Professional Documents
Culture Documents
For the parents and children of The Heart at Play Foundation (THP Foundation), dancing
is not only an art, but a motion of hope.
Since 2011, THP Foundation has been living its mission: to raise community awareness
and involvement geared towards the genuine acceptance and integration of special needs
persons in society and to be renowned locally and internationally for pioneering programs and
methods that merge the special and the mainstream worlds through dance and other performing
arts.
Richard Noriega is one of the 68 children with special needs attending free Dance
Movement Therapy at THP Foundation. The 23-year-old performer has stepped on local and
international stages through dancing. Today, Richard’s Mother, Maria Theresa “Tess” Noriega,
shares their story of dance, family, and unconditional love.
Richard was two years old when his speech abruptly stopped. After two more years of
observation, Tess and Richard eventually consulted with a Developmental Pediatrician. Richard
was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
“‘Pag naglalaro siya, ‘yung ina-align niya ‘yung mga cars sa harap, tapos kailangan
‘yung color sunod-sunod. ‘Pag pina-identify mo sa kaniya ‘yung color, kailangan red, yellow,
blue.” (When he’s playing with toy cars, he aligns them in front. Colors must be organized as
well. He must be able to identify the colors in a sequence: red, yellow, and blue).
As kids with autism struggle with self-expression, understanding others and being
understood were issues that affected Richard’s relationships with others. Tess pointed out,
“Ginamitan ko siya ng pictures para makapag-identify siya ng mga objects, at para magkaroon
din siya ng emotions.” (I used images to teach him how to recognize objects and how to feel
emotions).
In 2017, Richard and Tess received their second invitation to join THP Foundation.
Richard, who was 17 or 18, attended THP’s free Dance Movement Therapy sessions every
Saturday at the gymnasium of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Kamuning, Quezon City. After a
year with THP, Tess witnessed Richard’s progress. “‘Wow,’ sabi ko, ‘ito na ata ‘yung inaantay
nating dasal.’ Sabi ko, ‘Ito na ‘yung makakatulong sa’yo, anak.’” (“Wow.” I said, “This appears to
be the prayer we’ve been waiting for.” I said, “This will support you, Richard). Since then,
Richard had fewer tantrums, and had improved his body coordination. He started to lift his arms
and legs.
At The Heart at Play, children with special needs learn to express themselves through
dance and other diverse creative forms like painting. It is also where Richard developed his
self-esteem and social skills by texting THP parents and classmates. Through texting, he
reminds them of their weekly Saturday dance therapy as early as Thursday. “Sinasagot siya ng
mga parent kapag nagte-text, e. Ta’s makikita mo, happy na siya sa ginagawa niya.” (The
parents respond to his text messages. And you'll see that he feels delighted with what he was
doing).
THP also gave Tess and Richard their most unforgettable experience. In November
2019, the THP family flew to represent the Philippines in Singapore’s largest concert for
differently-abled children, Extra-Ordinary Celebration. Wearing their vibrant, traditional Filipino
costumes, the children and parents of THP grooved to Filipino folk dances in front of 5000
people, including Singapore’s president Halimah Yacob. “Tuwing rehearsal, todo bigay ang mga
bata. Talagang binibigay ‘yung best nila para makapag-perform.” (During rehearsals, the kids
gave their best to perform).
Tess sees Richard’s love for the THP community even in social media. One time, she
saw Richard going through the list of THP members on Facebook. Eventually, he added them
as his new Facebook friends. “Pati ‘yung mga birthdays kabisado niya.” (He even memorized
their birthdays). He even extends his warm greetings on their birthdays.
The parents also found comfort in each other. Their strong bond started from sharing
their experiences as Mothers, their concerns with their children’s disabilities, until they could
freely share even their personal lives outside THP. During the pandemic, Tess recalls having a
prayer brigade to pray for mothers whose mental health had been greatly affected by the
pandemic.
A family of volunteers, coaches, teachers, parents, and children who have learned
painting together, cooked together, attended free dental services together, danced together, and
built their faith together. This is Tess’s and Richard’s second home.
Unbreakable hope
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most establishments have closed, including the
gymnasium at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish which used to be packed with THP students and
parents on weekends.
For six months, THP children were stuck at home on Saturdays, missing out on their
weekly dancing therapy. Hence, the kids’ development regressed. Parents felt as if they had
gone "back to zero." Richard's feet and hands got weaker, and he was no longer able to fully
elevate them as he had been. He also found it difficult to shift his neck left and right.
Richard's social and emotional health also suffered from the isolation. “Anlungkot niya
talaga, umiiyak siya, e. Parating iyak nang iyak. Ako nga minsan, hindi ko alam kung anong
gagawin ko lalo na sa gabi ‘pag matutulog.”(He feels really sad; he cries. He cannot stop crying.
Sometimes, I do not know what to do anymore, especially on nights when he does).
Last October 2020, the kids and parents of THP stepped on a different stage–this time, a
virtual one. The day Tess saw the old, lively Richard whose eyes are always smiling finally
came.
“Noong nagkaroon ng virtual online [therapy], natuwa ulit sila. Hindi lang si Richard, pati
mga classmates niya. Sobrang na-miss ang dance therapy.” (When we had our virtual [therapy],
they became lively again. Not only Richard but his classmates as well). Twice a week every
Tuesday and Thursday, the children, parents, and coaches gather online to dance to various
choreographies. By 10 AM, Richard has already taken a bath, has worn his shirt, has eaten his
lunch, and has positioned near the computer he just turned on as he waited for the meeting link
for their virtual Dance Movement Therapy at 2:30 PM.
Tess has been dancing with Richard at The Heart at Play Foundation for six years now.
For more than five years at THP, Richard found not only a second family but a dream. Someday,
he will be a dance instructor.
You too can be a part of this chain of hope. Help Children With Special Needs (CWSN)
like Richard access free Dance Movement Therapy at The Heart at Play Foundation by
subscribing to our newsletter. All subscription proceeds will go towards helping THP continue
their remarkable work.
Pagsayaw sa Ritmo ng Pag-Asa: Isang Kwento ng Autism, Pagiging Ina, at Dance
Therapy
“Ang pagsasayaw ay ang nakakubling wika ng kaluluwa.”
— Martha Graham
Para sa mga magulang at kabataan ng The Heart at Play Foundation (THP Foundation),
ang pagsasayaw ay hindi lamang itinuturing na sining kundi isang kilos ng pag-asa.
Simula noong 2011, isinasabuhay ng THP Foundation and kanilang misyon: (a) upang
iangat ang kaalaman at paglahok sa komunidad tungo sa tunay na pagtanggap at pagsasama
ng mga taong may espesyal na pangangailangan sa lipunan at (b) makilala sa lokal at
internasyonal na lugar para sa programa at pamamaraan na pinagsama ang espesyal at
pangunahing konsepto sa pamamagitan ng sayaw at iba pang sining.
“‘Pag naglalaro siya, ‘yung ina-align [pinaghinihilera] niya ‘yung mga cars [sasakyan] sa
harap, tapos kailangan ‘yung color [kulay] sunod-sunod. ‘Pag pina-identify [pinapakilala] mo sa
kaniya ‘yung color [kulay], kailangan red [pula], yellow [dilaw], blue [asul].”
Dahil nahihirapan ang mga batang may Autism sa pagpapahayag sa sarili, ang
pag-unawa o magpa-unawa sa iba ay isang paghamon na umapekto sa mga relasyon ni
Richard. Ani ni Tess, “Ginagamitan ko siya ng pictures [larawan] para makapag-identify [maka
pagkilala] siya ng mga objects [bagay], at para magkaroon din siya ng emotions [emosyon].”
Ang pagiging ina ng isang supling na may espesyal na pangangailangan ay
nangangailangan ng labis ng pagmamahal, pagpapasensya, pakikiramay, pang-uunawa, at
pagtanggap.
Kung may naituro man si Richard sa kanyang nanay, ito ay ang kahalagahan ng walang
kondisyong pag-ibig.
Noong 2017, natanggap nina Richard at Tess ang kanilang pangalawang imbitasyon na
sumali sa THP Foundation. Si Richard, 17 o 18, ay dumalo sa libreng Dance Movement
Therapy ng THP Foundation tuwing Sabado sa gymnasium ng Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish sa
Kamuning, Quezon City. Matapos ang isang taon sa THP Foundation, nasaksihan ni Tess ang
pag-unlad ni Richard. “'Wow’, sabi ko, 'ito na ata 'yung inaantay nating dasal.' Sabi ko, 'Ito na
'yung makakatulong sa'yo, anak.'” Simula noon, nabawasan ang tantrums ni Richard, at
napabuti ang kanyang koordinasyon sa katawan. Sinimulan niyang itaas ang kanyang mga
braso at binti.
Binigyan din ng THP Foundation sina Tess at Richard ng kanilang hindi malilimutang
karanasan. Noong Nobyembre 2019, lumipad ang pamilya THP Foundation upang kumatawan
sa Pilipinas sa pinakamalaking konsiyerto ng Singapore para sa mga batang may iba't ibang
kakayahan, ang Extra-ordinary Celebration. Suot ang kanilang makulay at tradisyonal na
kasuotang Pilipino, ang mga bata at magulang ng THP Foundation ay sumasabay sa mga
katutubong sayaw ng Filipino sa harap ng 5,000 katao, kabilang ang pangulo ng Singapore na
si Halimah Yacob. “Tuwing rehearsal [pagsasanay], todo bigay ang mga bata. Talagang
binibigay 'yung best [kahusayan] nila para makapag-perform [gumanap].”
Ang mga magulang ay nakahanap din ng ginhawa sa isa't isa. Nagsimula ang kanilang
matatag na samahan sa pagbabahagi ng kanilang mga karanasan bilang mga Ina, ang kanilang
mga alalahanin sa mga kapansanan ng kanilang mga anak, hanggang sa malaya nilang
maibahagi kahit ang kanilang mga personal na buhay sa labas ng THP Foundation. Sa
panahon ng pandemya, naalala ni Tess ang pagkakaroon ng prayer brigade upang ipagdasal
ang mga ina na ang kanilang mental health ay lubhang naapektuhan ng pandemya.
Pag-asang di matitinag
Sa anim na buwan, nasa bahay lamang ang mga bata ng THP Foundation tuwing
Sabado at dahil dito ay hindi sila nakasali sa kanilang lingo-lingong dance therapy. Ang
masaklap na pangyayari ay nagbuhat sa pagbalik ng dati kondisyon ng kabataan. Pakiramdam
ng mga magulang na muli silang nasa simula. Humina ang paa at kamay ni Richard at hindi na
niya nakakayanang iangat ito tulad ng dati. Nahirapan din siyang galawin ang kanyang leeg,
pakanan man o pakaliwa.
Noong nakaraang Oktubre 2020, ang mga bata ng THP Foundation pati na rin ang
kanilang mga magulang ay muling bumalik sa entablado ngunit sa panahong ito, virtual ang
pagkikita. Bumalik ang sigla at sabik sa mata ng kanyang anak.
“Noong nagkaroon ng virtual online [therapy], natuwa ulit sila. Hindi lang si Richard, pati
mga classmates [kaklase] niya. Sobrang na-miss ang dance therapy.” Dalawang beses kada
linggo, tuwing Martes at Huwebes, nagtitipon ang mga bata, magulang, at mga coach online
upang sumayaw sa iba’t ibang koreograpiya. Pagsapit ng alas-diez ng umaga, nakaligo
nakabihis, nakakain, at nakaharap na si Richard sa kanyang komputer na kabubukas pa
lamang niya habang hinihintay ang meeting link para sa kanilang virtual na Dance Movement
Therapy na magaganap sa alas dose medya ng hapon.
Anim na taon nang magkasamang sumasayaw sina Tess at Richard sa The Heart at
Play Foundation. Mahigit limang taon na sa THP Foundation ay hindi lamang nagkaroon ng
ikalawang pamilya si Richard kundi nahanap din niya ang kanyang pangarap. Balang araw, siya
ay magiging tagapagturo ng pagsasayaw.
[Tawag sa Pagkilos]
Maaari rin kayong maging bahagi ng pag-asang ito. Tulungan ang mga batang may
espesyal na pangangailangan [Children with Special Needs (CWSN)] katulad ni Richard upang
makatanggap sila ng libreng Dance Movement Therapy sa The Heart at Play Foundation (THP
Foundation). Puwede niyo itong magawa sa pamamagitan ng pag-subscribe sa aming
newsletter. Lahat ng matatanggap na suporta ay mapupunta sa pagtulong at pagpatuloy ng
masigasig na trabaho ng THP Foundation!