Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Emergency Preparedness Forum for Children and Youth with Disabilities #SMEmergencyForum2018

Where were you last July 16,1990 when an estimated magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Philippines specifically Central Luzon? 

My mom who was pregnant then with our youngest, my sister and I were in our room on the second floor of the house when the shaking happened. We were shocked. 

I held on to our cabinet where our TV was para alalayan ang TV and the figurines not to fall ๐Ÿ˜‚ Funny how I think of the appliance and decors first rather than my safety. Nakakatawa siya isipin ngayon pero sobrang nakakatakot iyon. Me as an individual who is capable of saving my self sana wasn't able to think straight that time how much more the people with disabilities? 

Attendees (L-R) Ms. Agnes Negre and son Jan Zander Negre, John Leonard Tapay and mom Noneets Tapay

Persons with Disabilities  (PWD), especially the young ones are seen to be more disadvantaged due to their limitations on mobility and awareness. I know coz I have 1of 68. My son is in the spectrum. That's why I was priviledged to attend the Emergency Preparedness Forum for Children And Youth with Disabilities by SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime last July 9 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. 


The forum provided substantial information about the reality of potential earthquake scenario in Metro Manila. What to do and how to prepare for disasters and calamities. The attendees were people who are blind, deag, with physical/ orthopedic impaurments, with Down syndrome, Austism, and those with rare disorders. 

Dr.Renato Solidum Jr.
Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Officer-in-Charge  of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., helped us understand the movement of West Valley Fault, what and how to prepare for "The Big One". Will write/share a different article about this.


Dr. Ted Esguerra , Operational Medicine Instructor  of the International Disaster Response Network

Dr. Ted Esguerra, Operational Medicine Instructor  of the International Disaster Response Network discussed preparing for and surviving and earthquake. 

Ms. Lotta Sylwander, Country Representative, UNICEF Philippines Photo credit: SM Cares

Ms. Lotta Sylwander, Country Representative, UNICEF Philippines was also one of the guests in the forum. 


Earthquake Simulation Drills were conducted by dr. Ted Esguerra.


Some PWDs were able to try the simulation drill towards the end of the forum.


Emergency Hotlines


SM Cares. I care ❤

6 comments:

  1. Super helpful nito mother, lalo na sa pwds i have a pwd sibling din kaya nakakatakot what is wala syang kasama sa bahay. Diba, kaya dapat maalam din sila kapag may mga sakuna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi po. 1990? Ang bata ko pa po nyang mga panahon na yan.wala pa akong kamuwang-muwang sa nangyayari.๐Ÿ˜‚
    Pero ito talaga ung nakakatakot sa lahat kapag lumindol ng malakas๐Ÿ˜ญ at sana wag naman mangyari di ko alam ang gagawin ko.
    Tama po kayu kawawa din po talaga ung may mga kapansanan pagdating ng sakuna. Kaya need talaga maging prepared sa lahat hindi lang sa lindol kundi sa maaari pang mangyari.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Salamat mommy Reylen dami ko natutunan. We need this limd of informations kasi mahirap mangapa talaga. Pero God forbid na may darating na sakuna. Ive told my kids.esp.eldest waht to do esp if nasa school siya.

    ReplyDelete
  4. These people has so much inspiring stories. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad to chat your blog, I seem to be forward to more reliable articles and I think we all wish to thank so many good articles, blog to share with us. ุงุนุฑุงุถ ุงู„ุญู…ู„

    ReplyDelete