PH Consulate General in San Francisco Supports World Autism Awareness Day

Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr., addresses the guests, Consulate General personnel, and the Consulate’s transacting public during the opening of the art exhibit of the Autism Hearts Foundation featuring the artworks of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), on 01 April 2019 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. (San Francisco PCG photo)

SAN FRANCISCO 03 May 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco partnered with Autism Hearts Foundation (AHF) to help raise awareness on autism through an exhibit featuring the art works of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on 01 April 2019

“There are still challenges in terms of reaching out to persons with ASD and their families and providing them ample assistance. Thus, we should take it upon ourselves to raise awareness about them and ensure that persons with ASD are actively involved in our communities and their basic human rights are upheld,” said Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr.

Journalist and ASD advocate TJ Manotoc, who represented AHF Founder Ms. Erlinda Borromeo, encouraged the public to know more about autism and help increase awareness on ASD. He noted studies on the increasing prevalence of autism, with new estimates showing the prevalence increasing to 1 in 59 children, from 1 in 68 in previous years.

Consul General Bensurto commended the AHF for its work, which supports the United Nation’s 2019 World Autism Awareness Day observance theme, “Assistive Technologies, Active Participation.”

AHF aims to “maximize the potential of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders to learn, develop, function independently, and participate in the full range of social and cultural activities for an improved quality of life.” END

(Left-right) Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr., journalist and ASD advocate TJ Manotoc, Mrs. Rio Manotoc, Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, and Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of an exhibit featuring the art works of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the lobby of the Philippine Center on 01 April 2019. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Some of the art pieces on display featuring the art works of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the lobby of the Philippine Center organized by the Autism Hearts Foundation (AHF) in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. (San Francisco PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippinessanfrancisco.org  or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.