ASP Laguna celebrates 16th National Autism Consciousness Week ~ Autism Society Philippines

21 Jan 2012 – Early Detection Seminar

To kick off this year’s Autism Consciouesness Week, ASP Laguna conducted a seminar on Early Detection on Autism with the day care workers and barangay health workers of Los Baños as the participants. This seminar officially launched the chapter’s project entitled “Empowerment and Participation of Barangay Day Care Workers and Health Workers of Los Baños in a Community-based Support Program for Children with Autism” which is being funded by the Australian Agency for International Development or AusAID. A total of 54 participants were present at the seminar held at the Batong Malake Day Care Center that afternoon which was also attended by the LB Health Officer, Dr. Alvin Isidoro and the OIC of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Mrs. Minda Alvarez. The early detection seminar was followed by identification and screening of possible cases in the 14 barangays of LB, with the participation of the staff of the Autism Resource Center, ASP Laguna, last February 2 to March 6.

Participants join hand in prayer

Ms. Riza, assisted by Ms. Cathy delivering the lecture

Dr. Alvin Isidoro, LB Health Officer, listen to the details of the screening
to be conducted by the Barangay health workers with the ASP Laguna officers.

16 Jan 2012 – Orientation on Autism

Students of UP Los Baños (UPLB) enrolled in CWTS 2 course organized an Orientation on Autism which was held at the Conference Hall of the College of Human Ecology. This orientation was attended by more than 50 participants, mostly students.

The participants in prayer

UPLB students make a presentation with the trainees of ARC.

29 Jan 2012 – The 6th ASP Laguna Friendship Games

This year’s host school, Kids Spot Intervention Center led the 6th ASP Laguna Friendship Games held at the Col. Dizon Memorial National High School in San Pablo City. The annual Games which started in 2007 aimed to foster fun, camaraderie and sportsmanship among the member schools of ASP Laguna. A total of nine member and partner schools participated in this year’s games. These were: GS Option House and Learning Center (Biñan); Holy Rosary College and Work of Heart Child Center (Sta. Rosa City); Mayapa Elementary School and Hope Intervention Center (Calamba City); Autism Resource Center, ASP Laguna (Los Baños); Kids Spot Intervention Center (San Pablo City); Love and Hope Intervention Center (Liliw); and Paete Intervention Center for Autism and Related Disorders or PICARD (Paete). There were some developmental games, track and field events, swimming, chess, duet singing by parent and child, and dancing by teacher and student. Major sponsors included Henyo’s Lugaw Royal, Laguna Board Member Neil Nocon, Friends of Kids Spot (i.mac, unique.signs and the parents of Kids Spot Intervention Center and volunteers from Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, Canossa College, Laguna State Polytechnic University, and UP Los Baños).

Early participants queue for lugaw (hot rice porridge)
courtesy of Henyo’s Lugaw Royal of Mike and Karen Rebong

Welcome to the 6th ASP Laguna Friendship Games

Lighting of torch by Kevin Kraft, a student of Kids Spot Intervention Center

Participants from different schools gather before the stage after the parade.

The players in action (Alejandro Fajardo III of ARC and
Julius Dumaraos of Love and Hope Intervention Center, Liliw)

It was GS Option House which took home the ASP Laguna Friendship Games Perpetual Trophy after having won first place for 3 consecutive years. This year’s second placer was Holy Rosary College and placing third was Autism Resource Center. Next year’s Games will be hosted by Hope Intervention Center in Calamba City.