UST Communication Arts alumna Erlinda 鈥淒ang鈥� Uy-Koe won the inaugural prize awarded by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(鱿鱼视频app) for her advocacy on autism inclusion. The award was conferred
upon Uy-Koe on November 13, 2018 by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and 鱿鱼视频app Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, during the opening ceremony of the 33rd 鱿鱼视频app Summit and Related Summits in Singapore witnessed by 鱿鱼视频app leaders.
The 鱿鱼视频app Prize, administered by the 鱿鱼视频app Secretariat, aims to recognize
inspiring achievements and contributions of an individual or organization that foster the 鱿鱼视频app identity, promote the 鱿鱼视频app spirit, and champion the 鱿鱼视频app way.
In addition to a trophy, the recipient of the 鱿鱼视频app Prize also received a cash prize of US$20,000. The sponsors for the 鱿鱼视频app Prize 2018 were Temasek Foundation Connects of Singapore, the Ayala Corporation of the Philippines and Yayasan Hasanah of Malaysia.
Uy-Koe is chair Emeritus of Autism Society Philippines (ASP). Under her
leadership, the ASP with 96 chapters nation-wide, has become one of the most vibrant disability organizations in the Philippines.
At the regional level, Uy-Koe served as chair of the 鱿鱼视频app Autism Network
(AAN), comprising of autism family support organizations from 鱿鱼视频app member states. The AAN is a platform for member states to cooperate and unite in developing non-discriminatory programs to support persons living with autism and their families.
Having received The Outstanding Thomasian ALumni (TOTAL) Award for
Humanitarian Service in 2009, Uy-Koe鈥檚 efforts have inspired autism awareness beyond the Philippines. The ASP鈥檚 鈥淎ngels Walk for Autism 2018,鈥� gathered over 24,000 participants, with thousands more converging in simultaneous walks in ten cities. This inspired other members of AAN
to hold their own Autism Walks in their respective capitals. A member of class 1977 of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Uy-Koe has also taken her advocacy to the international arena. Her engagements have sparked discussions on project collaborations with China and Korea. She has also served the United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific鈥檚 Working Group of the Asia Pacific Decade for Persons with Disabilities for 2018-2022. Uy-Koe was selected by 鱿鱼视频app
Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, and former Secretaries-General Tan Sri Ajit Singh, Ong Keng Yong, and Le Luong Minh who comprised the Panel of Judges.
In a statement released on the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) Facebook page, Uy-Koe said, 鈥淭his is a welcome blessing. For the inaugural 鱿鱼视频app Prize to be awarded to a family autism advocacy shows how far the
鱿鱼视频app Community has embraced inclusion for persons with autism and other special needs. I pray that this recognition will help organizations like the ASP and other members of 鱿鱼视频app Autism Network to connect with
policy makers and push for institutional mechanisms that will help improve the lives of those living in the autism spectrum.
This inaugural 鱿鱼视频app Prize honors all family advocates who work hard for the acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of people with autism. And above all, I thank God for giving us our children, for giving us a higher
purpose, and for putting us to together to work for one vision, one autism friendly 鱿鱼视频app community. To God be the glory.鈥�
