Philippines Supports Disability Inclusion at UNESCO Short Film Festival
Filipino para athlete Marites Burce seen preparing for then upcoming international sporting events and qualifiers.
PARIS 11 December 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in France and the Permanent Mission to UNESCO proudly supports the UNESCO Short Film Festival on Disability Inclusion in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 03 December 2024 at UNESCO Cinema in Paris. This festival highlights the incredible talent and creativity of individuals with disabilities from around the globe, shining a light on their daily lives as both individuals and as a community.
The short film festival was made possible through the film contributions from the Disability Justice Project, Tremplin Handicap, the SensAbility Channel, and the support of the UNESCO Permanent Delegations of Chile and the Philippines.
Two Filipino short films have been shortlisted for the UNESCO film festival initiative: Super-Able and Ma-Gulong Sayaw ng Buhay. Super-Able tells the inspiring story of Marites Burce, who contracted polio during the outbreak in the 1970s. She is a mother, a wife, an employee, and a national para-athlete preparing to represent the Philippines at the ASEAN Para Games and Paralympic qualifiers.
The second film, titled The Complicated Dance to the Wheel of Life in English, is based on the true story of Michael, a person with a disability who struggles to maintain hope in pursuing his dreams. His life encounters and experiences teach him valuable lessons in overcoming the challenges posed by his disability and discovering his talent in dancing.
During her opening remarks, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences, Gabriela Ramos, emphasized that one in six people experiences a disability, amounting to 1.3 billion individuals worldwide. This statistic positions persons with disabilities as the world’s largest minority, yet they are often overlooked and underrepresented. She further pointed out that around 70-80% of disabilities are invisible, leading to disregard and challenges in employment, education access, necessary services, and adequate support.
Philippine Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO Junever Mahilum-West, graced the film screening at UNESCO. ADG Ramos thanked Her Excellency for the Philippines’ support to this initiative that seeks to raise awareness and promote advocacy on disability inclusion. END.
UNESCO officially opens a short film festival for disability inclusion to the public for awareness promotion.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General Gabriela Ramos welcomes guests to the short film screening.
Philippine Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO Junever Mahilum-West attends the short film screening on disability inclusion with Embassy officials (far left and right) and Paris-based Filipino creatives.
For more information, visit https://www.lisbonpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPortugal/ or https://www.instagram.com/phinportugal/.