Amuma, the theme of the 37th Negros Trade Fair’s theme is apt for what NTF organizers have been doing for individuals who are in the spectrum for two years now. Amuma is a Hiligaynon word which means “to nurture”, “to foster” or “to care for.”
As the famous trade fair returns to the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City this year, students with special needs who belong to the Transition Class of Happy Beginners School of Learning, take center stage once more, to show the world what they’ve got!
The very positive and warm welcome given by organizers, local and national officials and various sectors to students with special needs last year, boosted the morale and confidence of these students to even do better by working harder. If their hand-painted bayong bags were a crowd favorite at the 36th NTF last year, their hand-painted wooden bangles are among the attention getters at the fair. No other than Sen. Grace Poe was drawn to these intricately-painted bangles. She did not leave the booth without buying some. Kirsten Liamzon-Go bought a white bomber jacket with the word “Amuma” hand-painted on it.
“We love the products because it is really locally made. Aside from that, I really like the literature and the meaning of “Amuma” which is ‘to take care’ of the heritage or and our traditions. So, it really resonates well, of us being a local brand and being a local here in the Philippines,” said Go.
The vases in different colors made of fiberglass and resin are products of the collaboration between the school and Tumandok Crafts. Anne Marie Makilan, president of Happy Beginner’s School of Learning, happily shared that a balikbayan store bought all the vases on display on opening day. Another customer bought all the students’ hand-painted bayong bags. The students’ paintings of farmers harvesting mangoes and corn are among the new additions to the exhibit. Also, the rubber slip-ons and wedges adorned with crocheted flowers and leaves were among the favorites of customers.
Tumandok Crafts Chief Executive Officer Josephine Locsin, who also operates the Department of Trade and Industry’s One Town One Product (OTOP) Provincial Showroom in Bacolod, is instrumental in connecting Makilan to NTF organizers led by Mary Ann Colmenares in 2022.
I remember last year, Colmenares, Vice President for Advocacy of the Association of Negros Producers, told me that inclusivity is a priority for ANP the reason why she said “yes” right away when she was asked by Locsin if she can bring children who are in the spectrum to their national media launch.
“We welcome all the many opportunities that should be available to the kids [with special needs] so they feel empowered and productive,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Cristina Basa-Orbecido, administrator of Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC), said the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental provides assistance and training to individuals with special needs in order to provide them with skills that will not only make them productive but also employable.
“I am so glad that persons with special needs, especially kids, are joining the trade fair exhibit. This is part of the social inclusion of the province. NOLITC has special programs for persons with special needs. Some of the students in the Transition Class of Happy Beginners have availed of our Digital Literacy Training. Sixteen individuals with hearing impairment and 4 individuals in the spectrum were among the recipients,” she said.
Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang never misses a chance to visit the booth that exhibits products of students with special needs during the annual NTF. She met some of the gifted students last year, when they first joined the fair.
“I was delighted to see once again the special education students of HBSL. Their presence in government–NGO initiatives such as the Negros Trade Fair, gives them the opportunity to participate fully into the mainstream of society. It is interesting to see their work and how they showcase their skills through the wide array of beautiful, handmade and hand-painted products. It also gives the public a chance to see them as the creative and talented individuals that they are and not just their disability,” emphasized Ang.
The inclusion of students with special needs in the yearly NTF is a laudable move of the ANP as it is a proactive approach to embracing and valuing diversity. This annual event creates an environment where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, feel valued and respected. Those in the spectrum are also given a chance to contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Indeed, the true essence of inclusivity is to embrace all people irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity and disability. Nurturing means giving equal care, opportunities for growth and development and most of all, access to support and resources – getting rid of discrimination and intolerance.*
