In 2007 and 2008, as a college student, I attended the Annual Convention of the Psychological Association of the Philippines Junior Affiliates (PAPJA). I remember sitting there listening to workshops on Autism, ADHD, Caregiving and Family Systems Therapy and constantly telling myself that I will give a workshop in PAPJA someday. Fast forward to 2013, BAM!! Workshop Facilitator! It's somewhat big to me 'cos I was never a top student back in college. Heck, I wasn't even able to march on that stage on graduation day. But hello hello, I guess dreams do come true for the persevering and determined. And yes, I'm a first timer so I just gotta tell you about it!
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| 26th PAPJA Convention. SMX Convention Center |
Though I wasn't able to be there on time as I had work in the morning, I rushed in the afternoon for the Inter-School Psychology Quiz Competition and Transcendance Psych Dance Competition. UST won both! Well, that honestly didn't really come as a surprise 'cos ang galing naman talaga. They've won that Quizbee for 7 times already. I'm such a proud Thomasian! Go USTeeee!
But of course I'm even more proud of our Assumption College girls for doing their best in that Quizbee. Was privileged enough to be one of the coaches of these brilliant ladies. Let's win it next year and every year after, hmmkay?? Go Team Mandala!!
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| Joan, Charlene, Alicia, Sir Ryan, Me, Luisa and Mae. Ansabe ng beauty and brains??? Pak! |
The workshops were done on the convention's second day. This time in FEU, Manila. My workshop was entitled "Individual with Autism, not Autistic! A Closer Look into the World of an Individual with Autism. I was dead serious about wanting to make them understand how the individual was more important than the autism.
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| "Autism is a lifelong condition. It is not curable but it is treatable." |
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| "All behavior are forms of communication. Don't settle in knowing what they did, think of why they actually did it." |
I'd say the workshop, more than anything was personal. I got to share a lot of first hand experiences mostly coming from the ones I had with my brother. From those prior to his diagnosis (way back 1996) to those that are most recent. You'll see the spectrum's different challenges through the years. Besides how Cedie was, I shared how autism does not only affect the individual but the family and the community too. I talked about how he was the most influential person in my life and what it has brought me both good and bad. But of course, the best part of this workshop was..... tataaaaah!! Ced actually joined me and gave a personal account of autism as well! Ced talked about how autism worked to his advantaged, how he remains to be a child at heart, determined to go for his dreams regardless of how he is perceived at times. He shared how his love of playing the computer has now made him a web administrator of Wiki Gumball, that his memory of Metro Manila roads and maps has made him the family's walking GPS, and he has gone biking to far off places such as Pansol, Cavite, Rizal and Fairview... ALONE.
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"Akala niyo ba kawawa mga taong may Autism?
Hinde! Pag may gusto sila, ginagawa nila lahat para makuha yon!" Photo by Bernice Yu. |
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| Proud was an understatement. Photo by Bernice Yu. |
And before the workshop ended, we had an open forum. The participants got to address their questions to me and even Ced. Some difficult ones were thrown at Ced and I was amazed at how he managed to answer them even when it got him crying. He reminisced about the difficulties that he had in his life. Was surprise that when I looked back at the audience, a lot of them were discreetly weeping too.
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| "Hindi ko naman winish na mawala yung autism ko, ang gusto ko lang, mag-blend in." |
I loved how the workshop was informative, personal, entertaining and inspiring, not only to the participants but also to me and Ced. I don't have the right words to even explain how proud I was of him. We also had some photo ops afterwards.
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| with the participants. so happy that they were all so nice and accomodating. |
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| Missed her name but was so happy to meet her. A mother of an 11 year old child with autism. |
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| Photo by Aubrey Paragas. |
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Mek was there to help too!!
Even Shobe wanted to come but nahiya na ko, full force from the Yambao sibs! |
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| "Don't give up on me. I promise I'm worth it." |
How was that for a first talk with Ced? This definitely wouldn't be the last (I hope). Ced's and our family's story, just like the stories of all those who have such special condition in the family, are worth hearing. Truly inspired right now because of this. Will be sharing you much more good vibes!
