– Nette Muescan for SpotlightPh.com
A celebration of inclusion, dignity, and livelihood for persons with disabilities.
Last October 23, 2025, I attended a truly inspiring event at Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. (TWHI) in Cainta, Rizal. The occasion was the turnover ceremony for new livelihood equipment donated by the Embassy of Japan, valued at over USD 55,000 (₱3.2 million).
The event marked another milestone in TWHI’s 52-year journey of empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) through skills training, employment, and inclusion. The new equipment—ranging from high-speed lathes and CNC routers to embroidery and sewing machines—will boost productivity in TWHI’s metalcraft, woodcraft, and needlecraft divisions, giving PWD workers more opportunities to earn and excel.
Key guests included Mr. Felix Gonzalez Jr., President and CEO of TWHI; Ms. Glenda Relova of the National Council on Disability Affairs; Mayor J. Keith Nieto of Cainta; Governor Nina Ricci Ynares of Rizal; and Ms. Yurie Mukaigawa, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan. Their speeches highlighted a shared vision—that empowerment, not pity, is the true foundation of inclusion.
After the formal turnover and ribbon-cutting, guests toured the production facilities and witnessed PWD artisans at work—crafting, welding, and sewing with skill and pride. Seeing their confidence and craftsmanship firsthand was deeply moving.
For over five decades, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan has stood as a pillar of hope and empowerment for Filipinos with disabilities. This new partnership with the Embassy of Japan reaffirms that when compassion meets action, communities rise together.
As I left the event, I couldn’t help but feel inspired—reminded that in this “house without stairs,” everyone is given a chance to climb higher.