The Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC II) in barangay Labangon, Cebu City recently celebrated its 41st anniversary through dance, music and testimonials.
A group of persons with disabilities (PWDs) who are visually impaired, hearing and speech impaired and orthopedically handicapped showcased their dancing prowess to prove that they, too, can execute difficult dance steps and precise footwork through cultural dances like itik-itik, kuradang and tinikling.
Kate Pantionial, a visually-impaired graduate, rendered ‘The Jubilee Song’ with her angelic voice to the delight of the audience.
“When I lost my eyesight, I also lost hope and isolated myself from others. Fortunately, I met a person who facilitated my entry to AVRC. Slowly, I regained hope and self-confidence,” Clemente Sarino, a visually-impaired graduate of AVRC II said in Cebuano during the anniversary program.
Now, Sarino leads the Helping Hands Organization of Persons with Disability Inc., an organization of licensed massage therapists of AVRC II.
“In the past, we offered only massage service at Mactan Airport and at the Supercat terminal. Now, you can see us also in various malls in Cebu,” Sarino said.
The AVRC II is a non-residential institution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that provides training in various courses, like massage therapy, electronic motor repair, computer electronics, basic sewing, furniture and cabinetmaking, commercial cooking and cosmetology.