Candy Pangilinan bats for PhilHealth coverage for autism cases, more gov’t support

Candy Pangilinan flashes the ‘Autism OK PH’ hand sign./ARMIN P. ADINA

Funny lady Candy Pangilinan is one proud mother to her son Quentin, who has autism. Recognizing how different the challenges of raising a child on the spectrum are, she understands the situation experienced by those who have less in life than she does.

She said the gathering of people with autism, their loved ones, and the institutions that include them organized by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on April 21 is one step in the right direction.

“What are we doing right, right now, is this, like this, a bonding together, having this. Communities bond together and having a voice, being heard. So a lot of people may be more aware that we want to push acceptance and inclusion, that’s very important, until the government hears it, and one day they give us PhilHealth for therapy, especially in the provinces,” Pangilinan told INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of the pre-walk show of ASP’s “Angels Walk for Autism 2024.”

“You know, we need that eh. There’s a lot of children, people who have autism, under the spectrum, ADHD, Down Syndrome and all that, and we all need help. Because parents are really having a hard time. Families, actually, families are having a hard time. So if the government can help, wow, thank you, Lord. And if people around us can be more kind,” she continued.

The pre-walk show gathered thousands of people, including prominent celebrities such as Pangilinan herself, singers Martin Nievera and Dingdong Avanzado, actress Rhian Ramos, and even beauty queens Melanie Marquez, Maureen Montagne, Janina San Miguel, Samantha Panlilio, and reigning Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Marquez Dee, who received the Hans T. Sy Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare during the event.

After the gathering at the arena, they all walked to the SM Mall of Asia, and snaked through its pathways leading to the Music Hall where even more festivities took place. The walk hoped to spread awareness about autism acceptance and inclusion among mallgoers.

Pangilinan echoed the ASP’s campaign to promote autism acceptance rather than merely spreading awareness about it. “Yes, you are aware that someone has autism or is under the spectrum, you’re aware of that. But to accept them to be part of your community is another thing, to be beside them, to talk to them, or to mingle with them, or to accept them that they can be a classmate of your child is another question,” she explained.

The comedienne also shared how useful her line of work is in raising Quentin. “We always have to have humor, you have to look at the other side of the coin. You have to look at the other side of everything to make things lighter. If you don’t look at it that way. You’re gonna get tired, super tired. You know, you have to look at it differently because they’re wired differently. So you have to look at it differently as well,” Pangilinan shared.