Children with special needs enjoyed watching a movie inside a cinema house in Bacolod City on the observance of National Autism Consciousness Week in January 2025.

Over 100 children with special needs, along with their parents or guardians, availed of free access to movies.

As most of these children are sensitive to noise and light, the management of the mall that operates the movie house had the lights and sound systems adjusted to the convenience of children with special needs.

“For us parents, syempre medyo ang mga anak namin merong mga sensory sa lights… sa sounds. Many families are hesitant to bring their children to the cinemas,” said Wendy Arroyo, president of the Bacolod City Chapter Autism Society of the Philippines.

Of course, the feature film is no less than GMA Pictures’ entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival which won “Best Picture” in 2023.

Through the movie house experience, children with special needs were given equal acess opportunities, or inclusivity, to movie screening experience.

A grandmother expressed how grateful she is to the organizer for letting her grandchild enjoy the movie on the huge silver screen for the first time.

“Okay naman, tahimik naman sya. Nagpapasalamat ako at nakapanood rin siya ng ganito,” Jecena Dequinto, grandmother to a child with autism, said.

According to an expert the event may be simple, but it provides a huge impact to the child.

“The main goal ng ating program is basically to address the sensory ng mga bata nating na-belong sa spectrum. Para makuha nila ang tamang timpla ng kanilang senses,” said Dr. Mark Anthony Talatala, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician.

The “Lights Up, Sounds Down” activity was carried out in partnership with GMA Pictures, SM City Bacolod, and the National Autism Society of the Philippines.