I studied Japanese between September and December 2005. All of the teachers were very kind. I was not good at Japanese pronunciation and made a number of mistakes, but they patiently taught me. Other trainees also taught me Japanese. We were all from different countries but worked hard on the Japanese training together. After class we would chat and hang out with each other, and we became close like a family. I learned teamwork spirit from the other trainees. I was very sad when the Japanese lessons ended.

While in Tokyo, we lived at Toyama Sunrise, situated in a very quiet and convenient neighborhood, with supermarkets and convenience stores nearby. Toyama Sunrise felt like my home. The staff members were all kind and gentle, and when I got sick, they were kindly very concerned about me.

My first individual training was at the Center for Independent Living Studio IL Bunkyo’. Ms. Higuchi told me about the movements for people with disabilities in Japan and the United States, and also about peer counseling. I also experienced living alone for the first time, cooking alone and going grocery shopping alone. At Studio IL Bunkyo, I also met a Japanese person with cerebral palsy and a speech impairment. With my Japanese being poor, it was difficult to communicate but I worked hard on it because I wanted to communicate with people who had the same disabilities as me.

Following the individual training I spent one month training in Osaka. I only spent one week training at Partner, but I spent three weeks staying in the independent living experience room at Partner. After the day of training I always joked around with the staff and played or cooked with them. I also went bowling for the first time. People with disabilities in the Philippines cannot go bowling, so it was a great joy for me.

I spent one week training at Aruru. Ms Yasuhara and Mr Higashitani told me about the history of Aruru. I also watched videos, for example the one of the Aoishiba-no-Kai (The ‘Green Grass Association’), which was the first major movement in Japan for people with disabilities. I also learnt from the video of the ADA-Americans with Disabilities Act, that it was the leaders of people with disabilities in the United States that changed the way society worked over there. In these videos, I felt a lot of power from people with disabilities and I myself became empowered by them. I then attended Mr. Higashitani’s workshop about institutions for persons with disabilities, and about independent living in communities. Whenever a person with disabilities lives in a residential institution, it is always such hard work. But if they live independently in a community, they have control over their life and it can be great fun.

For the training at MY-DO, I visited a welfare home where they helped the independent living for people with disabilities. The rooms were made to cater for the needs of people with disabilities, so it was very convenient. At MY-DO, I learned about the needs of people with severe disabilities. When I go back to my country and establish a center for independent living, I will think thoroughly about the needs of people with disabilities.

At Muchu Center, I studied about advocacy for people with disabilities, and also visited Iruka Day Center, an organization for people with multiple disabilities. The staff played music everyday for the people, which always brought a smile to their faces. I felt relaxed and warm as I listened to the music with them.

During my training at the Human Network Kumamoto, I visited an elementary school, junior high school and a university to give lectures. At the elementary school for example, I told the children about manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs. I also told junior high and university students about the lives of people with disabilities in the Philippines. As I enjoy teaching, this was a delightful experience.

I spent approximately 3 weeks at AJU At their Day Center, they have independent living programs where they teach independent living to people with severe disabilities, such as making one’s own decisions and taking responsibility for one’s acts. The people with severe disabilities then have many experiences, such as shopping in convenience stores and also going out to have fun. I felt that this program gave a great deal of confidence to the people. AJU had many diverse training programs and those that I did were the most difficult training experiences I have known. Nevertheless, after the training at AJU, I became so much more serious and enthusiastic.

I went to a train station with Mr. Miyamoto. There, I saw a person with disabilities negotiating about making the station barrier-free. People with disabilities need elevators and slopes at stations. The Japanese vocabulary used for negotiations is difficult. Nevertheless, although I did not really understand the contents of the discussion, I felt the person’s feeling.

During the training at CIL Tachikawa, I watched off-site lectures, where the staff of CIL Tachikawa and the employees of the City of Tachikawa visited elementary and junior high schools, to educate teachers and students about people with disabilities. By attending the lectures, the children understand that people with disabilities are the same human beings as people without disabilities. I felt that if there were more of these programs, there will be less discrimination over time -- it was a wonderful program.

I went onto many trains and buses with Mr. Imafuku, to see if the vehicles and stations were barrier-free. I feel that everyone needs barrier-free environments, with or without disabilities. Tokyo’s barrier-free is wonderful, because anyone, be it people with disabilities, the elderly or prams, can easily get onto buses and trains. I think in 10 years time, all of Tokyo will be barrier-free. Mr. Imafuku is such a wonderful teacher and taught me a lot about barrier-free.

At the Human Care Association, we summarized the training sessions. Mr. Nakanishi gave me a lot of advice in response to my consultations. I was happy because Mr. Nakanishi had helped organizations for people with disabilities in the Philippines. I got so much knowledge and power from people with disabilities at the Human Care Association.

I stayed at the home of Mr. Masaki Aragaki in Okinawa. He took me to many beautiful spots in Okinawa. Okinawa is warm and very beautiful place with the sea and many mountains. It was like heaven. I will never forget about my home-stay in Okinawa.

I skied for the first time in my life, for two days in Niigata. There was so much snow. I went up to heights on a ski lift and skied a lot, I also played a lot in the snow. The skiing training was so much fun!

I met many people in Japan. Ms. Keiko Higuchi was my first teacher of independent living. She told me about the history of movements for people with disabilities. Her unforgettable phrase was: Disability is a power and gift. I will always recall it. Ms. Masako Okuhira was the first Duskin trainee, and has cerebral palsy like me. Ms. Okuhira taught me a lot about people with disabilities, and said to me: “You are not alone.” I can’t forget this -- these people gave me inspirations.

I would like to start a center for independent living in Iloilo. I would also like to get involved in independent living programs and activities for people with multiple or severe disabilities, and also study to be a lawyer.

This is a fantastic program for people with disabilities, because it gives them knowledge, experience and confidence. It is a source of great hope for people with disabilities in Asia. Disability is power. I will go anywhere to work for people with disabilities. If I work hard, I will gradually be able to change the governments and societies. This training will always be in my heart. Thank you so much everyone.