|
By Ernie B. Esconde Correspondent
MARIVELES, Bataan: Members of the
Philippine Council of Cheshire Homes for the Disabled (Philcoched)
on wheelchairs, on board a bus from the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan,
joined 141 special children participating in the sports festival at
the Dong-In-Tulay Center, a rehabilitation center
for disabled persons.
The mini olympics held Thursday,
the first sports festival for children with disabilities to be held
in Bataan started with a motorcade around Mariveles and a program
and games at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Alas-Asin,
Mariveles.
Deaf –mute pupils from a local
elementary school rendered a heart-warming interpretation of a
prayer. A visually impaired child led in the singing of “Lupang
Hinirang,” while some little children with disabilities held small
Philippine flags.
What broke the house down were
the dance numbers of other special children with hips and hands
moving with the fast music, recalling a blind little girl and a
deaf-mute small boy perform a folkdance.
A little boy, although hard in
his speech did his best in leading participants recite the Pledge of
Loyalty.
Jerrold Mangiliwan, a member of
the Philippine Team in the recent PARA Games in Thailand, carried
the sports torch and transferred it to children with disabilities
until the big pot was lit to start the games.
Mariveles Mayor Jessie Concepcion
said the mini-Olympics was held to show that special children and
other disabled persons are part of society. “Kahit may kapansanan,
kabilang pa rin sila sa lipunan na dapat matutong makisalamuha,
maging kapaki-kapikanabang at hindi nila isipin na sila’y idle
habang buhay [Though these children have disabilities, they still
are part of society and need to learn how to be productive, and must
not feel idle all their lives],” the mayor said.
Town Councilor Mel Lopez,
chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Minorities and
Disabled, said the affair was the first mini-Olympics held for the
disabled in Mariveles where she said there are 2,000 of them.
“The special children numbering
141 coming from 18 barangays in Mariveles will be participating in
the sports activity in our desire to enlighten them and not to fear
going out of their homes,” the councilor said.
The team of Philcoched in their
wheel chairs conducted a basketball exhibition much to the delight
of the disabled children, parents, social workers, teachers and
guests.
Games held were calamansi relay,
straw relay, sack relay; Maria went to town, darts, dama, patentero
among others.
Other games like the 25-meter run
for the visually impaired, free throw basketball, volleyball,
standing long jump, tug of war will continue on Friday. 
|
