March 21 a special day for '3 copies of chromosome 21'

MANILA, Philippines — March 21 is the United Nations-appointed date for the World Down Syndrome Day, observed to help raise awareness of Down Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder.

Neva Santos, a blogger on ManilaMommy.com, said that March 21 stands for three copies of chromosome 21 or Trisomy 21, the cause of the congenital defect.

The younger of Santos' two sons, Noah, is a well-loved patient of Down Syndrome and is the "extra spark that brightens everyone's day."

"We celebrate Noah everyday but I just want to thank our family and friends who stand by us and who love Noah unconditionally," Santos said on her Facebook page.

She also invited the public to support programs that promote the inclusion of individuals with Down Syndrome, as they "have so much to give" once given opportunities to prove themselves.

The United Nations, meanwhile, will livestream its World Down Sydrome Day Conference at 1:30 a.m. (Manila time) Saturday, Mar. 22, 2014.