After her debut in January’s Global Youth Activation Summit (GYAS) for the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter games, 16-year old Brina Kei Maxino has gone from strength to strength, taking an active involvement in Special Olympics Philippines’ events.
Her parents, Winston and Alina Maxino share Brina’s latest achievements.
Brina Kei Maxino grew up being encouraged to be “the best Down Syndrome kid that she can be.” After being chosen as one of the Special Olympics Global Youth Ambassadors representing Asia Pacific, she also decided to be “the best Special Olympics Global Youth Ambassador she can be.” Her best during the Special Olympics Global Youth Activation Summit (GYAS) in PyeongChang, South Korea early this year got her elected as a Co-Chair of the next youth summit to be held during the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California.
Since her return from Korea in February, Brina has continued her stellar work, helping with one Special Olympics-related event after another – nine R-Word campaigns in international schools, the local US Embassy and disability centers, three inspirational speeches as a Global Youth Ambassador (US Embassy Unified Games, Down Syndrome Happy Walk Program, Pean Academy’s Commencement Exercises), a video report on GYAS 2013 for the Special Olympics Asia Pacific conference, participating in Fast Retailing Ltd. Co.’s meeting on the expanding sponsorship of Special Olympics in Asia Pacific countries, attending the Special Olympics Philippines & Philippines Cricket Association MOA signing, bowling with Filipino athletes, and, most recently, introducing the Get Into It and Young Athletes curricula to faculty and administrators of Colegio San Agustin during its annual Institutional Seminar. All these activities were done in between catching up with school work she missed while attending the GYAS.
During her downtime, Brina is busy and productive as well, striving in many pursuits, like weekly bowling lessons, regular speech and occupational therapy sessions, and emceeing for the Down Syndrome Association events. She is also gaining work experience, joining the McDonalds Kiddie Crew summer workshop and working as a school office assistant. When Brina starts college later this year, she will study A.B. History, with additional units to get a Certificate in General Clerical Skills.
Brina even found time to win the Prom Queen title at a unified prom event, initiated by college students from De La Salle University. And in March, she graduated as Class Valedictorian from her high school!
And there is no stopping her. She and her GYAS youth partner, Sashi Montaña, are working on their GYAS plans for the next Summit. There are also plans to present the Get Into It and Young Athletes curricula to other schools. This May 30, Brina will also be in the follow-up Young Athletes training event at the Euro-German International School. She is eager to be “the best Young Athletes junior coach that she can be” too.
Full speed ahead, Brina! Aim high, and be the best that you can be!
The World of Special Olympics 
Brina… you are so wonderfull. You are the inspiration of all . Specially those people who dont have any disabilities and does nothing in their life. I am so inspired with you. You teach me to be more faithfull. Good example and also the whole family. More power and God Bless.
This is so wonderful that Brina has her goals in life set high! She is showing her true potential in everything that she does! She is truly inspiring. For someone that has so many potential obstacles in life, she proves that none of them have to slow you down! Keep working hard, Brina! You have such a bright future ahead of you!
I want to go back to Special Olympics
USA FaceBook and website. When?
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 4 million athletes in 170 countries. Special Olympics competitions are held every day, all around the world—including local, national and regional competitions, adding up to more than 53,000 events a year.