My Jollibee Family Values Awards journey

MANILA, Philippines – When I look back to last year when my family stood on the stage of the Philippine International Convention Center for the Jollibee Family Values Awards night surrounded by well-known Filipino artists and VIPs, I feel a surge of gratitude. I knew at that moment my brother Amir and others like him who have autism will live in a much better world. Jollibee had given us a bigger stage, a wider audience, and a lifetime’s worth of inspiration.

Since 2006, our family has been fighting for the welfare and empowerment of people with autism. It all began when my mother joined the network of Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) and, after a whirlwind of activities, we were surrounded by other families with a brother, a sister, or a relative with autism or special needs. 

Our group of families established networks which eventually grew into new chapters of ASP. My siblings and I were all volunteers. For Kamp Pagkakaisa, a 10-day therapeutic summer camp for children with special needs, my elder sister Anthea and I served as co-facilitators, while my father who came home from his work overseas pitched in as a cook.

Things are not always easy for our family. There are times when we have to push through the difficulties, find time and effort for the training and outreach programs, and gather the will to keep ourselves going.

But seeing other families who were part of the Jollibee Family Values Awards or JFVA made me realize that there are so many others out there fighting to empower the various members of our society. They are finding multiple ways on how to do it, too: music, toys, education, and instruments that I didn’t expect to make such significance in the lives of our countrymen.

The entire journey of the JFVA left me in awe of the tireless individuals who champion the rights of others. In the hands of these families is an entirely different future where Amir can build his talents and come close to being independent as possible. It opened my eyes to an entire spectrum of activities that brought us to the present as we know it today.

Now, families in Batangas, Cavite, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, and other areas in the National Capital Region can more readily respond to the challenges of autism and lead better lives with these special people.

Jan and sister Anthea help out in the family’s advocacy as volunteers.

Every step in our JFVA journey, I knew we were given provision and assurance by God. The Jollibee citation was His way of urging us on.

JFVA had given honor and dignity to persons with autism and to the workers behind the advocacy. Recharged by the optimism and company of others daring to dream of a better future for our people, it is up to us to continue this worthwhile journey and find others who are willing to join in our mission.

(Editor’s note: Jan Amille Peña’s family won in the 5th Jollibee Family Values Award. Inspired by his brother Amir, this 14 year-old actively volunteers in the Autism Society of the Philippines and hopes to inform his fellow youth on the unique abilities of people with autism.)