10/07/2025
'I AM AUTISTIC, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT'
Juan Alfonzo “Japonz” Dacumos, a graduate of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Department of Psychology, proudly identified as autistic during his recognition rites speech.
"In the Philippines, autism characterizations and expectations have anchored on social struggles, self-care hardships, and limited potential," he shared in his speech. However, Dacumos successfully broke this stigma by graduating as summa cm laude in DLSU.
Dacumos narrated how his autism caused him to have a tendency to walk away from conversations, without any cue or at inappropriate times. And yet, he never felt criticized or judged; he simply felt different.
"You saw a difference — a difference that never made me inferior or less capable. And with this, you encouraged me to thrive in a way that allowed me to embrace my autism," he stated.
Dacumos also thanked the university for fostering an environment that did not make him feel ashamed of having autism.
"In a greater world that boxed him to his deficits, you made an autistic boy look into his future with hope. Thank you for making me believe there is a world ready to accept and include neurodiverse people like me," Dacumos stated.
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