400 Special Children join SPED Olympics

            LINGAYEN ---- More than 400 special children have participated in a one-day 2nd Division SPED Olympics with the theme “Awareness, Acceptance, Development of the Children with Special Needs to the Fullest.”

            Held last Thursday, December 4 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC), the event was organized by the Pangasinan Divison 1 in cooperation with the provincial government and Kiwanis Club of Progressive Pangasinan.

            At the opening ceremony, Board Member Nestor D. Reyes, in behalf of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. hailed the holding of the special sports event for the special children as “this is one way of giving  our special love and attention to them.”

            “The provincial government headed by our own good Governor has always been supportive of this endeavor because these special children need special attention for them to feel that they have a special place in this world,” he said.

            BM Reyes encouraged the parents and the teachers to follow the acronym CARE   which means to   Cherish,  Accept, Respect and Enjoy to help the  special children to live a normal life,” he said.

            Meanwhile, Bernadette B. Mangaoang, president of the Kiwanis Club of Progressive Pangasinan revealed that the SPED Olympics has been cited as notable project with high impact to the special children, and it will be their entry on their forthcoming Centennial celebration on January 15, 2015.  

            “The Kiwanis International is committed to serve the children with special needs with an aim to build self-confidence and self-esteem of every special child in the whole world,” she said.

            Children with special needs include those with hearing and visual impairment, autism, physically handicapped, children with Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and mentally-challenged.

            Special children aged 3 to 16 years old have actively participated in sports olympics with various sports events such as athletics, long jump, standing long jump, discus throw, shot put, bocce, vocal solo and group dance competitions. (Merly Ramos /PIO)