A 15-year-old girl with Down Syndrome will carry the voice of the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific Region in the Asia Pacific Region as ambassador and spokesman in the Special Olympics 2013 World Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, on January 26 to February 5, 2013.

Brina Kei Maxino, daughter of 2010 Happiest Pinoy Winston Abella and Alina Maxino, who are both from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was chosen by a panel of Special Olympics officials from the USA, Singapore and Malaysia over other candidates from Indonesia, Pakistan and India.

Brina, who will turn 16 on August 31, is the first girl and the first child with Down Syndrome from the Philippines to be chosen and will hold the title for two years.

Pamella Odhner, director of the Organizational Development, Asia Pacific Special Olympics, informed the Maxino family of Brina's selection in an email.

While the athletes will compete in sporting events, Brina will meet with 23 other ambassadors aged between 12-17 in the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit, where they will discuss issues affecting individuals with intellectual disabilities and will develop programs to promote the advocacies of the Special Olympics, that was founded in 1968.*AP

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