It was 1-year stay here in Japan by a group of 10 persons with different kinds of disabilities. The training was sponsored by the Duskin AINOWA Foundation and operated by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities.

For me the goals of this Training Program were (1) To increase international cooperation and cross-cultural understanding between citizens of Japan and the Asian and Pacific countries, in order to improve opportunities and realization of equal rights of people with disabilities in Asia and Pacific countries; and (2) To improve opportunities in leadership, education, employment, and full citizenship for people with disabilities in Japan and the Asia and Pacific through exchange of ideas, strategies, skills and insights."

Judging from comments of all the trainees, the goals were solidly met. "We've had some really serious, thought-provoking forums in which people from each countries are learning about the other's. My experience here in Japan just re-enforced my image of the world as a whole.

We are all human created by God with the same rights even we are from different countries. Disabled and non-disabled people working together--and that's the best as it gets. That's what it's all about--working together, spreading our wings and flying high to reach our goals."

It was my first time to attend International symposium for the welfare of persons with disability. I did not only learn about issues and concerns about disability but also I met many good leaders from all over the world. This was the DPI and Osaka Forum. Just observing and listening from the speeches of the good leaders was so fruitful for me. I also attended Japanese symposium, conducted by Japanese disable people. I learned the way how they organized symposium and some of their techniques. In our group-training program for 4th Duskin trainee, it was our first time to conduct International symposium outside our own countries. What I learned and observed from the past symposiums, we used some in our “Journey into Asia and Pacific Disability World” symposium on June 21, 2003.

When I was in the Philippines, I didn’t know the real meaning of Independent Living. But after my individual training about Independent Living, so many things to learn to know about it. I went to 8 Independent Living Centers here in Japan. Human Care Association in Hachioji, Enjoy Center in Kunitachi, CIL Huchu, CIL Tachikawa, Machidukurinokai in Funehiki, IL Center Fukushima, CIL Kohoku in Shiga, and Mainstream Association in Nishinomiya . In my training about IL, I learned about different kinds of disabilities. I learned also about Peer Counseling, it was very good for persons with disability to share and discharge their problems and feelings to other people. I learned about multiple disable, severe disable and especially it was my first time to know intellectual disability and psychiatric disability. I visited institutions for persons with disabilities, schools for persons with disabilities and houses of persons with disabilities by the help of IL staffs. I was surprised and amazed for what I saw. Severe disabled has got married and had 2 or 3 children, an intellectual disabled people can live by himself/herself, going sightseeing, and they have freedom for what they want to do. For example, I lived for almost 1 week in an intellectual disabled group home. At the first time I was really afraid because in the Philippines I was not used to see intellectual disabled people. Intellectual disabled people in the Philippines always stay in the intellectual disable hospital or stay always in their house. But after 2 days I a little bit adjusted myself. I observed that they were also as same as us, they have only their own habits and if you treat them equally as same as the non-disable people, so enjoyable to be with them. I can say in the Philippines persons with disabilities are not yet free. It seems they come out of their shell yet.

Living in a different country is so exciting, enjoyable and sometimes I can say difficult also. In the Philippines, I’m not always with my family but if I miss them I can visit them immediately. But when I came here in Japan, it’s my first time to feel homesick, but it’s only at the beginning. Especially when I’m alone. At the end of December, during New Years Day, It was my first time to experience Japanese home stay. I stayed at the house of a Japanese family for almost 1 week. For me it was one of the best experiences that I had. They really were very hospitable and kind. Also during my individual training, I experienced some home stay at the house of person with disability. Their houses were very accessible. And in my last individual training, for almost 1 month, I had stayed at another Japanese family house. They taught me so many Japanese cultures and let me experience it. I wish that my home stay wouldn’t finish. I wish I could be back in my "homestay" family's bed, comfortable and warm and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

When I was in the Philippines, I really liked sports but I didn’t know about it and didn’t have a chance to experience it. Maybe because I was a disable and I was afraid to do sports. And one thing more, sports activities in the Philippines are played by only non-disable people. Philippines are not accessible that’s why persons with disabilities cannot go out and play sports. We also don’t have Sports Center for Disable. But here in Japan, I have the chance to play many sports. For example ski, badminton, table tennis, short tennis, swimming, archery, flying saucer, botcha, wheelchair marathon, target shooting, ground golf, bird golf and etc. So enjoyable, good experience and it had a great effect on my body, it made me strong and healthy. For me the memorable one was my ski trip. I went for skiing with my co-duskin trainees and JSRPD staffs. All 10 trainees had their own instructors. Really amazing, it was my first time to see snow in 26 years of my life. I had never imagined that I could do skiing, because I was a disabled and I had seen skiing only on TV.

I can say Japan is a safe, high technology, clean, and systematic country. During my training, I had the chances to visit beautiful spots. For example Kyoto, Yokohama, Disney Sea, Odaiba, USJ, Sapporo, and others. When I visited those places I used wheelchair. Most of the places were accessible. In the Philippines I cannot visit many places because they are not accessible. I can say that I visited more place here in Japan than Philippines. Because accessibility in Japan is very good.

Being with my host families and Japanese friends, I learned also about many cultures. For example the Japanese traditional costume. For me it is so beautiful and I like it very much. I have worn kimono 4 times and I took so many pictures for remembrance. I learned also that if a girl reaches her 20th age, they would wear the kimono and there is a ceremony to be held. I learned also how to speak Japanese language and Japanese sign language as well. Learning Japanese language for 3 months was so enjoyable also because Japanese language was really different compared to other languages. I am proud to say, “I can speak Japanese language”, when I go back to my country. Using chopstick when eating, eating at the Japanese table, sleeping in OFUTON, hanami, etc. Experiencing these Japanese cultures was so amazing.

My co-trainees, the Kensyuka staffs, my Japanese friends are my family in Japan. I can share my problems, happy moments with them. Their shoulders are always ready to lean on when I need help and advices. It’s also my first time to have deaf friends. In the Philippines I don’t have deaf friends because I don’t know sign language. Communication was one of the biggest problems because of different disabilities. For example communication between visually impaired and hearing impaired. Nothing is impossible in this world. We all trainees have enjoyable experiences while we are together. We share jokes and stories, we sometimes eat together, share our own abilities, and those makes us really very close to each other. Kensyuka staffs, we can say they are our coordinators, friends, parents, sisters, counselors, attendants and etc. They are really kind and understanding. For almost one year I met so many Japanese people and became good friends. We eat together, share stories about my country Philippines and Japan. And maybe someday they will visit me in Philippines and I will give them a warm welcome because they all treat me very nice while staying here in Japan.

Duskin Leadership Training is the BEST training I’ve ever had, very meaningful and fruitful training. It has its unique way of how to teach persons with disability. Duskin gives me the SEED OF LIFE. I will promise to plant this seed when I go back to Philippines. I will let this seed grow. So that in the future everybody will harvest something on this SEED. Thank you very much for giving me the SEED OF LIFE.