Rosemary “Marie” Alonzo

Marie Alonzo is a civil engineer by profession and a mother to four boys — one of whom is totally blind with additional disabilities, John. Since having John, she has been a voice on his behalf, together with hundreds of other parents who also have ‘Johns’ in their family.

Marie is a parent leader and a strong advocate for children and youth with disabilities. She has worked in many parts of the Philippines, and neighboring countries in Asia. Previously, Marie was the president and project manager of a parent support group in Asia, Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children, Inc. (PAVIC). PAVIC has been reaching out and working with parents for over 20 years, equipping and empowering families to be supportive parents and strong advocates for their children. Today PAVIC is recognized by many agencies and organizations as a worthy partner in consultations, planning and program implementation. Over the years, Marie has worked with teachers, government agencies, non-government organizations, and civil society organizations to pursue their goals in building a better world for children with disabilities.

Joining the Asia Team as Parent Coordinator gives Marie a wider and farther reach to even more parents in the Asia Pacific region. She dreams of a strong regional parent support group, with one voice, one dream, one goal – to have an inclusive community for all. For raising a child does not fall on parents alone, but on all people in the community.