By: Doris Lacson Bauer

Las Vegas, NV.- There are quite a few celebrities who live in our community. They are very well known for their accomplishments as entertainers. These celebrities hold a power which goes beyond the screen and the stage. Their presence gives them the ability to make a very tangible difference in the lives of people. But what goes beyond the glitz and the glamour? Well, these celebrities still live their daily lives, just like many of us. But some of them use their celebrity status to be kind to others, using their true star power to give back to the community. Two of those Celebrities are Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez. They are entertainers and are very well known as the King and the Queen of Philippine Concerts. Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez were interviewed at FilipiNars recently where they talked about their Benefit concert to support SOFA – “Sing Out for Autism”. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a condition related to brain development that somehow impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems with social interaction and communication. This disorder includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. It used to be referred as just “Autism”. But the more relevant term now is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with the term “Spectrum” referring to a wide range of symptoms and severity.

SOFA is a non-profit organization serving the AAPI families impacted by ASD. SOFA was founded by Katrina Ojeda. “SOFA provides comprehensive resources, advocacy, and community engagement to enhance the well-being and quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families within the AAPI community. With a commitment to empowerment, education, and collaboration, SOFA strives to foster understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity for all”.

During the FilipiNars interview, Martin Nievera said that he is passionate about supporting people with ASD, especially SOFA because he and Katrina Ojeda have a son, Santino, who has ASD. He just turned 18 this year. Nievera said “Most parents are in denial about their kid’s condition. But once they embrace the fact that their kid has a difficulty, that is the start of getting engaged and developing a life plan for them”. Nievera states that he is still going through this journey. He stated that there are the 4 “A’s” to go through the journey: Acceptance, Awareness, Action and Advocacy. He is happy to support SOFA to help create awareness and help the families going through the difficulty of caring for their Autistic children.  

Pops Fernandez said “These children as so sweet and they just want to express themselves, and communication is a big issue”. Fernandez also said that Music is a big stimulating factor for autistic children to focus. That is why she and Nievera are doing a benefit concert for SOFA to create awareness and in their own “little way” to help and raise funds for the organization’s activities.

The concert – “ALWAYS LOVED” was held on October 26, 2024 at the M Resort. It featured performances by Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Joey Albert, and Martin’s 3 sons, Robin, Ram and Santino Nievera. The concert was well attended and indeed was a family affair concert. It was exciting and poignant at the same time to hear Pops, Martin and Joey Albert sing their popular songs. What was more touching was to have Martin’s sons perform with him with Santino on the drums. Everyone was singing and dancing along with the performers and having a good time. All the performers relayed to the audience the purpose of the concert, which was to support SOFA.

Katrina Ojeda had this to say about the future endeavors of SOFA: “After the successful benefit concert, SOFA will be hosting our annual Sensory Friendly Film for the holidays. Hosting a sensory-friendly film screening for autism families creates a welcoming, inclusive environment that allows individuals with autism and other sensory sensitivities to enjoy movies in a way that suits their needs. Traditional movie settings—with loud sounds, bright lights, and expectations to sit quietly for long periods—can be overwhelming for people with sensory processing challenges. Sensory-friendly screenings make adjustments to accommodate these sensitivities, such as Lowering the Volume, Adjusting the Lighting, Flexible Seating and Movement, lastly, Welcoming Atmosphere. SOFA continues to offer an opportunity for families with autism to enjoy activities together, often for the first time, in an accommodating setting where they can relax and enjoy the experience without fear of judgment or distress”. 

Ojeda adds “Sing Out for Autism can serve as a bridge, fostering understanding and support for autism within the AAPI community, while amplifying the diverse voices and needs of AAPI families touched by autism through Forming Partnerships with AAPI Advocacy Organizations, Amplifying Voices Through Performance, Engaging with AAPI Families and Professionals and Highlighting Cultural Diversity and Unique Challenges”.

Our hats off to you, Katrina Ojeda, for your work at SOFA. Filipino Celebrities, like Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez shed a bright light in the important role that they play in facing and tackling health and other issues of our society. Their work and endeavors definitely are resounding and cause a ripple effect to contribute to a positive change.  Let their endeavors act as a catalyst to motivate all of us to find ways to contribute, in big or small ways, to make a difference in our community.

FilipiNars Information:

This FilipiNars column is an offshoot of the FilipiNars Podcast of the PNANV –Philippine Nurses Association of Nevada. The goal is to create awareness of the different healthcare issues and events in our community and beyond. The Podcast started in 2019 in collaboration with PHLV Radio. Doris Lacson Bauer is a Registered Nurse, former PNANV President and currently an Advisor for the organization and host of FilipiNars. For more information, please visit our website www.pnanv.org