Reposted | 7 Reasons To Be Happy Even if Things Aren’t Perfect

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” –Unknown

1. Enjoying the present moment is a habit that takes practice. If you always look toward tomorrow for happiness, odds are you will do the same when you attain what you’ve been dreaming of. As strange it sounds, the ability to appreciate what’s in front of you has nothing to do with what you actually have. It’s more about how you measure the good things in your life at any given time.

Pamulak Kadayawan 2011

Pamulak Kadayawan or the Floral Float Parade is the highlight of Kadayawan Festival in Davao city. I am very proud to share this to you that I am able to witness a very spectacular event that happening only in my very own town -- The Pamulak Kadayawan 2011. It is a traditional parade of orchids and other flowers from Davao as a way of showing pride in Davao’s bountiful harvest not just flowers but also fruits. Here are some of my shots during the said event.

In My Own Little Ways

Back 2 School Gift Giving Project was A Success!!!

"Let me just share this to you. It was my one way of sharing all the blessings that GOD bestowed upon me for the past 23 years of my existence. It was my lil way also of inspiring people to help the needy and to tell fellow differently-abled persons that we can actually contribute to our community in our own little ways." 

My 1st Scuba Diving Experience

First because definitely there will be second, third, fourth, fifth or I might consider it as one of my hobbies. hahahaha. I just started to love scuba diving.

It was actually few months ago when I started to like watching scuba diving videos and wanted to experience it on my own. I even planned of going to Cebu coz I've heard they have this specialize equipment for Persons With Disability (PWD). Yes, specially made for us who are physically challenged but wanted to go down the water and see another world in us. Then finally last Aug. 14, 2011 I got the chance to experienced scuba diving and good thing was no need for me to go to Cebu coz of Carabao Dive Center here in Davao who cater divers with physical disabilities. It was 8:00 in the morning when we started to have our voyage going to the diving site which was in Samal Island. We were actually in a group of 20+ divers (1st timers and repeaters). Half of the group were from a group of international organization who came to Davao for an  environment internship. Part of their itinerary was to try scuba diving in the city. 

Scuba Diving

One way of improving the physical well being of differently-abled person is through this type of sport.
This is also to experience the serenity and beauty of underwater.

Tayo Na Pumunta Sa Dabaw

"Tayo Na Pumunta Sa Dabaw" music taken out from Wow Davao Audio Video Presentation. Full production made by One Stop Video, Ilustre St., Davao City, Philippines for client Department of Tourism, Region XI.

At Ganito Kami Sa Dabaw...

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Preamble

The States Parties to the present Convention,

(a) Recalling the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations which recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

(b) Recognizing that the United Nations, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, has proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind,

(c) Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,

(d) Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Victoria Plaza as to PWD Accessibility

I am writing this article while waiting for my order (halo-halo & siomai) here inside a food chain. I immediately write this one ‘coz I really felt bad entering here in Victoria Plaza whose accessibility is very poor. Yes, their entrance has ramp for wheelchair but what about going to the 2nd floor? Would you believe they don’t have elevator or something to lift me up going to 2nd floor. So, how can I buy some stuff if it’s in the 2nd floor and they don’t have any ways for me to get there? I really thought of reporting this mall to the authority coz I just don’t want any other physically challenged person experience and feel how I feel right now. It’s really disappointing.

8th National Abilympics

“WE, THE ONES WHO ARE CHALLENGED NEED TO BE HEARD AND SEEN NOT JUST AS A DISABILITY, BUT AS A PERSON WHO HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BLOOM. BE SEEN NOT ONLY AS A HANDICAP, BUT AS A WELL INTACT HUMAN BEING.”

Every after four years, Abilympics International is held in different countries. It is with the initiative of the International Abilympics Federation and in partnership of Rehabilitation International. This was actually started by Japan in celebration for the International Year for Disabled Persons in 1981 which aims to raise awareness on the development of PWDs.

Abreeza as to PWD Accessibility

So far, ang dami pang dapat i-improve ng Abreeza Ayala Mall in terms of PWD accessibility. Pagbaba ko palang sa taxi, ito unang una ko napansin. My isang signage nakalagay itong wheelchair icon, so i was expecting my ramp don. But to my dismay, ang ramp pala andon pa sa dulo.Naghanap ako ng pwede ko sana makausap don kaso dahil sa pagmamadali kasi gutom na din, hindi nalang. At ito pa, ang daming lugar na mejo elevated, ‘yon bang pagbaba mo ng wheelchair magugulat ka kasi hindi pala pantay ‘yong dinadaanan mo. At ito pa, ang napuntahan kong CR for handicap, under construction pa daw. Bakit ganun, kung iisipin ang isang handicap CR kunti lang nman ang deperensya sa isang ordinaryong CR bat hindi pa nila matapos tapos? Isa pa, isang “bowl” lang nman yan.

A Mind-Blowing Experience

It was August 17-18, 2008 when I joined the Youth Leadership Training for Person’s With Disability held at Hope Mountain, Ulas Davao city. It was a 2 days seminar funded by the Liliane Fonds Philippines in cooperation of the Maharlika Charity Foundation. Attended by 15 differently-abled persons and it aims to boast the self-esteem and the leadership of each PWD in their own communities. The 15 PWDs comes from the different regions in the country.