NAKITA namin ng personal si Brina Kei Maxino when we attended the UST Special Unity Olympics last weekend presented by Special Olympics Philippines in partnership with the UST College of Education, The Guild of Thomasian Speducators and the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.
Na-feature sa Magpakailanman si Maxino, the first Filipina to represent the Asia Pacific Region at the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit. May Down Syndrome si Brina pero nag-excel siya when she became a Valedictorian noong high school.
Sa kanyang ipinakitang galing ay na-invite pa siya ni US President Barack Obama to attend a White House dinner to celebrate Special Olympics.
“Brina Kei Maxino represented the Asia Pacific Region, at the Asia Pacific Global Youth Activation Summit when she was 16 years old. She is the first Filipina and the first teenager with down syndrome to do so,” say ni President Obama nang i-introduce siya.
On her speech sa UST Special Unity Olympics, inamin ni Brina na hindi naging madali para sa kanya ang kanyang narating. Sinabi niyang marami siyang naging inspiration and she encouraged her fellow special kids na ‘wag panghinaan ng loob.
UST professor and head of the UST Special Unity Olympics, Eleonor Bahrami, said that the Olympics in now on its fourth year.
“Number one it is advocacy. We advocate individuals with disabilities. That’s the reason why the university started this special education program. The fulfilment I get is to see them accomplish and function in this world,” say niya when asked kung ano ang fulfilment na nakukuha niya out of hosting the Olympics for special kids.
UNCUT – Alex Brosas