Center for Children with Disabilities Inaugurated

The inauguration and blessing of Los Baños Community Center, Therapy Intervention and Support Services (LBCC-TISS) for children with disabilities and their families located at the first floor of Lorenzo Meneses Building, Villegas Street, Barangay Baybayin, Los Baños, Laguna, was held on September 17, 2014, coinciding with the 399th Foundation Day of Los Baños.

The refurbishment of old municipal offices for LBCC-TISS is a joint project of ASP Laguna Chapter and the Municipality of Los Baños, funded by the Australian Government through its Direct Aid Program administered by the Australian Embassy Manila. The project was initiated by Ms. Riza Cansanay, past president and the current adviser of ASP Laguna Chapter.

Giving award to Hon. Mayor Caesar Perez

The program started with welcome remarks from Hon. Mayor Caesar Perez. He thanked Australian Embassy Manila for supporting the project and showed appreciation to ASP Laguna Chapter for reaching out and helping people with disabilities and their families. It was followed by a short briefing of the project by Ms. Catherine Lopez, chapter president. It mentions that the center serves a place where trained parents can hone their skills in implementing therapeutic activities for their children and other children with disabilities and not just providing therapy, intervention and support services. LBCC-TISS is also a model of cooperation between an organized parent group and the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC) in providing support to families of children with disabilities in partnership with a local chapter of the Autism Society Philippines.

Ms. Georgia Lovell, Chair of the Direct Aid Program Committee of Australian Embassy Manila gave a message. In her message, she mentioned that the project is close to her heart, as she has a young relative that has autism. She also mentioned that project is in line with goals of the Philippine and Australian Governments concerning poverty alleviation and economic development.

The master of ceremony led the guests inside the building for the cutting of the ribbon and blessing, which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Larry Abayon.. The inauguration and blessing ended with a message of thanks from Los Baños Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc. (LB-APCD) President Genaro Calderon and the giving of symbolic key from Mayor Perez and Ms. Lovell, representing the Municipal Government of Los Baños and Australian Embassy Manila to ASP Laguna Chapter and LB-APCD.

The inauguration was graced by the following: Ms. Georgia Lovell, DAP Resource Officer Ms. Teodora Avila, Ms. Zoe Dutton, Mayor Caesar Perez, Vice Mayor Copie A. Alipon, Councilors Jay Rolusta, Julius Moliñawe & Jonjie Oliva , Municipal Administrator Atty. Genalyn Soriano, ASP Laguna team, members of LB-APCD, trainees and parents of Autism Resource Center and friends.

Ms. Lovell and her party, along with the ASP Laguna team, proceeded to Paciano Rizal Park, where she gave a speech during the program commemorating the town's 399th
Foundation of Los Baños and the annual Bañamos Festival.

About the author: Ian Lopez was the master of ceremonies for the inauguration. He is also a self-advocate currently taking up Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in University of the Philippines Los Baños. He creates maps to help people get to seminars and symposiums organized by ASP-Laguna Chapter.