Hearts Full of Joy and Hope at CBR-SMILE Center, Payatas
September 5, 2016
Patti Rivera with the participants
Teacher Ana with Bryan Bautista, son of CBR-Smile President Sanny Bautista
[L-R]: Teacher Ana Rivera with daughter Patricia
As GMEFI’s Community Education Fund Assistance Programs Head, I joined the group led by our president Even Dominguez, Administrative Staff Nina Padua, and Grace, an MMC student who is about to write a thesis focused on Persons with Disability. When we arrived, Mr. Ranil Sorongon, former ASP Executive Director, and currently the PPCWD Convenor and Norfil Foundation Consultant was giving the group a warm up talk, so to say.
The program started with the singing of the National Anthem led by a low-vision child, Perlyn Brevano followed by a prayer by Renea Leyva, mother of Terrenz Lukas Leyva, a child with cerebral palsy. The opening remarks was delivered by CBR-SMILE coordinator, Nitz Caliwan, in behalf of their president, Mrs. Sanny Bautista who came late because she had to attend another important meeting. GMEFI President Even Dominguez was the Guest speaker while Ranil Sorongon gave an inspirational talk. When Ms. Bautista arrived, she thanked GMEFI and all those who extended their hand to make the project possible like The Heart at Play Foundation, GMEFI and Norfil. Her voice cracked at one point.
An intermission dance was amazingly performed by CBR SMILE KIDS, namely: Bryan Bautista, Levilyn Bendal, Marie Claire Yeong, Teza Carl Cervantes, and Judy Ann Goyala. They danced and swayed their bodies gracefully and with gusto. They visibly enjoyed dancing; their talents, honed by patient teachers, and/or parents evident.
Finally, an introductory lecture on what Dance Movement Therapy is – as a combination of science and art — was explained by Patricia “Patti” Rivera who was aiding her mom, Teacher Ana. The Dance Movement Therapy session then started. THP prepared an IEP-Based Movement 
Grading Sheet to serve as their tool to gauge the development of the individual participating child. Their main criteria, physical baseline has percentage of 40%, while the Elements of Dance were set each at 12%, as follows: Direction, Size, Level, Speed, and Balance.
Indeed, it was “heart at play” [to borrow from THP’s acronym] that we, as outside observers witnessed. For only committed hearts and soul could make such a unique activity happen in the name of love and in embrace of Persons with Disability.
Unfortunately, we had to leave early so we were not able to watch the entire session. Sayang!! Hoping for the success of the project, joy for the participating children and their parents!
[L-R]: Ranil Sorongon, Even Dominguez, Mirana, Nitz Caliwan, Sanny Bautista, Nina Padua
[Reposted from https://gawadmetronian.org/2016/09/05/hearts-full-of-joy-and-hope-at-cbr-smile-center-payatas/%5D
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