Host Organization

The growing interest and concern on the welfare of the intellectually disabled people in the Philippines started in 1956 with the organization of private and public institutions dedicated to serve the intellectually disabled people. To integrate fully on a national scale the programs and services being undertaken, an ad hoc committee was formed in 1969, which paved the way for the organization of the Philippine Association for the Mentally Retarded Children (PARC).

Due to the dedication of Rev. Father Arthur Malin, SVD, to really do something about the problem of intellectual disability in the Philippines, an organizational meeting was called on October 2, 1972. In this meeting, the name of the association was changed to the Philippine Association for the Retarded, Inc. (PAR).

It is guided by the following objectives:

• To work for the welfare of the intellectually disabled through the promotion of programs for the prevention, training, education, research and management of intellectual disability.
• To serve as a catalyst for the development of public and private interest and concern for intellectual disability in the Philippines.
• To assist in the formulation, development and implementation of standards for the agencies involved.

PAR successfully hosted the first asian conference on intellectual disability in November 1973 with the theme “Hope for the Retarded in Asia”. This day also resulted in the organization of the Asian Federation for the Mentally Retarded (AFMR) with PAR among its first registered members.

After hosting the AFMR, PAR lays claim to its many achievements, to witness:

• Annual holding of the ‘National Retarded Children’s Week’ every February 14 to 20 per Presidential Proclamation No. 1385s, 1975, celebrating Camp Pag-Ibig /Camp Love which is now on its 46th year.
• Early intervention program utilizing Portage Project.
• Intensification of teachers and parents training in cooperation with government and non-government organizations
• Strengthening its linkages with local and international organizations within the global thrust on inclusion.

During the 18th AFMR Conference held in Taipei in 2007, AFMR’s name was changed into AFID or the Asian Federation on Intellectual Disabilities. With this milestone, the Philippines in 2016, during the celebration of Camp Pag-ibig, also changed the name PAR. It is now known as the Philippine Association For Intellectual Disabilities or simply, PAFID.