5th Regional Conference on Autism: HOMEward Bound: The Siblings

Any journey is never complete without a guide to lead you to the right path. For a person with autism, the road can be especially bumpy and rough. These guides are their siblings- their brothers and sisters who help make their travels along the bumpy roads, the raging seas, and the gusty winds smooth. Join these guides who made a remarkable difference in the lives of their sibling with autism as they chronicle their hopeful journeys together bound for home.

The Autism Society Philippines Cavite Chapters, in partnership with the Municipal Government of Carmona, Cavite, will be holding the 5th Regional Conference on Autism, themed “Living with Autism: HOPE@HOME,” on 8-9 September 2012 at the San Lazaro Business and Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. The conference brings to South Luzon topics and discussions that shall aim to enrich parents, professionals, students, and government officials with knowledge and skills in helping people with autism become fully functional members of our community.

Moderator

Rosalyn Marie Gison-Sorongon

Ms. My Sorongon

Ms. Sorongon, or Teacher My, as she is usually referred to, is a member of the Education Committee of Autism Society Philippines and is the Facilitator of the annual Autism Society Philippines SibsCamP, a series of activities for siblings of people with autism. She is a faculty in the Coaching Program for Medical Students at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology majoring in Human Service at Assumption College in 1993, and earned her master’s degree in Education major in Special Education at UP Diliman in 2008.

Panelists

Banesa Jane Baba Banesa, also known as Nesa or Sasa, daughter of ASP GMA Chapter Treasurer Ms. Carmelita Baba, is a Nursing student at De La Salle Health Sciences Institute. An elder sister to Brenan, a 7-year-old child with autism, she views her brother as the family’s ice breaker and their source of happiness. Despite the hardships her family went through in raising him, she considers him as their strength and her reason why she looks forward to take up Medicine and Neurology.

Anthea Carmeli Peña

Thea Peña

Thea is the Treasurer of ASP Bacoor Chapter, eldest daughter of ASP National President Jan Peña, and sister to 16-year-old teenager with autism, Muneer. An artist, writer, volunteer, and advocate, she is currently taking up Occupational Therapy at De La Salle Health Sciences Institute. One of her achievements in the autism advocacy campaign, an engagement she started together with her mom, include: being the co-facilitator of the Siblings Workshop.

Marian Celeste Ramos

Hycee Ramos

Hycee is a customer service representative for Dairy Crest Ltd. A graduate of AB Psychology, she is a regular at the Siblings Workshop, where she started attending at 11 years old in Davao City back in 1998. She then joined the Siblings Workshop and Leadership Programs in Los Baños, Laguna, and since then, became a co-facilitator for Siblings Camp 2008, 2010, and 2012 for ASP Laguna She is an elder sister to a young adult with autism, Mico, aged 19.

Mark Zeta

Mark Zeta

Mark is a college student and elder brother to Christian, a 15-year-old teenager with autism. A passionate sportsman and a regular at the SibsCamP, his brother’s condition gave him a sense of responsibility and inspiration, and is grateful to have him in his life, however challenging it is for him and their parents to handle his brother’s condition. He believes that despite the countless times he struggles in becoming a big brother to a sibling with autism, it has reformed him significantly and looks to inspire other siblings to follow suit.

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For more information and inquiries on the 5th Regional Conference, please contact Ms. Chie Marquez of ASP Bacoor at 0917-540-6727. For LGUs, please contact Ms. Jan Peña at 0920-824-7636.

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