“Please be sensitive to our needs or we’ll be hurt,
If you can’t hold us with your arms, hold us with your heart.”
This plea of Majah A. Dipatuan, a 10-year old student of Baggay SPED Class and a person of short stature (a person with dwarfism condition ), captured the hearts of the participants for this year’s celebration of the 37th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week on July 20, 2015 at the Cagayan State University-Andrews Campus in Tuguegarao City.
The above lines were part of Majah’s recital entitled, “The Children with Special Needs’ Plea” (CNS Plea) and which was one of the various showcase of talents presented during the said yearly celebration.
“I hope the time will come that Majah’s plea will be a thing of the past because we, public servants, and the government as a whole, have become fully successful in championing their rights and have institutionalized programs and services specially those mandated under the law for their protection,” said DSWD FO 02 Regional Director Remia T. Tapispisan.
Sharing Director Tapispisan’s hopes was Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano who likewise assured that his administration has always been available to assist the PWDs sector.
True to its theme, “Health and Wellness Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Toward an Inclusive Development for All,” a medical-dental mission capped off the celebration where the participants and guests were treated to free medical services from the Department of Health Regional Office 02 and Provincial Health Office, Cagayan and Dental Association in the Province, relaxing massage from PWDs reflexologists, hair cut and mani-pedi services. ### By: GELA FLOR R. PEREZ, Regional Information Officer II