MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of PWDs (persons with disabilities)converged at the Quezon City Memorial Circle early Saturday morning to hold the first Freedom Walk, an awareness campaign and fundraising activity for PWDs, in time for Independence Day on June 12.
“People with disabilities should be given knowledge about their rights as citizens with equal share to communities’ resources and they should be assertive about their rights,” said retired navy Capt. Oscar Taleon, president of lead convenor Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy (AKAPPinoy), a federation of various PWD groups.
As participants set off at around 7:30 a.m. at the Liwasang Aurora, the disabled–wheelchair-bound, deaf, mute, blind, autistic–assisted by supporters, proudly bore banners, waved Philippine flaglets, and smiled and greeted the early morning parkgoers.
The Freedom Walk went around the two-kilometer bike trail of the park.
The PWDs were able to complete the round about an hour later.
Most of the participants came from cities in Metro Manila and from nearby provinces, like Cavite and Batangas.
Only non-disabled supporters were asked to pay the P200-P300 registration fee. But the PWDs, who composed around 80 percent of the particpants, joined the walk for free, overall event chairman Emer Rojas, Global Cancer Ambassador and president said.
But more than the fundraising, he underscored the importance of raising awareness for PWDs as capable “partners in nation-building.”
He was delighted with the PWD turnout and expressed hopes the activity could be repeated next year.
Also taking part in the walk was activist-priest FatherRobert Padaca, former Isabela governor and PWD champion Grace Padaca, Quezon city councilor and actor Alfred Vargas, and online celebrity “Juana Change,” among others.