30 March 2016 – The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Office of the Social Welfare Attaché in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine National Council on Disability Affairs, celebrated the 12th Women with Disabilities Day on March 20 at the Chancery.
This year’s celebration adopts the theme “Kapakanan at Karapatan ni Juanang Maykapansanan, Isama sa Plano ng Bayan,” which aims to promote and advocate the full participation of women with disabilities and the integration of all their human endeavors in the government’s overall national development plan.
The program started with a video screening of “Women Leaders in Biodiversity Conservation – Conquering Disability to Protect the Coastal Ecosystem,” which featured the story of Ms. Martha Villafane, a polio victim, and how she conquered her disability and successfully led a group of differently abled persons in rehabilitating mangrove areas in Hilongos, Leyte. A mini-documentary entitled “Right Footed,” featuring armless female martial artist and pilot Jessica Cox, was also shown.
Following the screening, a forum on disability concerns was held, with a brief lecture from Social Welfare Attaché Isabel Sy-Nillas. In her lecture, Ms. Nillas stressed the importance of providing disabled persons the opportunity to prove that they have residual capacities in themselves to enable them to do what normal people do. She concluded her lecture with the quote, “It is not what is lost that counts. It is what is left that counts.”
The lecture was attended by officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Social Security System and Pag-IBIG in Abu Dhabi. Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. delivered the opening remarks, where he reminded everyone to be always mindful and understanding of people with disabilities.
Also, in celebration of the International Women’s Month, Abu Dhabi-based painter Divina Dipon presented to Madame Yoko Ramos-Vingno two paintings of a woman in different forms of emotions to commemorate women’s contribution to the society.
Presidential Proclamation No. 744 dated 06 December 2004 declares the last Monday of March of every year as “Women with Disabilities Day.” END
