Special Children grace kadayawan 2011

Davaoeños and tourists could not believe what have they seen. The People's Park was covered with cheers and claps as the special children of DS Foundation for diffently-abled, Inc. performed amazingly while donned with pure tribal costumes during the opening of the Kadayawan 2011 last August 16,2011.

They were the last performers among other performers during the opening. There were no big guests when these special kids of God rendered a spectacular production number. The Very Important People had already gone away when these kids tried to tell the world that they can be normal or even be better than the normal ones. No one from the golden chairs of leaders have witnessed the show who could somehow realize how brilliant they were.It was just the DS foundation and the people who cared to stop and watch the show out of curiosity and kindness.

Being differently-abled person did not stop the 10-year old Raphael Gumban's musical intelligence as he made the girls fell in love with his talent by singing "NARDA" of kamikazee. He has beaten the boys with his version of "SHE WILL BE LOVED" by Maroon 5  with correct pronunciation of the lyrics.

"The Nono sa Punso" cultural presentation of these special children proved the crowd that they can execute the choreography and somehow tell the masses that they can understand what is going on. That they can feel what normal people feel towards them. That they can feel the pain when being hauled over the coal.It's not the "Nono sa Punso" that they wanted to share, for them, it's the tiny hole of opportunity to express what can they do that some normal people cannot do.

"Karatong" is a muslim dance originated in Palawan.A dance of celebration of the blossoming of mango trees. The color props of the girls symbolize the flowers of the mango tree while men strike their karatong instrument to create a scene of joy among reveling town folk. (This writer could not forget Karatong when I used to dance with karatong during my highschool days and I can hardly get the steps for this dance requires total attentiveness and flexibility). But for these sons and daughters of God, they have gracefully danced Karatong with smiles on their faces.

DS Foundation is a non-stock,non-profit,humanitarian organization and coordinates with other non-government and government organizations involved in developing programs for the persons with special needs.

The objective of the foundation is to provide adjunct therapeutic services to Persons With Disabilities (PWD's);to provide early intervention services to mentally delayed and physically handicapped children;to coordinate in the training and conduct sports activities for all types of disabilities; to develop and enhance talents of PWD's in the field of visual arts,music,sports and dance; to provide counseling and conducts forum for better understand and care of PWDs.

All thumbs-up to DS Foundation for helping our kids who have disabilities by letting them feel their rights as members of this society.

The DS foundation has successfully delivered their mission that reads.
"The recognition of differently-abled person's concerns through development of their fullest potentials,capabilities and talents thereby making them an assets of the society" 

Kadayawan is not just a celebration of abundance and richness of cultural treasures. It is also a day of acceptance. Accepting the fact that, at the end of the day, all human beings are all special and all individuals play roles equally in the eyes of the Almighty God.