"DAPAT IDI PAY LANG DAYTUY" - they said.
The ausome north summit held at Ben Palispis hall last February 28, 2026 was attended by 200 + parents, caregivers, volunteers and provincial government staff. It was the largest gathering in Benguet and the first autism summit in the Cordillera Region.
I am happy to see that parents, caregivers and the community are becoming aware about autism and they acknowledge the need to reach out to the government and private organizations. Since 2021, when I started to advocate for autism awareness in the Cordillera, I didn’t really know what will happen in the long road ahead. I was vocal, conducted small private talks, public and school seminars, created and posted many autism related videos, had gift giving programs and more. To those of you who follow my life journey, you know the rest. In our community, I became the face of autism awareness campaign and support. At first it was painful and awkward because I hear (until now) words like “a-autistic anak na dayta gamin” or “mr autistic”. I do not care anymore what other people say. I came to peace with hurtful or awkward words. What matters now is we do these things for the benefit of our ausome children.
After the successful “December to remember, gift giving program” last December 14, 2026 held at BSU open gym, I knew it was time to organize. Since 2021 -2025, I have been talking to ausome parents about creating an organization but so many had reasons and alibi. No time, busy-busy, no one to look after their child etc. I understand completely their answers but I did not let my frustration stop me from moving forward because I knew back then that time will come, circumstances will change and everyone would like to belong. So after 5 long years and speaking to hundreds of parents, I knew it was time.
This is how it happened. Dr. Meli Dulay, Head of Benguet Provincial Health Office referred me as a resource person to Dr. Rowena Raymundo, head of the newly launched (Oct 2025) Provincial Mental Health Unit for the celebration of the 2026 National Autism Consciousness Month that is celebrated every January. We had a meeting and I shared the current situation of autism and understanding in Benguet and the Cordilleras. I suggested some activities and through the efforts of PHO MHU, we had a free clinical consultation for children with autism at the new PHO building and followed by a seminar – learning program held at Benguet Capitol last January 28, 2026. During this event, Governor Dr. Melchor Diclas expressed his support to institutionalize the yearly National Autism Consciousness activity. I was able to talk to BM Lady Molintas Likigan, Head of the Sangunian Panlalawigan Committee on Health and she expressed her support. After Vice Governor Marie Fongwan Kepes delivered her message, I approached her and shared my plan to conduct a Benguet wide Autism Summit on February 28, 2026. It will be the biggest event for parents, caregivers, relatives and private and government for the autism sector. Without any reservation, VG Marie said “yes, we will support the activity, specially it is for autistic kids”. Weeks after the seminar, BM Lady Likigan filed a proposed ordinance for autism support in the Province of Benguet. The proposed ordinance will soon be discussed within the year.
The 1st Benguet Autism Summit was set to February 28, 2026. Initially, the program I made was whole day. But after talking to some parents, the program was fitted to half day. This is because of the short attention span of our ausome kids and many of the parents will come from far places. I made the public callout both online and offline – to all parents, caregivers, relatives, representatives of children with autism and children with disabilities, come join us at the summit. I thought only around 100 individuals will respond. – I was wrong. In fact, I was overwhelmed! There were 187 registered participants online until the February 20 cut off date! There were also participants who do not now how to use the online google form so they messaged me directly through text and messenger. I also received messages that they really want to attend but they are located at remote areas and far municipalities. It is very hard for them to bring their children and no one will look after them if incase they will decide to attend the summit. A lot of complications for many parents. Hopefully, sometime in the future, we will be the ones to come to their municipalities. Parents from other provinces also reached out and they looking at our efforts to organize Ausome North. Hopefully soon, we can also help other provinces.
The ground work was handled by Ms. Rosean Marcos. She went to give letters to offices and resource speakers. She also prepared the Canva slides for presentation. We printed tarpulines, booklets for distribution and had meetings with interested individuals. Thankfully Sir Gideon of Torogi Kapi made us a beneficiary of their Raffle for a cause Christmas Program. They were able to collect P17,000 and it was used in many activities, snacks, logistics and booklet production since December. Please take note that we have no funding, meaning we do this out of our own pockets and during a certain period of time that we can devote doing this. I also have to earn a living, I need to work too. I’m not getting paid doing all of this. It’s useless looking like a hero to the community but your family is starving. So please understand. There are a few good hearted people who gave money for logistics and doesn’t want to be published and I am thankful. I am working for free and sometimes I even sacrifice some personal money for the cause. My rule is simple. I will do this as long as it does not touch the small family money allotted for my kids. Because if that happens, I will drop all of this things that I am doing. It wouldn’t be fair for my own ausome kids.
So after all the preparations, the day came. Me and my first born son prepared all the things needed, camera, tripods, tarps, booklets, reg forms, ausome tshirts. We went to the Capitol, arrived at 11am and we were happy to see that the venue was already prepared and there were around 15 working people coming from the Sangunian Panlalawigan offices. They came ready and prepared nga “ag-awir” hahaha! We had lunch at the venue and by 12:30N, Parents and their kids started to come. Many asked me during the registration if they can bring their kids because no one will look after them, I said “bring them, this is the event where everyone will understand each others child”. At first, I said, I will be happy if out of those who confirmed, around 80 – 90 will come. I was wrong. The attendance will show more than 200 participants! This is also a big eye opener. There are hundreds of autism cases in La Trinidad alone, how much more if we will add the different municipalities and provinces of Cordillera? Baguio city also have hundreds. I know we still do not have relevant data but I clearly see that there are thousands of people under autism spectrum, gdd, adhd etc (mental) in our mountainous region.
Our host Gem Bugtong, an ausome mom, did a good job. She claimed it was here first time to be a host in a large crowd. But I see something in her. I know she will be a good ausome leader someday, thus, I requested her to be our host and she aced it!
Our provincial leaders were not able to come due to prior commitments but their message was delivered by Ms. Rachelle Atayoc form the Office of the Vice Governor. The message was clear, they will support children with autism and disabilities to the best that they can.
Coming from the MSWO of La Trinidad, we had Ms. Blesy Felipe and Sir Rodney Pedronio, both registered Social Workers and Ms. Adilyne Balang from the Disability Affairs Office of La Trinidad. Mam Adilyne discussed the benefits of having a PWD ID and the requirements needed to get one. A Q&A followed after and we all agreed that in the next seminars, we will also invite Philhealth and SSS for more information.
Ms. Jenny Gacia of Sunflower Child and Youth Wellness Center, Saint Louis University stole the quite afternoon and changed it to a happy and fun lecture. She started with a dance exercise and proceeded to share useful and updated information about autism. Many of the first time parents who attended the summit said the information shared was new to them! Next time we will have a longer seminar with Ms. Garcia.
It’s also good to share that while the summit was going on, the children were having a good time. They had a safe space to run, play, roll around and be who they are and no one is judging them or us parents! To me, that was a very good thing to see.
Then it was my turn. I shared current updates about the increasing number of autism cases worldwide and proceeded with the appointment of interim officers which will prepare the election of proper officers by December 2026 or January 2027. As of now, we are Ausome North Society and I intend to present this organization as a civil society group at the Sangunian Panlalawigan for accreditation. A separate feature post will be made for the interim officers. We need to have a formal meeting first.
I would like to thank the wonderful Benguet Sangunian Panlalawigan Staff who helped us facilitate the 1st Benguet Autism Summit. The flow of the program was smooth from morning to late afternoon and we parents and caregivers of cwds could not have done it without you all. Thank you too for your patience in watching over our ausome kids during the summit. Thank you also to our Ausome North Volunteers! You have given your time and effort for the success of our summit.
To everyone who supported me from the very beginning, thank you very much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I felt alone before, now I have and Ausome North Family… WE HAVE AN AUSOME NORTH SOCIETY!
It’s a small success but it is a good step forward.
If you want to help, donate toys, colors, visual aids etc., message me.
