CAGAYAN de Oro City Central School’s Special Education (SPED) teachers, in partnership with the Department of Education-Cagayan de Oro City, recently marked its third annual National Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability Month with the theme "Together there is no limit."
This year’s 3-day series of activities began on February 15. According to Metzie Balandra, president of Cagayan de Oro Association of SPED teachers, the purpose of this event is to expose children who have special needs to mainstream society.
One of the highlights of the event was a SPED Bazaar which was conducted on February 23 headed by Romeo Balandra.
The bazaar was participated by the select schools in Cagayan de Oro such as Bulua Elementary and National High School, Bugo Elementary School, Puerto Elementary School, Camaman-an Elementary School, Consolacion Elementary School, Father William Masterson, South City Central School, East City Central School, among others.
Bazaar products were hand made by the students and their families. The best five bazaars will have a chance to take their products to SM Uptown Cagayan de Oro City.
Love Day 2018 was also part of the activities and was conducted during the second day of the event. It's a celebration in honor of the special athletes in partnership with Special Olympics CDO.
The children took part in all kinds of games such as basketball, running, swimming, badminton and the like. Dr. Vic Conco of Special Olympics CDO said that the main purpose of the organization is to reintegrate those with IDD and down syndrome back to the society through sport.
On February 27, Tuesday, a festival of talents comprised of a singing and dance contests in the will be done in the morning. The participants of the singing contest are those special children with low vision while children with hearing impairment will take part in the dance contest. I
Also on February 27, candidates from participating schools will take part in this year’s Mister and Miss Possibilities. Candidates will show off their best in production numbers and strut on stage in a fashion show.
"It is about time to develop their confidence make friends and for the parents nga maka mata sila nga ang bata dili anagay taguan lang sa balay, dapat ang bata expose nila kay dili nato pwede i-deprive ang ilang pagka bata, (It is about time to develop their confidence and make friends. And for the parents, this is the wakeup call not to hide their children in their homes. They should be exposed while they are still young", Joan Kee a sped teacher said.
The closing celebration and awarding will be on February 27, Tuesday, from 10 a.m. until afternoon at SM Uptown Cagayan de Oro City.