BONTOC, Mountain Province – Newly formed “LAYAD” Organization, an agglomeration of Persons with Disabilities of the municipality of Bontoc, spearheaded the celebration of the International PWD Day celebrated annually every third day of December.
The activity is celebrated internationally to give persons with disabilities worldwide a day to be recognized and to collaborate with their partner agencies to advocate for the improvement of their status in the community.
The group invited two distinguished international PWD artists from Manila, Amado Dulnuan, an armless foot artist and John Roland Feruelo, a quadriplegic mouth painter to do actual painting demonstration to a crowd of elementary and high school students of Bontoc District who were invited to attend the said activity. The two artists brought their talents here to inspire and motivate the students to appreciate arts through painting. The group stayed here for a two-day furlough from traffic congested Manila to enjoy the cool, nippy weather of Mountain Province, especially when they went to Sagada for a visit.
The activity had a short program to welcome the visitors. After the program, the artists started their simultaneous painting demonstration. The pupils and students watched them as they started painting using their mouth and foot. The children were amazed and startled at how they accurately paint using water color pastel. After watching the artist and the painter finish their works, the kids who brought their own painting materials and illustration boards started doing their own artworks. The visitors were very impressed with the creativeness and ingenuities of the students and pupils who used color combinations on their works. Majority of the children painted nature, their future and the environment. After all the children finished their artworks, Amado Dulnuan went around the displayed paintings of the children to choose the best artworks. The children and their teachers demanded for more activities like this for them to attend to continuously remind them that art is also a career if given importance and value, just like the two artists who make a living out of painting despite their disabilities.
In closing the program, Atkinson Tudlong, Principal of MPGCHS expressed his gratitude to the visitors for coming to Bontoc despite the inclement weather brought about by typhoon “Tisoy”. He told the body he was so impressed the PWDs were the ones teaching the normally-abled persons when in fact it should be the other way around. He then encouraged the participants to continue to be inspired by doing what inspires them in choosing their career.
Meanwhile, the PWDs who initiated this activity would like to acknowledge Bishop Valentin Dimoc for offering the Bishop’s Residence at Teng-ab for the accommodation and food of the visitors free of charges. The Bontoc MPS headed by OIC P/Lt. Beverly Fanged for allowing criminology interns under P/SSGT. Allan Padong to assist the PWDs before, during and after the program. Principal Atkinson Tudlong and SPED Coordinator Joyce Engeg for allowing the Eyeb covered gym to be used as the venue of the affair and PSDS Amelia O. Wacangan of Bontoc District allowing the school heads to let the teacher/coaches bring their students and pupils to attend the activity notwithstanding the onset of Typhoon “Tisoy”, the MP SPED center teachers namely Rita Chumacog, Nora Burgan and Purita Tudlong who entertained our visitors with their well-rounded songs during the dinner at the Bishop’s Residence, and those who gave moral support and encouragement for the group to continue staging this kind of activity despite the financial constraints the group is undergoing.
“LAYAD” press release.
