Tag Archives: autism

Living with Autism

2 Jan

For most of the pioneer members of the AAAP based in the Philippines, this article, penned by Lirio Covey, our organization’s President and Executive Director, was the germ of it all. Since it first appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 25 June 2011, parents from all over the country echoed Lirio’s hopes to provide a loving residential community where our children with ASD can thrive long after we are gone.  This article was also reprinted in the Autism Society of the Philippines website.

When my firstborn was not quite four months old, his first nanny had delighted me with the comment, “You have a precocious son.” And so it was that Billy became a source of family pride with his growing social, physical and mental prowess.

So imagine what a shocking blow it was when several years later, Dr. Isabelle Rapin, a noted neurologist in New York, gently told me that our second son Mikey, then 3, had what she termed “a brain disorder” and would likely need supervision throughout his life.

This very general diagnosis followed an earlier labeling of my child that should have been unnerving, but was not at the time. Looking back, I was probably refusing to acknowledge the observation of family and friends, and the doctors’ eventual findings.

Mikey, then and now. (Photos contributed by L. Covey)

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Me and my Gregarious Gifts

31 Dec

Carlo Gregorio Veluz (or Carl for short) and his mom, Mona, were among the pioneer members of AAAP. They have also been, for many years, proud members of the Autism Society of the Philippines. Carl, a high-functioning PWA, has grand dreams of being a successful entrepreneur; and works hard everyday to make that a reality.  The following article was written by Carl and was first published in the ASP website last 29 June 2011.

My name is Carl and I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to own modern buildings that also have modern interiors. But my mom says I have to raise money first before I can buy my buildings, so I came up with Gregarious Gifts. I call it “Gregarious” because my other name is “Gregorio” and my high school classmates called me “Greg”. The word also means fun.

Tiffany Tan, ASP trustee, receives Carl's donation -- part of the proceeds from Gregarious Gifts. (Photo credit: M. Veluz)

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