on Disability of DOTC since 2006 and during his period of involvement, the sector has seen how he works with commitment to the people he wants to serve. As a member of the NCDA Subcommittee on Accessibility, he participated actively in pushing for policies to make transport accessible for PWDs. He first capitalized on what is existing knowing that government is not as efficient as everyone expected. He moved the participation of the entire DOTC branches by organizing the DOTC Task Force on Accessibility, involving agencies on sea, air and land transport. Through his initiatives, they worked together on how to use existing policies and resources to make the transport system accessible to PWDs. He organized seminars and trainings on disability and sensitivy to their needs. He is also open and willing to listen to the sector and participated in major PWD events such as Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week, Women With Disability Day, International Day of PWDs, NDPR Week and many other activities where he acted as Co Chair with lead PWD organization.

What is striking about this man is his commitment and willingness to help everyone and even influence people to do the same. When a PWD files a complaint about drivers who refused to take them for a ride, he will extend extra effort to expedite quick hearing to reprimand operators or drivers. He goes beyond his normal duty as government official to help individuals, from accompanying groups of PWDs for caroling every Christmas, to requesting for wheelchairs for individuals whom he happened to see the need.

He has the extraordinary ability to bond people together and work for the success of every project. He is always the first to say "IT'S a success!"

Archt. Morales is also an active servant of his church serving as lay minister and member of the Knights of Columbus. A God-fearing man, a committed husband and family man makes him a GOLDEN MAN!

As a friend and colleague, I wish you all the best in life and please continue to be the person we have known from the beginning, since we met in Tokyo International Center during our JICA days and that was 16 years ago. I thank GOD that our paths crossed again and for sure, HE knows that we are partners in mission to make a better road for the PWD sector. You are a Person With extreme Determination to empower PWDs! NOW, YOU ARE A GOLDEN PWEDE!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RIZAL!!!! 

EMER ROJAS, PRESIDENT, NEW VOIS ASSOCIATION PHILS- PWEDE KA!!!!

Congratulations, Mr. Emer Rojas! TOTOONG PWEDE KA!!!

Mr. Emer Rojas, President of New Vois Association of the Philippines, is now in UN New York attending the Informal Inter-active Civil Society Hearing on Non-Communicable Disease and was chosen as one of the "prime speakers" at the General Assembly Hall out of the 100 Global Cancer Ambassadors, the ONLY FILIPINO ON THE FLOOR on June 16, 2011.

Emer is a cancer survivor due to excessive smoking. His voice box has to be removed. He is now using a voice synthesizer. His experience and disability made him a staunch advocate of tobacco control and of persons with disability issues. Though a new personality in the PWD sector, his active participation opened the eyes of many on the needs of people with speech impairment.

Emer Rojas, a real PWEDE!!!!

PWEDE KAMI- THE HISTORY

PWeDe has been a byword popularized by a well known TV show which always points out the possibility of something being doubted as impossible. Some persons with disabilities linked PWEDE to PWD (persons with disabilities) as being able to do something that most people think they cannot. In fact, three years ago, a group of PWDs suggested PWeDe to be a movement to start something to recognize the PWD sector as an assertive group that could walk on equal footing with the rest of the society. 


Now, inspired with some individuals with disabilities who want to carve a name, PWede is now being popularized as Persons With extreme Determination to empower (PWeDe). It is not new organization but  a trademark that PWDs wants be known- assertive, determined to succeed, willing to empower other PWDs who are potential contributors in community building and soon be the change agent that the sector wants to be.  It is not a committee or sub-committee of any formal or informal movement or group. Its a mark that every one, PWDs or non-PWDs, want to be known. 


PWeDe KAMI- wants to establish a principle for PWDs that human dignity should be valued above all and everyone should be treated with respect and no amount nor material thing could equal the life of a person with disability. AS empowered PWDs, it is our duty to be the voice of the weak, to be the mentor of young people and build them up as adults that could stand with their own conviction. 


PWede KAMI- magkaisa  (WE CAN- unite)
PWeDe KAMI- magtulungan (WE CAN- help each other)
PWeDe KAMI- tumayo ng may prinsipyo at paniniwala (WE CAN- stand with our
                    principle and belief)
PWeDe KAMI- makilala bilang KAMI (WE CAN - be recognized as WE ARE) 
PWeDe KAMI- mamuhay kasama ng ibang sector ng mamayan sa pagbuo ng isang
                    marangal na lipunan. (WE CAN -live together with other sectors of 
                    the community and build a respectable society)


PWD kami- may kakayahan, may determinasyon at handang magbahagi ng aming sarili. (We are Persons With Disabilities, empowered, with determination and willing to share ourselves) .


KASAMA ang aming mga magulang, taga-tangkilik at tagapangalaga ng aming karapatan- (Together with our parents, supporters and protector of rights)


PWeDe KAMI

FREEDOM WALK - STARTING THE RIGHT-FULL STEP TO INCLUSION

The League of PWD Leaders, spearheaded by Alyansa ng Maykapansanang Pinoy (AKAPPinoy) staged the FREEDOM WALK last Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Quezon Memorial Circle. The event was obviously a success with the participation of persons with disability organizations, government agencies, professional groups, parents and advocates of PWD sector. Ms. Grace Padaca, KAYA NATIN advocate and former Governor of Isabela was among the guests who showed their support to the initiative of the PWD sector. Also present during the walk were Councilor Alfred Vargas, Congressman Homer Mercado of 1UTAK Partylist, Atty. Jose Favia, Director General of Philippine Information Agency and the Running Priest, Fr. Robert Reyes. The AFP Band made the event lively with Joanna Hizon of DSWD and Vennie de la Pena of Valenzuela Federation of PWDs as masters of ceremony. 

  Various media entities, such as GMA7, TV5, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star and NBN covered the event. It was shown in Balitanghali at GMA at noontime and at primetime 24-Oras in the evening. Articles were also published in Abante, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer and other newspapers. 

FREEDOM WALK is an awareness raising campaign of AKAPPinoy on the rights of persons with disabilities for an inclusive barrier free and rights based society, with support from committed government agencies like Department of Transport and Communications (DOTC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Quezon City Government and Manila Water. PWD organizations who actively participate in project organizing were New Vois Association of the Philippines, represented by Emer Rojas, the Chairman of the Project, WOWLEAP, PARM, Autism Society of the Philippines and Philippine Association of Citizens with Learning and Developmental Disabilities.  Proceeds of the said events will start the fund for legal assistance, leadership development and Helpline for PWDs. AKAPPinoy hopes to do the event annually as a part of its awareness campaign on UNCRPD. 

Councilor Alfred Vargas of Quezon City announced during the event the realization of Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office through an ordinance he sponsored to the City Council. He is a staunch supporter of the PWD Sector even prior to his election as member of the City Council of Quezon City in 2010.