Aminado si Erika Joy Santos Reyes na isang malaking hamon ang pagkakaroon ng anak na may spectrum disorder.
Labing-isang taong gulang (11) na ang anak niyang lalaki ngayon.
Si Erika ay Mrs. Philippines CEO at Woman of The Universe second runner-up.
Nakapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Erika Joy sa press launch ng Mrs. Philippines 2025, na ginanap sa Vivere Filinvest Cybergate Alabang sa Muntinlupa City.
Dito ibinahagi ni Erika kung paano na-diagnose na nasa spectrum ang kanyang anak.
"Sobrang hirap. He was diagnosed with spectrum disorder at the age of two years and six months.
"He was lining up his toys, his legos and then he ran around in circles," bungad ni Erika.
Noong unang taon ng anak ay nakakatingin pa raw ito sa camera.
Lahad pa ni Erika: "Then suddenly on his second year and first month, he stopped looking, he stopped talking.
"It's a big dilemma na sobrang, of course, masakit for the parents.
"But with the therapist that he was engaged with and the doctors that we have on board—like developmental pediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist—they're there to guide them."
Malaking tulong daw ang therapy para sa anak.
Aniya, "Now, if you get to see my son, you wouldn't notice."
ERIKA JOY REYES ON son attending regular school
Hindi raw sumailalim sa special education (SPED) ang anak.
"He's eleven now. He never enrolled through SPED. Sa regular school na siya, with no shadow teacher."
Pero kuwento ni Erika, nakaranas din ng bullying ang anak dahil sa kondisyon nito.
"It's not perfect, nabu-bully pa rin, pero my son is very understanding. Nagkaroon ng episodes na ganun, but my son was able to handle it," ni Erika.
Pag-amin din niya, "Nasaktan ako, sobrang nasaktan ako. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, mas lalawakan niya yung pang-unawa niya."
Supportive naman daw ang regular school ng anak sa kondisyon nito.
"We're always connected with the administration. Alam din naman nila ang kundisyon ng anak ko.
"Lahat ng advisers, the whole faculty naman, sila na rin ang naga-adjust, even the friends of my son and the classmates."
May mensahe si Erika Joy sa ibang mga magulang na mayroon ding anak na may spectrum disorder.
"To all those parents right there who has children diagnosed with spectrum disorder, I salute all of you.
"Just continue understanding. Have lots of patience. Continue to love and support all of your children. Tayo lang ang magiging gabay nila sa paglaki nila."
ERIKA JOY REYES ON MRS. PHILIPPINES
Bilang CEO ng Mrs. Philippines, ibinahagi ni Erika na isa sa adbokasiya ng Mrs. Philippines ang autism awareness.
Paliwanag niya: "There are three advocacies that we're pushing for. One is my advocacy na nangyayari na kasi ngayon, the autism awareness.
"We are sponsoring four beneficiaries na we got a schedule na for consultation. Actually the first one, we scheduled already with proper diagnosis.
"We have two autistic kids going through therapy now, speech occupational therapy. We'd like that to be continued by our winner."
Ang iba pa nilang adbokasiya ay para sa abandoned children, senior citizens na nasa bahay-ampunan, at abused women and children.
EX-BEAUTY CANDIDATES TO JOIN MRS. PHILIPPINES?
Samantala, tatlong ex-beauty queens daw ang nagpakita ng interes na sumali sa Mrs. Philippines.
Excited si Erika dahil galing daw sa mga kilalang pageants ang potential contestants na sinasabi niya.
Pero sa ngayon ay wala pa raw final list.
Paanyaya pa niya sa mga gustong sumali sa pageant: "We'd like to give light para sa mga ilaw ng tahanan na di tayo limited para sa mga trabahong bahay lang. Join the Mrs. Philippines 2025 and be one of us."
Hindi raw lalaban sa international pageant ang mananalo sa Mrs. Philippines.
Sa halip na magbayad ng PHP1,000 to PHP2,000 dollars na registration fee sa international pageants, mas mabuti na gamitin daw sa outreach activities ng organisasyon.
Sa ngayon ay bukas ang Mrs. Philippines sa mga ginang na gustong sumali. Gaganapin ang coronation night sa March 2025.
Halagang PHP150,000 ang iuuwi ng mananalo bukod pa sa ibang papremyo.