Now on its third year, the Rotary Christmas Fiesta is an innovative and groundbreaking project of the Rotary Club of Downtown Davao (RCDD). It is the first of its kind in Rotary and in the Philippines focused on providing a safe space for engagement with children with disabilities and to bring holiday cheer to them and their families.
This is a post-pandemic project initiated by RCDD President Anthony John “AJ” Modiquello, when he was then the club Secretary, and Public Image Chair Patricia Melizza “Patmei” B. Ruivivar, when she was the club Vice-President. The club adopted it and made it a sustaining signature project that happens every December of every year.
The inaugural Rotary Christmas Fiesta started in 2022 under the leadership of RCDD President Archie Francisco F. Gamboa during the easing of pandemic-related restrictions and opening up of public spaces for face-to-face gatherings.
Primarily a public image project, the idea is to showcase the generosity, fun, goodwill, friendship, and fellowship of Rotarians. The main beneficiaries are children in the local communities, especially those who do not have the opportunity to participate in Christmas activities.
The Rotary Christmas Fiesta has two main goals: (1) to promote the spirit of hope and generosity among Rotarians and the Rotary brand of service and fellowship to the communities they serve; and (2) to provide a platform to showcase the creativity and talents of disadvantaged children so they can share their stories and help raise awareness on how Rotary and the community can help them.
RCDD’s partner in service for this annual project is SM City Davao, which hosts the Rotary Christmas Fiesta at the SM City Annex Event Center in Ecoland, Davao City. Another partner is the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Division led by its Schools Division Superintendent Reynante A. Solitario, who is RCDD’s honorary member. Another RCDD honorary member, actor Arron Villaflor, flies to Davao every December to volunteer his time and talent to perform with the children.
The annual event involves at least 100 children with disabilities enrolled in Davao City’s public schools. Together with their teachers and parents, they troop to SM City wearing their Christmas-themed costumes where they will participate in a parade for the Best Christmas Attire.
The children are grouped according to their school district and each group will have representatives for three talent showcases: (1) Voice of Hope - solo singing of any Christmas song; (2) Hope in Motion - group dance showcase to any Christmas music; and (3) Colors of Hope - an individual visual art showcase of any Christmas-inspired scene.
The talent showcase never fails to bring joy to the children performers and artists as they bask in the spotlight, enjoying the applause and cheers from the audience.
“Children are really the magic of Christmas and RCDD is very happy and proud to give them the stage every December to showcase their creativity,” shared RCDD President AJ, who is also a talented performing artist himself.
Children with disabilities are often left out of the city’s talent showcases and contests that are usually open only to able-bodied children so this is very special to them and they really look forward to it every Christmas.
One mother expressed her tearful gratitude by saying in Bisaya: “If Rotary did not do this, my child will not experience the joy of performing in public. This may seem a small act for you, but this is a big thing for us that we will remember forever.”
“RCDD is the bell of Christmas. You ring and the entire community comes together to share their gifts for our children with disabilities. As Christ said, whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me. You are not only promoting the Rotary spirit of serving above self, you are promoting the spirit of Christmas, which is love,” said DepEd Davao City Schools Superintendent Rey Solitario in his message during the event.
RCDD’s support for children with disabilities goes beyond the annual Rotary Christmas Fiesta. The club also donates wheelchair for learners who need them, sponsors teachers’ training for mental health emergency response, builds modern toilet facilities and handwashing stations, sets up children’s libraries and donates books, educational toys and learning devices.
The Inclusive Education Act signed into law in 2022 is yet to be fully implemented in the country. It mandates that all municipalities and cities should have at least one Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC), a physical one-stop shop providing children with disabilities learning support and free therapy services.
Not all children with disabilities can be accommodated by Special Education (SPED) schools because they need to be officially diagnosed first. This is a challenge because one, there is a shortage of health professionals who can evaluate them and two, not all families can afford the evaluation fees.
As a short-term response, DepEd is integrating learners with disabilities who have no official diagnosis yet into general education classes. Data from DepEd showed that enrollment of children with disabilities has significantly dropped post-pandemic to 94,000 from 360,000 pre-pandemic nationwide (almost 75 percent).
DepEd cannot do everything for our children with disabilities and that is why RCDD is doing whatever it can to help. It is the magic of Rotary at work.
By: PIO/PRO Patmei Bello Ruivivar
Comments