Every Child is Special

If you are a teacher and deals with children everyday 'Every Child is Special ' will definitely move you! A film that touches my emotion. It involves issues on family, school and teacher-student relationship. The movie starred by the producer himself Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary helps me to refresh my dedication for teaching. It relives the passion I have for young learners specially those who have special needs.I can relate to the movie because I am currently a substitute teacher in a private school that caters the different intelligences of  students although my major concentration is not special education. I'm a volunteer and been exposed to children with disabilities since 2008 and the movie simply brought me to tears.

The story is about a third-grade pupil who keeps failing his subjects and acts slightly different from children at his age. All the people around Ishan are disappointed in his school performance including his own parents.They then decided to transfer him to a boarding school where he became completely inactive in school activities. Last November 8, the local news in my city reported that a 15-year old named Dexter with special needs is beaten by a prison guard and a teacher made me feel so bad. "Budoy" is a Philippine prime time TV show which features a special child and it strikes my heart every time I hear anybody like them who is belittled and under treated by people who suppose to be behaving better than these children who needs assistance physically, mentally and emotionally.

I highly recommend this movie to parents for them to have better understanding on their children. Through watching this movie they will be able to get more involved in the development of their children as well as to give more importance on their studies.'Every Child is Special' is suited to every teacher. Each learner has his own growth and maturity and the Indian movie will remind us to know and understand our student. Not all teachers could see the problems a student is facing. The movie highlights a mentor's real purpose- not just to impart knowledge but to nurture the gift a child has by looking at him as a person since every child is indeed special in the eyes of God and man.

Lingap Center in Tugbok

"Lingap" is a Tagalog word which means "compassionate care". On the last day of 2010, my fellow volunteers and I decided to visit a center that needs help the most.The first plan was to invite poor children with disability that we know in our vicinity.Our very good friend, ate Che works outside the country and initiated the idea of gift giving since it was holiday season. The planned activity changed for some reason. In the end, we realized that we did the right choice.



I always hear people talk about Lingap Center which is located in Tugbok District and the people who stay there. It used to be a temporary place for homeless children. The center accepted children who got lost and were abandoned by their own family. I felt so sad when I saw twenty six mentally retarded people who live in an old house sorrounded by iron bars. Is the family they used to belong got tired of taking care of them that's why Lingap Center is their new home?



If you have too much money or possession for yourself, I'm asking you to give some to those people. The place they are currently staying and the people working with them need our support. If you get to see them, you will realize how good our life is. They rarely have good meals the caretaker revealed.

Let's express our love to needy people too by visiting them and giving them what we can. It was my first time to visit Lingap Center and my heart sank...really sank.

Faces of Down Syndrome

Right Down the Lens is a photo exhibit presented by Artgraphix with DSAPI or Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines-Davao Chapter.The photos of the children with down syndrome was taken last month and will be exhibited on December 26, 2010 to January 1, 2011 at SM Davao.

These are the children I serve and I am inviting my fellow Dabaweñyos to come and visit SM to witness the faces of down syndrome in our city.Take a look at some of their photos: Faces of Down Syndrome (You need to login on facebook first so that the video will be available for you to see.)

Cartoon Campaign on Facebook Twist

Yesterday was the last day of  "change your profile picture to cartoon" campaign.It was done to raise awareness on fighting child abuse.I was happy to know that 90% of my friends have joined the online cause.It proves that many of us care for children specially those who are abused.However, several of my friends were asking us to repost something that says paedophiles authored the said campaign!

The issue is on the news.Paedophiles find it easy searching for kids online basing on their cartoon character and nobody claims the account that first posted it.The choice of your favorite cartoon character will help a paedophile know what decade you were born.As we all know, you can't sign up on facebook unless you're eighteen and children fake their birth date just to get through.

The power of social networking sites like facebook can truly build buzz! If we remember, the  breast cancer awareness and  "I like it on the floor" status updates were able to catch people's attention and made us think that there's a common thing on the users' mind in a particular time.