IN LINE with its thrust of promoting an “inclusive society,” the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde recently held the fourth staging of the Ability Games.
Done in partnership Volunteers-PWD and Mang Inasal, the half-day event saw over a hundred persons with disabilities trek to CSB’s Taft campus to showcase their sporting skills with members of the school’s varsity teams in chess, table tennis and badminton.
CSB’s Pep Squad also taught the participants a special dance that was performed as a culminating activity.
In her welcome remarks, Center for Inclusive Education (CIE) Director Dr. Katherine Deen highlighted how sports have the ability to link people with differing capabilities.
“Through the Ability Games, we champion the value of inclusion and we gain the fruits of what sports have to offer us beyond the physical,” Ms. Deen said.
“We really look at what sports can do for our character, in our compassion, and even to build communities,” she added.
For CSB Center for Sports Development Director Stephen Fernandez, the Ability Games goes beyond mere holding such an event.
“The games are part of the school’s vision of inclusion, as Benilde collaborates with PWD groups, like how our athletes assist the participants,” said Mr. Fernandez, who also shared that the number of PWDs interested in joining has grown steadily through the years.
Participating groups which represented the deaf, blind, autistic, with Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy in this year’s Ability Games included the Manila, Pasay City and Cavite chapters of Autism Society of the Philippines, AMP4Life, PWD Burgos Association, Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines (DSAPI), Las Piñas PWD Federation, AKAPP Pinagbuhatan, PDAO Tanauan, Batangas, Philippine International Network for Accessible Tourism, Inc. (PINATI), and Malanday.
Participants received certificates at the day’s end, while CIE provided giveaways. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
