Fighting for Marilou

Let us give credit where credit is due. Our government officials are clearly working hard to save the life of Marilou Ranario who was sentenced to death for killing her employer in Kuwait. We hope that all these efforts will not go for naught and that the Kuwaiti Supreme Court, who will start hearing on her appeal soon, will look kindly on her situation. Read the full story at the Inquirer:

RP seeks clemency for OFW on Kuwait death row
By Cynthia Balana
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo have sought executive clemency for Filipino domestic helper Marilou Ranario as she appeals her death sentence in Kuwait.

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya said in his report to the Department of Foreign Affairs that all three Philippine leaders had made representations with the Kuwaiti ruler to grant Ranario clemency as the Supreme Court there starts hearing her appeal of the lower court’s decision sentencing her to hang for killing her employer.

Ranario lost the case in the Kuwaiti Court of Appeals. Her employer’s family, however, refused to accept her blood money in exchange for her life.

Autistic young man graduates from college

I can't help but be happy reading this. The Inquirer tells us of this young man with autism spectrum disorder (ASP) who despite all graduated from the Lyceum University with a degree in communications. This is gives us parents of children afflicted with ASP hope in our children's future. Read the full story at the Inquirer.

Autistic man at college graduation details hopes
By Allison Lopez, Jeannette Andrade
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines--David Michael Lopez, 22, graduated on April 12 from the Lyceum Institute of Technology in Calamba City in Laguna, earning a degree in communications.

“I wanted to communicate,” Lopez said, explaining why he took the course.

He is one proof that being diagnosed as a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not the end of the world.

Only a trained eye can detect traces of autism in David. He looks like any other young man his age, but his life is a shining example of the triumph of perseverance and years of struggle against ASD.

ASD, as defined by the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP), is a developmental disability that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed by the brain, causing problems in communication, learning and social behaviors.

At age 3, David was diagnosed with ASD. But through years of education and parental care, he was able to overcome his problem. David told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the early intervention of his parents was a key.

“There is no cure, but through education and training, autism can be treated,” he said at the close of the two-day national conference at the Philippine Columbian Association in Paco, Manila, on “A Life Journey with Autism: Hope After Diagnosis.”

Marilou's relatives call for help

I can't help but quote this news article at the Inquirer entitled "Kin send out call to save OFW on death row in Kuwait". I hope more and more people will know about Marilou's fate in Kuwait and feel the urgency of saving her from death. To quote:

She wanted to lift her family from poverty and decided to work in Kuwait as a domestic helper, leaving a potential teaching career in the Philippines.

But the dreams of Marilou Ranario, 35, may no longer find fulfillment after she ended up on death row in Kuwait for allegedly stabbing her employer to death in 2005.

Ranario’s relatives, her neighbors in the village of Holy Spirit, Quezon City and members of Migrante International are now racing against time to try to save her from being executed.

“Our campaign to save her life is about raising public awareness about the greatest heights of exploitation and injustice Marilou and other OFWs on death row suffer,” Migrante International secretary general Maita Santiago told a press conference on Friday.

Ranario has been scheduled for execution in January or February next year.