PERSONS with Disabilities (PWDs) have special needs, and who better can understand them than their physically challenged fellows.
Bringing cheers to differently-abled constituents of Laguna and Quezon provinces, PWD-led Alagang AKAY Inc., in partnership with the Sol Aragones Foundation, distributed early this month a total of 1,000 wheelchairs (500 in each province) as Christmas gifts.
The back-to-back programs held on December 4 at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and December 6 at the Quezon Convention Center, Lucena City in Quezon marked the global celebration of the 30th International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
“This is a special day, so I greet every one of you,” former Laguna 3rd District Congresswoman Sol Aragones said.
“I commend you because you choose to be happy instead of becoming sad. You choose to come out and be with us rather than sulk. You choose to become strong-willed and live instead of forgetting the hope of a better future. And because of that, Akay Foundation is here to help and inspire all of you,” she said.
Aragones said one in seven people, or 15 percent of the world’s population, are facing difficulties because of different forms of disability. She said the challenges are steeper for PWDs in developing countries like the Philippines. “Always remember that as long as there is AKAY, you will be cared for,” she added.
Quality life, dignity, compassion for PWDs
KNOWING personally how it feels to be incapacitated, the anonymous founder, who is also a PWD, formed the AKAY as a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift the quality of life and uphold the dignity of the disabled and their families.
“He met an accident that disabled his feet. This served as his life’s purpose: To help others who share the same experience,” Aragones told the media.
Inspired by the founder’s benevolence to share his blessings despite his condition, AKAY ambassador Dwight Bayona, a leg amputee who was also a mishap victim, did not think twice to be affiliated with the organization that understands the plight of people with disabilities.
“I salute the PWDs like me who still face the stream of life. Together with my fellow PWDs that established AKAY, we are always willing and ready to help them,” said the handicapped multi-sport athlete who wears a mechanical leg.
“We will change what others think of us as pitiful. We should not pity ourselves because we can also do what the normal people can. If they have strengths, we also have them. If they have weaknesses, we have, too. So we are all equal. That’s the story of AKAY, myself and ours.”
Maricel Apatan, another AKAY ambassador, could not agree more. The chef, who lost her hands from a tragic crime incident, did not let her unwanted past to lead her to a miserable life.
“Even if I lost my hands, I did not lose hope. I studied very hard. Education is what we need to pursue our dreams. Let’s fight. Whatever challenge that comes to us, we should overcome it. Of course, trust God that He will help us achieve our dreams,” shared the chef, an HRM and culinary arts graduate who now works in a hotel. “We now embrace the love of AKAY Foundation.”
AKAY also taps medical and other professionals who work with community leaders to help identify, screen and prioritize those who will immediately benefit from specific assistance and interventions. It collaborates with public and private organizations to provide education, training and work opportunities for PWDs to have a dignified and productive life.
Enable the disabled
BECAUSE it takes a village to capacitate the PWDs, Alagang AKAY has found an ally from both the government and private sector.
“In our own efforts in Laguna to assist PWDs and their families, we have found a partner in PWD-led Alagang AKAY,” Aragones explained how their partnership started.
The former lawmaker told BusinessMirror that although she’s not in public office anymore, she will continue to help those in need, especially the disabled who are very close to her heart, through her very own foundation.
“That’s because it’s our advocacy to assist the PWDs. I’m glad to have a partner like the AKAY Foundation for this purpose,” she said.
Aragones became a champion of PWDs because they are one of the often-neglected members of society.
She said there are more than 70,000 PWDs in Laguna alone. “This is what is recorded. But we don’t know those who are not. So it means that this is a big sector with a huge need. So whatever help that will be given is a great part for AKAY Foundation’s constant progress and development to assist more in need.”
Aragones thanked Quezon province led by Governor Angelina “Doktora Helen” D.L. Tan and the local government unit of Lucena headed by Mayor Mark Alcala for the warm welcome they received for the Alagang Sol-Alagang Akay event.
“We all know that my BFF [best friend forever] Governor Helen Tan, when it comes to public service, especially for the PWD sector, she is very concerned about them. That’s why we work together to help them,” the Sol Aragones Foundation chair said.
“We’re also thankful, of course, to my friend, [former] Congresswoman Sol and the AKAY Foundation ambassadors. When she went to my office, I thought she was just visiting me. But she has a blessing to bring. We’re very happy because the funds of our province is unburdened with this kind of an outside source,” replied Governor Helen Tan.
“Imagine, they gave us 500 wheelchairs. We would have spent a lot if we bought them. So it’s a big savings that could be coursed to our other programs. I hope this will not be just the beginning, but a continuous partnership with Congresswoman Sol and the AKAY Foundation,” she added.
Apart from the wheelchairs, the PWD attendees also received goodie bags. “Kabuhayan” packages were raffled off during the two separate events for the PWD-beneficiaries and their families, as well as the members of civic organizations in both provinces. Each of the livelihood kits given away is complete with a steamer, siopao and siomai products, and a container of palamig or cold drinks.
“What the AKAY Foundation wants is for you to grow this business because we want you to earn to uplift the economic status of your families,” Aragones said.
The provincial government of Quezon also gave a cheque worth P20,000 for PWD federations of each of the towns and municipalities of the province.
Continuous assistance
KEEPING the ball rolling to further help the PWD sector, the Alagang Sol-Alagang AKAY initiative is expected to broaden its coverage.
“With constant donations, we can reach out to more places—Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cebu, and other areas nationwide,” Aragones said.
“Actually, we’re also planning to provide prosthesis like [this mechanical leg of] mine to people who have difficulties walking. May the Lord Almighty bless us more to raise enough funds to extend help to our PWD countrymen,” Bayona said.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Quezon will launch next year various projects for PWDs, such as full scholarships for occupational, speech and developmental therapy.
“In the Philippines, we don’t have enough access to the right education or treatment of those born with disabilities,” Governor Tan said. “With free education, there will come a time—in the next three, four or five years—that we will produce the needed doctors and experts, plus medical centers where PWDs can be brought in.”
She said the plan includes PWD profiling province-wide since there are no official figures available on their disabled constituents.
“We hope to get the numbers because when I asked the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office about that when we were programming our budget for 2023, so I’ll know how much we’ll spend for this sector, they could not provide an exact figure,” said Governor Tan.
“Their estimate of around 3,000, I don’t think that’s accurate since they don’t document also the other disabilities like those with global developmental delays. So we want a good profiling. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we have a good number to make our decision-making data driven,” she explained.