By Gerard Joseph Atienza.
The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) Cavite Chapters, in partnership with the Autism Research Institute and the Municipal Government of General Trias, had successfully held their back-to-back seminar series titled “Autism, Health, and Well Being” and “Autism and Mentoring Life Skills through the Ages” on 13 June 2012 at the Audio-Visual Room, Municipal Hall of General Trias in Cavite.
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| Speaker Vicente Rubio with participant |
Heading the seminar series was Ron Vicente Rubio, Director of Pathfinder Mentoring and Coaching, a US-based center that aims at empowering and guiding individuals with a diverse range of challenges, including the autism spectrum. The seminar series was a part of his tour around the Philippines to raise autism awareness, and in this seminar, it was spearheaded by the ASP National President and Gobernadora of the Cavite Chapters, Tita Jan Peña, who gave the introduction speech.
During the first part, which was held in the morning, Vicente gave a brief background on his life as a Filipino-American who faced a lot of challenges, including his life with Asperger syndrome, with which he was diagnosed on 2010. He also shared theories and issues on autism in the American setting; and compared it with the Filipino setting, which he described as a new and open ground for future development of autism awareness. He discussed ways on promoting wellness and appropriate diet for people with autism (PWA) and ways how PWAs, their parents, and their teachers can deal with daily life.
On the second part of the seminar series, held after lunch, Vicente imparted with the attendees the basics of Mind/Body Techniques, fitness strategies that are outlined in his book Mind/Body Techniques for Asperger’s Syndrome: Way of the Pathfinder. Among those strategies, which Vicente had shared with his students as an instructor of dance and martial arts, include appropriate posture, exercises, and self-defense, among others. In addition, he also discussed the different stages of passage that PWAs happen to pass through, outlining the changes and issues they encounter and the ways how they can overcome said issues.
This seminar was indeed a timely venue for the attendees, who were composed of teachers, parents, professionals, and PWAs, to learn new concepts and techniques on living with autism, and giving opportunities for PWAs to live their lives to the fullest.
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