PADS lends a hand to the needy ones

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano disability rights advocate John Paul “JP” Ecarma Maunes was one of the countless people who made themselves relevant and highly productive at the height of the pandemic last year.

Through his Dubby’s burger business that became an instant hit among locals, Ecarma became a beacon of hope in trying times by hiring athletes with disabilities and volunteers from Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. and PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team under his employ.

Maunes founded PADS (then known as Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme) in 2005 when he was still a 21-year-old college student driven by his ardent desire “to enable the People With Disability (PWDs) community “to grow and develop as independent, integrated,fully human and empowered citizens in the society.”

Now that the global health crisis is still raging on, Maunes kept on touching other people’s lives.

On Mother’s Day last Sunday, Maunes launched their “Tulong Bayanihan Para Sa Sambayanan” community pantry for the youth, PWDs, and indigent families near their training area in Pajara Park under the second Mactan-Mandaue bridge.

“We successfully served over 2,000kg worth of produce to 300 families today after launching our community pantry program which aimed towards serving our youth and PWD members and neighboring homes within the vicinity of our training area,” Maunes proudly announced in his Facebook page.

“We like to thank our donors, volunteers and partners specially the Philippine Air Force Civic Military Operations Group (CMOG), Tactical Operations Wing Central, Air Mobility Wing Command  and Plantation Bay Resort & Spa for making this all possible,” he added.

Maunes, a registered nurse, is also the man behind the PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team, the country’s first ever cross-disability adaptive dragon boat racing team that has been making waves both in national and international competitions  since its inception in 2017.

Maunes said they are planning to organize the pantry at least twice a month. “For partnerships and donations, those are interested in helping our cause may message us. To God be the glory,” he ended. — EBV