“Public acceptance with children afflicted with Down Syndrome and other People With Disabilities is a very important feature of every democracy,” said United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
Joining Sunday’s “Happy Walk for Down Syndrome,” at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Goldberg noted that accepting PWDs is a strong component in every democratic country.
“And that is what today is all about and we are very happy to participate,” said Goldberg who came with a group of participants from the US Embassy.
He said the US government has always advocated for the acceptance and inclusivity of PWDs in the communities and society.
Goldberg likewise participated in the walk around MoA with SM president Hans Sy and DSAPI officers.
“We have a group here from the US Embassy and we are very happy to be part of this very important event. We thank SM malls for sponsoring this event and we are happy to participate because what it does is to bring public recognition to a community that is getting more self-confident, to highlight the problems and issues in a way that will benefit many many people,” said Goldberg.
The annual Happy Walk for Down Syndrome has set many firsts in its 14-year history. Aside from the participation of the US Embassy, it has set a new record for attendance and it has transferred to a new home.
Elmer Lapena, president of the Down Sydrome Association of the Philippines, said more than 2,000 people attended this year’s Happy Walk in its new home at the SMX Mall of Asia, an unprecedented feat since only 1,200 attendees were recorded last year.
“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support to our advocacy because we were expecting only 1,500 people but more than 2,000 people showed up. We are just very happy and honored by all the love being given to us and our children,” he said.
Coinciding with the National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month celebration, Happy Walk has become a bigger event. From just a small gathering on Roxas Boulevard in 2002, the event transferred to the Skydome at the SM North Edsa.
When the gathering proved to be too big for the 1,200-seater Skydome, Sy and SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, offered them the much bigger SMX at the Mall of Asia.
Fulfilling his promise, Sy is moving the venue to the SMX which can accommodate some 1,500 people.
Lapena said SM has always been instrumental in the successful holding of Happy Walk
“We could not thank Mr. Hans Sy and the whole SM enough for their never-ending support. We could never be this successful without their help and this is another milestone for us because of their support,” Lapena said.
Down syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition in which an extra genetic material called chromosome 21 causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. There is no known cause or cure but Lapena said 80 percent of babies with the condition are born to mothers aged 35 year and below but the risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome increases as women get older.
Health data show that one person with Down Syndrome is born in the Philippines every four hours.
Lapena said contrary to popular belief, Down Syndrome is a common genetic disorder that affects one in every 800 Filipino children. Which is the reason why, he said, it is vital that their inclusion to Philippine society is achieved.
