A 15-year-old girl with Down Syndrome, whose family is from Dumaguete, will carry the voice of the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific Region in the Asia Pacific Region as ambassador and spokesman in the Special Olympics 2013 World Winter Games on Jan. 26 to Feb. 5, 2012 in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Brina Kei Maxino, daughter of 2010 Happiest Pinoy Winston Abella Maxino and proud mom Alina, was chosen by panel of Special Olympics officials from the USA, Singapore and Malaysia over other candidates from Indonesia, Pakistan and India.
Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics is not just about sporting events and games for individuals with intellectual disabilities. They now have many advocacies, as grand as “unified communities… places where each person, regardless of ability or disability, is accepted and welcomed,” said the Special Olympics Philippines in their website.
Brina, who will turn 16 on Aug. 31, is the first girl and and the first child with Down Syndrome from the Philippines to be chosen as Ambassador and Spokesperson for Special Olympics Asia Pacific Region. She will hold the title for two years.
While the athletes will be competing in sporting events, Brina will meet with 23 other Ambassadors from other countries aged between 12-17 in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit, where they will discuss issues affecting individuals with intellectual disabilities and will develop programs to promote the advocacies of the Special Olympics.
Pamella Odhner, the Director of Organizational Development, Asia Pacific Special Olympics, informed the Maxino family of Brina’s selection in an email. “I would like to say how pleased we are that you and your Team will, together, represent the Asia Pacific Region and especially the youth of our region at the World Winter Games…we are certain that you will do us proud…” Odhner wrote.
The Asia Pacific Region team will be composed of one youth athlete-volunteer, one adult chaperone and the ambassador/spokesperson.
“We parents can go to the Special Olympics at our own expense, but we cannot stay with Brina and join her in her activities,” her father Winston wrote in an email to the MetroPost. “Brina will live in the designated hotel with the other ambassadors from other countries. This is to show the world that special children can be fully independent and can carry out their tasks without their parents, siblings or caregivers around,” he continued.
