SPLAT: The Official Newsletter of the Ateneo Special Education Society Sept. 2013 | Page 13

I have heard about the Autism Society Philippines a long time ago while reading tales of people with autism and their families but I have decided to join after Angels’ Walk 2012 and it gave me a new hope. From that day on, I started joining in different engagements with ASP, particularly in assisting and attending activities organized by the Cavite Chapters. It was during these activities where I have realized my full potential, and was able to showcase my talents to the community at large. It was also that time where I joined the PVI Foundation, and volunteered for their Kamp Pagkakaisa, a summer camp for children with special needs.. Also, in a sudden twist of serendipity, I was chosen to be Secretary of the ASP Bacoor Chapter, which I felt was a huge honor to be selected for such a role. All of these engage-

ments, together with my interactions with fellow autistics, garnered positive feedback from our constituents, with some parents telling me that I have inspired them and their children and helped them have hope. That further inspired me to continue my studies and take up my CTP degree at PNU, so I can be a teacher and inspire more people. Well, I guess it’s a great start for someone like me, and I hope that parents, siblings, and even my fellow autistics will be inspired to be the best that they can be, and with the support of the people around them, they can be fully-functional members of our society. As I would quote Katy Perry in her song Part of Me, “This is the part of me that you’re never going to ever take away from me.”

5