University News

CANVAS OF POSSIBILITIES: ADPR launches project for people with special needs

Dr. Edna Tormon-Bernabe, News, Extension Management Office

The Department of Advertising and Public Relations has launched a project that will give hope to people with disabilities as they participate in a series of artistic activities that will soon be an avenue for a profitable business venture.

The project “SALIKHABONG—Canvass of Possibilities: Empowering Abilities and Sustaining Livelihood through Arts� is an extension initiative of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations for individuals with special needs from the Handicapped Center Lourdes (HCL) at the Caritas Compound in Manila. The extension project aims to empower the PWDs by providing them with opportunities to engage in activities that showcase their abilities, eventually allowing them to gain confidence and develop a sense of independence.

The project has an initial 15 PWD participants, five parent volunteers, eight COC-ADPR representatives composed of faculty and alumni resource persons and faculty facilitators, the HCL head teacher, and some student volunteers. The project team is composed of Dr. Jerielyn Reyes as the project head, Chair Rosanna Manansala as assistant project head, and project members Prof. Adelio Sulit, Prof. Reynaldo Guerzon, Prof. Christwin Felix, and Dr. Edna Bernabe as project coordinator. Mr. JM Saycon, an alumnus of the AD-PR department and now making a name in the industry, had volunteered to share his expertise in visual arts.

The project’s partner-beneficiary, the Handicapped Center Lourdes (HCL), is a non-profit organization founded by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, who appointed Father Luke Moortgat as the HCL Minister on February 11, 1993, the feast day of the Lady of Lourdes. The center gives multiple handicapped individuals an opportunity to live a decent life through proper care, nutrition, and all the necessities. Later on, His Excellency Antonio Luis Cardinal Tagle became the chairperson of the center. The HCL has four pilot programs: a Residential Program, a Special Education Program, an Extensive Care Program, and an Advocacy Program. The ADPR’s SALIKHABONG.

A History Fulfilled
Dr. Reyes first proposed the extension project to then-COC Dean Dr. Edna Bernabe in 2018. In 2019, Dr. Reyes initiated the planning and coordination, but the pandemic prevented it from materializing. Dr. Reyes, upon seeing another opportunity, reconnected with HCL in 2023 and started reorganizing the team, held meetings, and finally proposed a project to the Extension Management Office (EMO) for an institutional fund in 2024. In October 2024, the EMO approved the project and allocated an initial 72,000.00 fund. After seven years of waiting, Phase 1 of the project commenced in December 2024 and is expected to be completed in April 2025.

Preliminaries: Coordination Meeting, Orientation, and Sensitivity Training
Determined to pursue this noble project, the ADPR extension team, led by Dr. Jerielyn Reyes, conducted a series of coordination meetings with the extension team and held a virtual orientation for all the parties involved in the project in December 2024. Likewise, another orientation meeting was given to the student volunteers, and sensitivity training for the implementers was conducted by the Handicapped Center Lourdes and led by Ms. Delima.

The sensitivity training gave the implementer a wider perspective on what the situation is all about and a clearer perspective and understanding of the nature of the participants. Similarly, the faculty and student volunteers received training on how to manage the participants during the activities.

Day 1: A Challenging, Emotional Day
The first session day of the workshop at the HCL was both challenging and emotional. The ADPR extension project team arrived at the venue on time and was welcomed by the center’s coordinator, Ms. Veronica Delima, fondly called Ate Veron, the participants, and the parent volunteers. Some members of the project team were taken aback as they saw the participants with multiple disabilities. Most of them have both visual and hearing impairments, while others have mild to severe cerebral palsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—a bit of a challenging situation as initially perceived by the team. The room was full of emotions and anticipation on how to carry out the project. The team gathered for a few minutes to discuss how to execute the activities, assign tasks to members and volunteers, and soon enough the session started.

The COC-ADPR Extension Team and the HCL Coordinator delivered messages during a brief introductory program. Dr. Edna Bernabe delivered an inspiring opening message, expressing her enthusiasm as she emphasized the significant contribution of the project in fostering inclusivity by empowering individuals with multiple disabilities. She also assured the partner beneficiaries that the COC-ADPR is committed to pursuing the project. Project Head Dr. Jerielyn Reyes discussed briefly the schedule and the activities for the four sessions.

Chairperson Ronna Manansala, though a bit emotional, was able to pull through and deliver her thank you message, saying that we can do difficult things for as long as everyone is committed and involved. Mr. JM Saycon, as a representative of the alumni, also shared his thoughts, mentioning that other members of the alumni who are now prominent painters can also join in this endeavor. He also pledged to help in the next phases of the project.

Fun During the Sessions
To everyone’s surprise, the activity that was initially perceived as difficult has turned into a source of happiness and excitement for both participants and facilitators. Everyone involved was very excited and enthusiastic during session 1 and session 2. The faculty resource persons and facilitators found it easier to communicate as they were taught simple and basic sign language, and parent volunteers and social workers were very helpful and participative.

More than anyone else, the participants, with their challenging situations, were very active and cooperative. Some may have issues with attention span, but facilitators were patiently getting their attention to finish their tasks. The participants completed Sessions 1 and 2, crafting a total of 20 paintings artistically.

Looking Ahead toward a Productive Future
There is much to be anticipated in this project. The project has two more art sessions for April 2025. The Phase 2 proposal is currently being reviewed for funding, and once approved, coordination and implementation will take place. As Phase 1 is being completed to produce more artwork for our beneficiaries with special needs, the succeeding phases will be dedicated to the training of the parent volunteers and social workers on how to market the artwork, massive communication campaigns to advertise and market the produced artwork, and eventually the training for the reproduction of the artwork into different types of merchandise for sustainable livelihood for the beneficiaries. A marketing strategy is likewise being planned.

Indeed, every single individual in this collaborative journey is important. The PUP, through the SALIKHABONG Project, is committed to making into a reality the vision of establishing a sustainable economic opportunity for a marginalized and vulnerable sector of society.