Meet the candidates for ASP National Trustees 2023-2025

The Autism Society Philippines will be electing its 11 new National Trustees, who will serve for the years 2023–2025, between 25 - 9 April 2023.

Meet the candidates for National Board Trustees Poster

The Election Committee (Chair Ms. Ma. Victoria Bernardo, Co-Chair Cenin D. Faderogao and members Abby Mendoza and Angel Peñaloza) reviewed seventeen (17) nominees based on the minimum criteria set in the ASP By Laws. Read the nomination guidelines here: https://bit.ly/3HWYtqJ.

Some nominees were not yet qualified, while others declined the nomination, bringing down the nominees to only 10 official candidates. According to the ASP Guideline 22-0055 on Organization Design, Item 6.2.3.3: In the event of board vacancy, the Board of Trustees shall nominate candidates from the pool of active members who meet the criteria for ASP Trustees. Thus, the new board will collectively decide who shall fill up the 11th board trustee.

After the election, the newly-elected board shall also vote internally who will serve on the National Executive Committee as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Auditor.

Here are the profiles of the final 10 candidates (in alphabetical order) for the ASP National Board 2023-2025; and their qualifications and accomplishments to-date in our autism advocacy. You may fill out your digital ballot here: http://bit.ly/42uDeVk.

Mary Grace Adviento

Candidate #1: Mary Grace L. Adviento (Quezon City, NCR)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Trustee

Occupation: Entrepreneur

Education: BS Medical Technology (Our Lady of Fatima College)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Grace advanced the autism advocacy across multiple areas in the Philippines and abroad, as the ASP National President (2009-2012) and as a charter signatory in the creation of the ASEAN Autism Network. She is currently serving as Program Manager of ASP AUthletics and AUdventures, and also manages the ASP TikTok account.

Imee Alviso

Candidate #2: Imelda C. Alviso (Parañaque, NCR)
Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Trustee
Occupation: A former OR Nurse at Saint Luke’s Quezon City
Advocacy Accomplishment: Imee is the former Treasurer of the ASP Metro South Chapter, a Past President of the ASP Parañaque.

Helen Cheng

Candidate #3: Helen Q. Cheng (Caloocan City, NCR)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Auditor

Occupation: Entrepreneur

Education: BS Commerce (University of Santo Tomas)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Helen develops the capabilities of ASP in e-commerce and inspires economic empowerment in budding artists and entrepreneurs, as the ASP National Program Manager of ASP AutisMALL.

Diana De Ocampo

Candidate #4: Diana De Ocampo (Parañaque, NCR)
Last ASP National Position Held: New Candidate

Occupation: Program Manager at DXC Company

Education: Computer Studies (De La Salle University)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Diana has been an active member of ASP since 2017 and is the current president of the ASP Parañaque. She represented ASP in consultative meetings with PDAO.

Evelyn Go

Candidate #5: Evelyn O. Go (Quezon City, NCR)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Treasurer

Occupation: Entrepreneur

Education: BS Food and Nutrition (University of Santo Tomas), MA units Special Education (UP Diliman)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Evelyn ensures the financial growth and sustainability of the society, through no-nonsense financial management and responsible governance, having served as ASP's Treasurer since 2007.

Donna Lim

Candidate #6: Donna Lim (Quezon City, NCR)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Trustee

Occupation: Fitness Educator

Education: BA in Fine Arts (College of the Holy Spirit)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Donna inspires the health and physical well-being of children and youth on the autism spectrum and the families who care for them;, an Angels Walk warm-up choreographer, a regular volunteer for ASP PweDay, and served as Project Manager of the ASP AUthletics program.

Marie Joyla Ofrecia

Candidate #7: Maria Joyla N. Ofrecia (San Fernando, Pampanga)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Trustee

Occupation: Independent Consultant

Education: MA Special Education (Angeles University Foundation)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Joy empowers families in the care and instruction of children and youth on the autism spectrum, as a valuable resource to the ASP Early Detection and Early Intervention Program, ASP Education Committee, ASP HOMEpowerment Program and ASP Speakers’ Bureau. She organizes and mentors budding ASP chapters towards good governance and sustainability as the ASP South Luzon Cluster Head.

Perlita So

Candidate #8: Perlita W. So (Angeles City)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Vice-President

Occupation: Full-time Homemaker

Education: BS Food Technology (University of Santo Tomas)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Peng nurtures well-rounded skills, holistic well-being and social connection of children and youth on the autism spectrum, as well as grows our circle of diverse volunteers and corporate partners -- as the Program Manager of ASP PweDay.

Ljay Sumulong III

Candidate #9: Lorenzo “LJay” Sumulong III (Antipolo, Rizal)

Last ASP National Position Held: ASP National Trustee

Occupation: Artisan Farmer

Education: BS Sociology (University of California, Davis), BS Public Administration (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila)

Advocacy Accomplishment:

LJay built the autism advocacy in his community in Antipolo, Rizal, through the establishment of a strong connection with the local government and the implementation of creative, relevant events and projects for the benefit of children and youth on the autism spectrum and their families. He organizes and mentors budding ASP chapters towards good governance and sustainability as the ASP Metro Manila and Rizal Cluster Head.

Bernadette Tabares

Candidate #10: Bernadette Jeavian V. Tabares (Antipolo, Rizal)

Last ASP National Position Held: New candidate

Occupation: Full-time Homemaker

Advocacy Accomplishment:

Badette supports public autism awareness education through sensitivity seminars and media guesting; and empowers families of children and youth on the autism spectrum through training -- as the past ASP Antipolo chapter president, currently chapter Secretary and a member of the ASP Speakers Bureau.

Posted in: election