Embracing the differently abled

Eugenio “Toto” Villareal

Championing the cause of young persons with disabilities, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair Eugenio “Toto” Villareal was guest speaker at a recent forum on “The Inclusion of Youth with Disabilities in Community Development Programs.”

The forum was organized by the National Youth Commission (NYC), in cooperation with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“I was supposed to just deliver the closing remarks, but ended up giving a full class,” said Villareal, also a law professor at the Ateneo de Manila University. “I could not say no; I am a parent of a differently-abled child. She has turned 21 and is now training to run her own restaurant.”

Villareal’s symposium was titled “Youth with Disabilities and their Portrayal in Media.”

He told the Inquirer, “I am pleased that these government agencies have embraced the board’s ‘Matalinong Panonood Nina Juan at Juana’ campaign.” He cited a similar forum held previously in Bataan province.

In Balanga City, Villareal facilitated a daylong seminar-workshop on the responsibility of parents and teachers vis-à-vis the campaign.” He reported that the city government had embraced the effort as well.