AAAP CHAMPION 2018 AWARD

ATTY. SEDFREY M. CANDELARIA

Movements need champions, without whom progress would be slow or not happening.

With the audacity to regard our organization as a force in a movement – that of drawing attention and societal resources to adults with autism, a hitherto ignored segment of the autism population, AAAP has awarded the first AAAP Champion award.

AAAP is fortunate and honored to have been exposed to a true Champion of the AAAP cause.

The first recipient of the AAAP CHAMPION AWARD is Atty Sedfrey M. Candelaria.

– He is a Master of Laws graduate of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

– He was the very successful Dean of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law from 2010 to 2018.

– He now heads the Research Publications and Linkages Office of the Philippine Judicial Academy and Chairs its Department of Special Areas of Concern.

– His generosity towards AAAP fits a lifetime of service to persons in need. His writings, many written for UNICEF, have focused on human rights, refugees, children’s rights, and rights of indigenous peoples.

Atty Candelaria, AAAP is deeply grateful for your facilitating our organization’s access to the exceptional elegant and world-class level of facilities at the Ateneo Professional Schools at Rockwell Center, starting back when AAAP was a fledgling organization. We launched in February 2012. We held our first symposium at the Ateneo Law School only a few months later, in November, 2012.

For five consecutive years – from 2012 to 2016, AAAP held symposia delivered by experts on autism and related topics at Ateneo in Rockwell. These events were attended by significant leaders and members of the autism and other “special needs” community, from the government as well as private organizations.

This series of educational lectures was a significant boost to AAAP’s recognition as a resource by members of the community of families and persons with autism and their advocates. This comprised invaluable help towards our mission of improving the lives of hitherto much ignored adults with autism in the Philippines.

Atty. Candelaria, you are indeed an AAAP CHAMPION!

Congratulations and, as members of the Filipino community, my fellow AAAP members and I thank you and wish you continued success in all your future endeavors.