Sun, sand, surf: Helping children with special needs

In La Union, the surfing capital of Luzon, there is an annual event especially created for children with special needs to enjoy the waves and the sun.

Dr. Mary Ann Moya-Prudencio, a Neurodevelopmental pediatrician, said it is important for children with special needs to be in touch with nature.

With Team Surf, therapy teachers in a school for children with special needs partner with surfer volunteers for an an outdoor clinic for their students as they discover nature and their inner strengths.

"Isang advantage pa ng outdoor activities lalo na sa mga kids with special needs, marami kasing sensory inputs na naipoprovide yung beach. Meron silang mga needs para makapag-perform sila better," said special education teacher Jenny Paguyo.

George, one of their students, was too shy, according to Paguyo, because he is aware that he has difficulty in speech.

"Pero after niyang makapag-surf, it’s something na alam niya sa sarili niya, ‘I can do good, I can do well in this area.’ So kapag pinag-uusapan na yung surfing o kaya swimming, very proud siya," shared the teacher.

Another student became less fearful of the waters through Team Surf and has become more calm and communicable.

"Through Team Surf, it’s one way to gather all the families and the parents para magkaroon sila ng support group, para makita rin nila na our children can do so much more than what we expect," said Paguyo.

Other than the parents, Team Surf also aims to educate the community on special education and rehabilitation, and help cultivate a culture where children with special needs can become productive citizens.

"Mafi-feel pa rin nila yung kasiyahan na parang lumalaki sila na nature lang, pwede silang maging masaya," said Ian Saguan, President of La Union Surf Club.

Paguyo urged parents to introduce new activities to their kids, where they are all equal and where their abilities will be highlighted.

"Nakakatulong din siya para i-promote na hindi lang academic 'yung kailangan nating i-consider, at yung bata, may iba-iba siyang kakayahan," she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How this man turned junk into pieces of art

MANILA - Couches made from bathtubs, speaker sets from old luggage, and boomboxes from car hoods --these are just some of the handiwork of a local upcycle advocate Paco Pili.

The 24-year-old, a marketing graduate, said that he abandoned his day job to pursue a career in upcycling -- the process of turning unwanted and discarded items into furniture that bring an element of fun to homes and offices.

"Pag may nakita kasi akong item, kahit anong item 'yan, naiisipan ko talaga ng anong puwedeng gawin dyan. Kaysa itapon natin siya, bakit hindi pa natin gawing kakaiba?" he said in an interview on ANC's "Green Living."

Paco shared that he gets his materials from flea shops, junk shops, and even garage sales. He then turns them into either art pieces or something with practical use, before selling them online on his Instagram account along with business partner, actor Ping Medina.

One of many reasons, according to Pili, that the upcycling trend has gained such popularity is that for the consumer, each is a rare item. It allows one to own unique pieces no one else has.

In addition, upcyling also allows one to reduce their footprint as they are made from numerous eco-friendly materials.

However, Pili admitted that he delved into upcycling not with the initial intention of saving the environment. No. He said that he carved out a boombox from an old luggage as a gift for a girl he liked back in college.

But from then on, his passion for upcycling never looked back. He is currently a full-time upcyclist, and is working on making a chic table out of an old sewing machine using Bosch Power Tools.

"Naging passion ko lang talaga siya. Masaya lang talaga ako pag may nakikita akong natutuwa sa gawa ko," he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com