Real Angels in our Midst: Autism Angels Walk Feels like Heaven

Do you believe in angels? Have you seen one before?

I do and I have seen thousands yesterday.

One of them lives with me. She has always been a sweetheart and a blessing in disguise to the family since she came into our lives.

She is forever innocent, forever with a pure heart, forever loving, forever a child to be cared for and loved, forever loving us with all her heart no conditions.

We may not understand how her mind works, she may not be able to verbally communicate whatever is on her mind. At times it can be really frustrating to not know what she needs, feels or wants but I am definitely sure it is more frustrating for her than us. She is a very intelligent girl with a different way to communicate but we understand each other by heart. She keeps me grounded. She keeps the family forever a child.

I am talking about my daughter.

She turned 13 this month. She has autism. She looks very normal physically but her mind works in the most complex way than the average human. She is non-verbal so definitely she finds hard to put her thoughts into words.

Yesterday was an overwhelming experience. It was our first time to join the Angels Walk for Autism since it started in 2007, that is because we used to live far from the venue and it was hard to commute with a child with autism back then when there was very little people who knew about it. This was also the first time that they walked with wings, so this actually is trying to break the world record for most number of people gathered with angels wings.

It was very apt for people with autism and families and people caring for them to wear wings as in real life they all wear an invisible wing. Both are the real angels in our midst. People with Autism with their pure hearts and minds, the families and people caring for them because of their strength and will to do all means to make life easier albeit difficulties for people with autism..

Imagine the hardships people caring with autism have to endure, it is financially, emotionally and physically taxing.

This 2015’s Angels Walk for autism aims to send a louder message now that the world knows they exist. By helping people with autism and families living with them not alienate them from the world as they know it. To help them live with less difficulties by providing them opportunities and living conditions that will not alienate them because they are no more different than everyone else, it’s just they express themselves differently from the average person, that is because they are special people.

Yesterday was an overwhelming experience, while I was trying to hold myself from breaking out of tears, my heart was filled with joy as I see thousands of people with autism and families living with them walk hand in hand. It was comforting to be with people who understand each other. We look at each other like families because we understand what each of us has to endure. Being with people like us, the real angels in our midst was such a relief.  We didn’t feel alone and alienated.  We were part of the world. Everyone was smiling, everyone was happy, it felt like heaven!

The Angels for Autism Walk 2015 covered the grounds in and outside the venue of SM MOA Arena and SM Mall of Asia. It was a long walk but worth it!

While the official announcement from the Guinness World Record is not out yet, I personally could say that the Angels Walk for Autism this 2015 or the Autism Angels Walk sets a Guiness World Record for having gathered the most number of people/crowd wearing angels wings!

According to the Guiness World Record, the title holder had 1,100 plus crowd wearing wings gathered. For what I’ve seen yesterday inside the SM MOA Arena and the actual walk, we have gathered an estimate of 10,000 people (Autism Angels) wearing wings.

 

While we have achieved one of our immediate goals for the day, we still have a long way to go from the long-term goals we wanted to achieve with the Angels Walk for Autism.  I also think this also sets the record for the worlds most largest gathering of persons with autism and their families.

Our goal for Autism in the Philippines are as follows:

Livelihood Opportunities for people with Autism . Eventually the children with autism become adults and with that they also need opportunities to earn and make a living for themselves.

Autism-Friendly Spaces. People with autism and their families need a place where they can take them or they can go. A place where they feel safe and welcomed. A place they can be and not be judged or tell told to behave differently from what they are.

Compassionate Workplace

Professionals on the Spectrum

Transition and Job Coaches

 

I would like to express my deep gratitude to SM Malls for embracing people with autism, each time I go to an SM mall the guards are briefed to be very nice to people with autism.   At the event yesterday, Mr. Henry Sy was with the entire SM management team to support the Angels Walk, SM even opened the SM Mall Arena and SM Mall of Asia to be the forever venue of the Angels walk for autism and any activities with regards persons with disabilities (PWD).

I would like to applaud the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) for this successful and epic event with the autism angels.   You are the angels of angels!

It’s starting to look up for our angels and our angels . I am praying that everything turns out awesome like this event it was so amazing!

Stay gorgeous everyone!