From small to SUPER: Transforming advocacy into a movement

Change is not randomly made–it begins by creating subtle ripples that build into waves. 

The University of the Philippines Supporting PWDs Through Exercise and Recreation Organization or UP SUPER brings this vision to life.

What was a class project of College of Human Kinetics (CHK) sophomores for their Recreation for Special Groups course in 2020, UP SUPER has blossomed into a movement dedicated to championing inclusivity and creating opportunities for the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) community. 

They aim to address societal barriers embedded in infrastructure and culture to provide safe spaces for the PWD community to flourish.

The SUPER Games

For this year’s National Autism Consciousness Week, UP SUPER held its first-ever flagship event, SUPER Games, last Jan. 26, at the UP Varsity Training Center (VTC). 

The event was organized in partnership with various communities, including Indiba Philippines and the National Council on Disability Affairs, with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission.

An event for all ages, SUPER Games celebrates the talents of PWDs through sports and recreational activities. This single-day event featured a diverse lineup of activities, from puppet shows to adaptive basketball, enjoyed by over 200 participants and volunteers.

“These kinds of opportunities may seem simple and common to us because we can all access it, but for them [PWDs], these opportunities are not given on a daily basis. It’s a huge empowerment for them,” said Meanard Mejia, UP SUPER’s Vice President for External Affairs. 

SUPER Games participants share their smiles as they pose for a group photo. Photo by Aila Iglesia

“It’s not all about UP SUPER. You want to be an umbrella for them na magsama-sama sila sa isang event […] and just make their day memorable,” Mejia added. “I know that they have limited opportunities, I know the stereotypes, and hopefully I can make an impact to the PWD community.”

Bong Espares, a leg amputee, drives to the basket during the “SUPER Games” adaptive basketball match. Photo by Aila Iglesia

Bong Marvin Espares, an amputee who participated in the adaptive basketball game, shared the importance of events like the SUPER Games that cater to PWDs.

Kaya kami sumasali sa mga ganitong event, para maipakita na tulad naming […] na-amputate, naputulan sa paa, nakakapag-basketball pa [rin at] mas marami pang pwedeng magawa.”

For Espares, the challenges he faces extend beyond his physical capabilities; they stem from how others choose to perceive him. 

“Sa mga nanay, hindi nila nasasaway ang mga anak nila. […] ‘Pag makikita ka nilang dumadaan, bigla kang gagawing example ‘Gusto mo bang mangyari sa ‘yo ‘yung ganiyan?’ Kumbaga ginagawa kaming panakot sa mga bata,” he said. 

Espares opened up on losing his confidence, especially when he feels the weight of people’s stares. “‘Pag tumingin sa ‘yo ano ‘yan eh, mula ulo hanggang paa ka titingnan. ‘Pag tinitignan ka, hinuhusgahan ka niyan, kaya ‘yung confidence ay nabawasan,” he added.

His experience is a reminder that true inclusion of PWDs goes beyond a mission borne out of passion—it requires critical awareness, sensitivity, and responsibility to create a safe and inclusive space where PWDs are treated with dignity and respect. 

Uncovering Deficiencies

UP SUPER seeks guidance from experts in various fields, including those from CHK and the UP College of Education specializing in Special Education, to ensure that every initiative is informed by a well-rounded understanding and expertise. 

As part of their application process, each member must undergo disability sensitivity training.

“Sa application process pa lang, they are required to take disability sensitivity training […] Teaching how our members can reach out to the PWD community since they are a community na mayroong ethical and appropriate practices on ways to approach them,”  Tati Del Rosario, UP SUPER’s Deputy for Applications Committee said.

Aside from advancing its advocacies, UP SUPER is not just reshaping the narrative around PWDs, it is also redefining what volunteerism means.

One of the misconceptions they want to address is the connotation that volunteerism is equal to being the savior and sacrificing oneself. 

“How I see is us playing more than us saving. Our term of volunteering is more of us interacting and having fun with the PWDs,” Del Rosario shared.

“I don’t really see myself as a savior. I’m not a catalyst for change, for changing the lives of people.” Del Rosario added. “Pero how else can we change societal barriers than by joining events, by acting?”

Need for PWD-friendly Spaces

As the organization grows, so does its vision. With every step it takes, it uncovers more of the challenges society still faces, pushing forward to break down barriers along the way. 

“With events like these, mas lilitaw pa ‘yung mga kulang at kailangang ayusin within the community in terms of infrastructures and systems,” Del Rosario said. 

“This program, although lighthearted na sama-sama at laro-laro lahat, it’s also us making a statement na may parts pa rin ng campus na pwede pang ma-improve at mas maging accessible sa lahat ng tao,” he added.

With the lack of ramps, signages, elevators, and designated parking spaces in VTC, just like many infrastructures in UP Diliman, means that the campus has yet to be an inclusive space for PWDs.

“The venue, siguro it’s obvious na hindi siya accessible sa PWDs, lalo na ‘yung mga may physical needs […] UP is supposed to be for everyone,” Mejia reflects on the lack of accessible spaces in the campus.

In just four years, UP SUPER has evolved from a small organization into a growing movement that has begun to extend through the UP community and beyond.

“This marks the next stage na hindi na siya [UP SUPER] baby org, kailangan mayroon na tayong movement and that movement has to take us somewhere further,” said Del Rosario.

The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. For UP SUPER, this fuels their mission to break barriers and open doors for PWDs. And for PWDs like Marvin, there are no limits—only possibilities waiting to be seen.

We often view the world through our lens, taking for granted the things that come easily to us. UP SUPER challenges us to look beyond our limited perspective, urging us to see the world as it should be—a place where barriers are shattered and every person is valued and seen.