Creating a special place
Build and they will come, as the cliche’ goes.
For parents of people with autism, creating a community peopled by their special children is a move towards making a better world for them and for their future. Thus, the apparent Phase One construction of a project dubbed “A Special Place” is realizing that vision.
Parent-members from the Association of Adults with Autism Philippines (AAAP) are united in pushing for this keystone project to establish a residential and work village exclusively for adults with autism.
“This should be a dream-come-true for all us parents who have gone through the same experience and proud enough to say that our children turned out really well after they have discovered, with our encouragement, their passion and purpose in life,” said Catherine Cham, vice president of Cham-Candelaria Inc., which is behind the architectural plan and design of the project.
A site covering 9,000 square meters of land in Alfonso, Cavite has already been secured courtesy of AAAP members.
The project’s concept and guiding philosphy are said to be in collaboration with autism residential communities from both the US mainland and Europe. Several educators, medical advisors, and other autism experts have likewise agreed to serve as mentors, consultants, and guides for this undertaking.
Cham’s son Vico, who owns the fast-rising Vico’s Artism Gallery, is among the poster boys for this project, being himself a highly achieving adult with autism, one who prolifically draws beautiful people.
To help raise funds for the project, he and another artist, Samantha Kaspar, will be exhibiting their artworks, along with wood carvings by Franco Cagayat, at an upcoming talent showcase for-a-cause also featuring musical artists.
The fund-raising activity called “Salosalo Autismo: An Evening with Autism Stars” is set at the Marquis Event Place in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City next Sunday (November 11) at 6 p.m. It is the second of an annual dinner gathering, with mainstream singing stars Gian Magdangal and Radha Cuadrado scheduled to show up and perform.
“A Special Palace is a first of its kind in the Philippines. We want to make adults with autism feel they are loved and appreciated,” Cham added.
The initial Phase One construction serves as a major development for AAAP’s aggressive stance in making their points of existence spread around. The nonprofit association launched in 2012 is bent on providing work and living accommodation for adults with autism commonly taken as “largely ignored and underserved.” Part of AAAP’s mission is to “raise awareness of their presence in the community.”
Vico, for one, works in a corporate set-up at Unilab Foundation and is among the finely performing employees.
His parents, the architect couple on top of Cham-Candelaria Inc., is nevertheless perfect in spearheading the project, having established themselves well in the architectural design industry.
(Donations to AAAP can be deposited in account number 0401-0099-49; for the dinner show, ticket prices start at P4,000).
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