Last month, I was able to attend the MEDICAL FESTIVAL 2008 by Super Olympics, an international organization created by the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation for the benefit of persons with Intellectual Disabilities. The event took place last September 12, 2008 at SM Mall of Asia – SMX. Approximately, more than a thousand special children participated the event.

I went there as a one of the representatives of the Ike and Nena Belo Foundation. I was assigned to bring with me Rochelle Pangilinan (Eat Bulaga, Daisy Siete) and Valerie Concepcion (Wowowee, Banana Split).

When I first entered the hall, I saw a variety of faces of different people with intellectual disabilities. Some of the, brought there moms and nannies with them. They also came from different families with different financial status.

When Rochelle Pangilinan came in, a lot of people went to her. I remember this little kid who did the “spagetti” dance infront of her (that dance step was popularized five years ago!). It only means that the kid is an avid viewer of Eat Bulaga.

A lot approached her asked for photo-ops and autograph. You can really see the genuine smile from their faces. Rochelle, on the other hand, entertained them by posing with them and signing autographs in the kid’s ID’s for the event.

After thirty minutes, Valerie Concepcion arrived. It is a known fact that she is a mom herself, that’s why she was really touched when she saw these two bubbly kids.

We all know that majority of the viewers of noontime shows like Eat!Bulaga and Wowowee are the individuals whose families are in the poverty line. Most of them try their luck in joining contests and raffles. Some of them are even willing to risk their lives just to get easy money by dancing or doing some embarassing stuff.

A lot of people might ask “Eh bakit ba sila asa ng asa sa mga palabas na yan? Bakit di sila magbalat ng buto?“.
With the alarming status of our country’s economy, a lot of companies are firing their employees not because they are not competent, but because they don’t have enough money to pay the salaries of their workers.

What if you have a relative who is considered as a special child?

Months ago, I wrote an entry about the current situation of the SPED schools in the Philippines which also served as my contribution to the Filipino Voices blog.

Thank God for organizations such as Special Olympics for exerting an effort to make the parents of the kids, especially the poor ones happy even just for a day.

I am hoping that our government officials and staff, specially those from the Department of Education and Department of Social Welfare and Development will also exert an extra effort on this for the sake of the poor.

I hope. Someday.

**REPOSTED at MISSING CARLO