Christmas Baking Class

Christmas Baking Class
SDEAS students and teachers attend baking class at SHRIM
By Cathy Alonso, SDEAS Faculty



Last Saturday of November 29, 2008, I, along with nineteen other participants (faculty and students) from SDEAS, attended the Baking Lessons sponsored by SHRIM’s Chefs In Progress (CHIP) as part of their Christmas Goodwill activities. The baking lessons were held at the 7th floor of AKIC building at promptly nine o’clock in the morning, with student Chefs Sarah Marcos and RV Manabat as our instructors.

The activities taught us how to bake three kinds of cakes for the holidays: Food for the Gods, Butter Scotch and Banana Cinnamon Cake. We were also taught how to roast chicken using three different kinds of herbs.

Everyone was so eager and I was lucky to be in the first group on the first long table because we were assigned to bake Food for the Gods. We let the students have first hand experience on how to mix the ingredients. It was amazing because they learned so fast and they need not be told twice what to do next on the other batch of cakes as the procedures were all similar to the first cake my group baked. The only exceptions were the ingredients they used in baking.

We had so much fun during the entire lessons especially before we put the cake in the oven and we had to drop the pan on the table which caused a loud banging sound. It was fortunate that most of us were Deaf participants so the noise didn’t bother us that much except that we’re sorry for our hearing friends. HAHAHA!

After baking pastries, we were taught how to do the Roast Chicken using different kinds of herbs: Rosemary, Taragon and Thyme. We were all elated at this last part of baking because we were quite sure we will end up eating the chicken afterwards.

The baking ended past twelve noon and student Chef RV gave us a copy of his cook book, “Gastronomy & I”. It was only at that time that I noticed that our instructor is a celebrity. We thanked both of our instructors and had our pictures taken.

The baking activities were very enriching as it were timely for this Christmas season. We can use the experience and start baking to either sell the cakes for profit or just give it away as Christmas presents to our family and friends.

We are very thankful to SHRIM for our wonderful baking lessons. I will never forget how very accommodating, kind and patient they were to us. We hope there will be other lessons like this in the future for this will benefit the students a lot and help them be more productive. However, I suggest that the next time there will be another activity like this, students and teachers should have separate lessons. Students can avail the free lessons but I think it will be good if the faculty will be tasked to pay for the ingredients since they have jobs and are already earning. That way, it will not be too much on SHRIM’s part. As faculty, we should also contribute something because we are so much blessed already to be given free lessons. I will never forget this and once again, thank you SHRIM for this enriching experience!

Photos courtesy of Lovella Catalan

San Isidro Parish Welcomes the SDEAS Deaf Community

For the first time interpreted masses were held at the San Isidro Parish in Taft Avenue Pasay City last October 21, 2007. And thru the efforts of students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) these interpreted masses continue to this day. The second year Deaf students (E2A and E2B) under Ms. Maria Teresa Buenaventura’s RECONSE (Religion and Contemporary Search for the Self) classes have taken the responsibility of organizing and coordinating this effort.

The interpreted mass every Sunday, 8:45 -10 am continues to accommodate SDEAS Deaf students, alumni, faculty and even some friends from CAP College, School for the Deaf. Ma. Teresa Buenaventura says the idea behind these efforts is to make Sunday church services accessible to those living near the Taft Ave. area. Ms. Tess urged her Deaf students to help build the Deaf community by serving their spiritual needs. Ma'am Tess is also a volunteer.

The students organize and coordinate all the requirements for the interpreted masses. What used to be a big dream continues to come true.

SDEAS faculty members turned church outreach volunteers like Ms. Noemi Lacambacal, Ms. Nicky Perez, Ms. Agnes Canayon, Ms. Rubylee De Castro, Mr. John Baliza and Mr. Leo Cabasag serve as sign language interpreters while Deaf Faith Formator Mr. John Paolo Trinidad serve as reader.

The parents are also helping, one of the parents donated a reading stand (the parent is actually this writer’s mom). Another parent (Mrs. de Leon) donated “reserved” signages for Deaf mass goers. This project falls within the La Sallian Ministry for the Deaf (LMPD). The first celebrator of the interpreted masses at San Isidro was Fr. Job Padayattil from India

Below is the interview I have made with Fr. Job :

Ana: Was this your first time to see a Deaf community?

Fr. Job: “I have met many deaf people before. But I am meeting Deaf people as a community for the first time. Even though I had seen a Deaf community near De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, when I became the celebrant for your masses, I felt how spiritually very enriching to see your participation in mass. Always the community had been an inspiration for me. How you face the challenges in your life is quite amazing.”

Ana: How did you feel when you see the Deaf community every Sunday during the mass?

Fr. Job: “Dear Deaf friends, I am very happy to see you for my mass. You fill my heart with joy. I really see your enthusiasm and your deep faith. Many who have all blessings do not realize the value of the blessings they have. I know all of you realize the value of all the blessings you have as you lack one blessing of hearing. But you are only physically deaf. You are all spiritually able to hear. Many people in the world can physically hear, but are spiritually deaf. It is better to spiritually able to hear than, being only able to hear physically and spiritually deaf.

God will certainly reward you for your spiritual hearing (hearing Jesus' inner voice, talking to you.) I hope all of you can hear it. That is why you are an inspiration for me. The way you read, sing (through sign language) ... all really touches me. I know you are inspiring all other churchgoers there. Your smiles, genuine love etc... are so visible to me. God loves you all. I too love you all. God loves you more than other people, because He has preferential option for the less fortunate (in your case, as you are not fortunate to hear). He loves you always. He will guide you and all of you will achieve much blessings just because you are faithful to Him. That is why I say "You are an inspiration! Please continue to be inspiring others to Love God".”

Ana: What do you wish for the Deaf community?

Fr. Job: “I wish for the Deaf community to love each other in the community. Support each other. You can understand each other better than anyone else. And I know all of you have inner pains. Some may have sadness and anger because of the condition. I pray for them to heal that pain and they are able to overcome all obstacles. Some may have already accepted it as a God's gift.

I believe even your deafness is a God's gift to you. Accept it as his gift and Thank Jesus for being Deaf. There is a plan for God, making you deaf... we do not know it yet! but God will reveal to you "why" later. Keep praising him, keep thanking him, believe in God. Second, would be to believe in your self. When God does not give certain gift, he compensates it by giving other gifts. God has compensated you with other gifts.

I don’t know what they are. You have to find them out and improve them. You have many gifts and talents. You can be more loving, more sympathetic... to suffering humanity.....by sharing the gifts which God has given you. And I believe that some of you will be great and famous one day. And some of you will touch the hearts of many. And you are already inspiring many. I am also proud of you, how you could defeat the obstacles which were on your way and you were able to manage well and have good achievements.”

Ana: Thank you very much for your kind words.

Fr. Job: You are welcome and God bless you always.

(Ana Arce)

La Salle University Deaf School held Deaf Recollection

OZAMIZ CITY, November 15, 2008─Aiming to strengthen their spirituality, 45 hearing-impaired teenagers from Iligan City, La Salle University (LSU), Ozamiz City, the Columban priests-run Hangop Kabataan, Pagadian City and the Columban Sisters-run Community of Hope Special Education Center this city, gathered for a two-day recollection November 13-14.

LSU Deaf School Coordinator Sarah Talibong said the Recollection for the Deaf is part of the celebration of the 2008 National Observance on Deaf Awareness Week with the theme “Ano DAW? Deaf Ako Walang Hadlang” on November 9–15, 2008.

The recollection for the Deaf being held at the LSU Retreat Center this city with the theme: “Deaf Unity with God: Source of Reconciliation and Peace” had Bro. Dennis Libarnes, PMS, from the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf, Cebu City as their retreat master.

“Each day had various activities with special emphasis on the spiritual formation for the deaf,” Talibong said.

She added the ministry of the Gualandi Mission for the DEAF is to help the spiritual formation of the DEAF. Libarnes used sign language during the recollection.

The highlight of the recollection was the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation of the individual Deaf participants from LSU Spiritual Director Fr. Regidor Abalde.

“During the confession the Deaf wrote their sins on a piece of paper and the priest read it and after the confession was the ritual or para-liturgy where they put their sins in a clay jar for burning,” Talibong said.

The recollection for the Deaf culminated with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Abalde at La Salle University Art Center and Bro. Libarnes interpreted the Mass in sign language.

“Religious formation for the Deaf is vital because it is a way of helping them to have fear in God and live in the right direction,” (Sarah Talibong)

La Salle University Deaf School held Deaf Recollection

OZAMIZ CITY, November 15, 2008─Aiming to strengthen their spirituality, 45 hearing-impaired teenagers from Iligan City, La Salle University (LSU), Ozamiz City, the Columban priests-run Hangop Kabataan, Pagadian City, and the Columban Sisters-run Community of Hope Special Education Center gathered together for a two-day recollection last November 13-14, 2008.

LSU Deaf School Coordinator Sarah Talibong said that the recollection for the Deaf was a part of the celebration of the 2008 National Observance on Deaf Awareness Week with the theme “Ano DAW? Deaf Ako, Walang Hadlang” last November 9–15, 2008.

The recollection for the Deaf that was held at the LSU Retreat Center with the theme: “Deaf Unity with God: Source of Reconciliation and Peace” had Bro. Dennis Libarnes, PMS, from the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf, Cebu City as their retreat master.

“Each day had various activities with special emphasis on the spiritual formation for the deaf,” Talibong said.

She added that the ministry of the Gualandi Mission for the DEAF is to help the spiritual formation of the DEAF. Libarnes used sign language during the recollection.

The highlight of the recollection was the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation of the individual Deaf participants from LSU Spiritual Director Fr. Regidor Abalde.

“During the confession, the Deaf wrote their sins on a piece of paper for the priest to read. After the confession was the ritual of para-liturgy where they put their sins in a clay jar for burning,” Talibong said.

The recollection for the Deaf culminated with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Abalde at La Salle University Art Center while Bro. Libarnes interpreted the Mass in sign language.

“Religious formation for the Deaf is vital because it is a way of helping them to have fear in God and live in the right direction,” (Sarah Talibong).

edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes

14th Deaf Festival Kicks Off with a Deaf Mass

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) students, faculty, alumni and members of the school community welcomed the 14th Deaf Festival with the celebration of a Deaf Mass on November 17, 2008 at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzales Theater.

Fr. Anthony Riosa,SSS, was the officiating priest and was supported by SDEAS students who work in the Lasallian Ministry for Deaf People (LMDP): Khia Yumul, Nanie Calagos, Beverely Sapno, Raniel and Donald Magno. Ms. Tess Buenvantura served as the interpreter.


SDEAS’ Silent Steps Performing Arts Group composed of Jonathan San Juan, Mary Grace Arcilla, Lynn Cappal, Daisyielynne Reyes, Costa Rica Quindipan, Rodelio Ebuinga, Rochelle, Kelvin Anonvevo, Rodolfo Iligan Jr. and John Alexis Abad interpreted the songs “Bayan Umawit,” “Prayer,” and “Gloria”.

The Deaf Community offered heartfelt prayers for thanksgiving and gratitude to God on this day and for the realization of the 14th Deaf Festival’s theme: “Rediscovering and Valuing Strong Filipino Deaf History, Identity and Culture.”

14th Deaf Festival

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REVILLA FILES CLOSED CAPTION BILL

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.
12 November 2008

REVILLA FILES CLOSED CAPTION BILL

To ensure equal access of deaf Filipinos to public information, Senator Bong Revilla today filed a bill that would require all,televis!on ne!works to put closed captions in their news programs.
In his speech during the National Conference on Sustainable Partnership1for Deaf Transformation held today (Wednesday, November 12, 2008) at the Ople Hall of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the senator said there is an estimated 4.5 million deaf Filipinos, most of them poor,who have no access to programs that will help them realize their full potentials. "This is a very sad reality and government makes it worse by turning a blind eye to this fact. Thisis our biggest hurdle, and we will transcend this if we, the private sector and the government, work
together and share in this responsibility," said Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.

Revilla stressed that all Filipinos should have equal rights guaranteed under the Constitution. "One of these rights that particularly elude the deaf is access to information. We must uphold Section . 7 of our Constitution that says the right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized," he explained.

In pushing for an equal access to public information of deaf and hard of hearing Filipinos, Revilla simultaneously filed Senate Bill 2872 that would oblige all franchise holders or operators of television networks or stations and producers of television news programs to have these news programs broadcast with closed caption.
Closed-captioning refers to the method of subtitling television programs by coding statements as vertical interval data signal that are decoded at the receiver and superimposed at the bottom of the television screen.

Under the bill, any owner or operator of television networks or stations and any producer of television news programs who shall violate the requirement shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OOo) or ,by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or any other judicial person, the president, manager, administrator or the person-in-charge of the management of the business shall be liable therefore. In addition, the license or permit to operate the business shall be cancelled.
~~
"The passage of this bill will address the constitutional mandate for the state to recognize the basic right of the people to information on matters of public concern," Revilla pointed out. (30)

12 SDEAS Students Recognized in Honors Convocation

One SDEAS student ranked 9th overall in DLS-CSB

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) recognized twelve (12) School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) students who were consistently part of the Benildean Honor Roll from first to third term of School Year 2007-2008 during the Honors Convocation held at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Building last July 25, 2008.

The 12 students who were recognized (ranked from highest to lowest) are: Ana Kristina Arce, Raymond Manding, Raphael Domingo, Anaditha Angcay, Nadine Calagos, Jocelyn Tamayao, Aaron Bernard Jao, John Alexis Abad, Jerene Justiniano, Mark Jay Bilaro, Katherine Arjona, and Felice Noelle Ferido.

Arce is a trailblazer in the history of SDEAS when she ranked 9th overall among the Honor Students of DLS-CSB. She had a grade point average (GPA) of 3.75. This is the first time that an SDEAS student became part of the Top 10 students with Academic Honors in the whole DLS-CSB.



edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes

Deaf Student Maltreated, Seriously Injured Over Fare Discount

JOHN EZRA CABALO, DEAF STUDENT OF DLS-CSB SDEAS, DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL FOR DAYS AND FAILED TO FILE AN EXCUSE SLIP FOR HIS ABSENCE. Ezra was about to be declared AWOL when the school received a long letter from his distraught mother detailing the circumstance behind his prolonged leave. He broke a leg in an accident and the attending physician advised him to refrain from walking and lifting heavy objects for the next four weeks.

On the evening of January 28, Ezra fell down from the air-conditioned Green Star bus he was riding to the streets when the bus suddenly sped off just as he was alighting at a designated stop in Susana Heights, Muntinlupa City. Nobody helped him. Prior to the accident, the bus conductor refused to give Ezra the fare discount accorded to him by law (Republic Act 9442 Privileges and Incentives for Disabled Persons). He was instead charged the full fare and after realizing that Ezra could not hear, the conductor and the driver loudly made fun of him for the rest of the journey.

Despite the pain from his injured leg, Ezra managed to get to the market stall where his parents earn their keep as vendors. His family brought him to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa where he was diagnosed with a strained ligament on his right knee. From the hospital, they proceeded to file a formal complaint with the police that same evening. Ezra and his family went back to the hospital for X-ray and the attending physician told them that the X-ray results showed that Ezra sustained a fractured leg bone. Ezra was told not to carry heavy objects so the injured bone would heal faster. Ezra and his relatives proceeded to the National Orthopedic Center in Quezon City for a second opinion. The attending doctor at the Center found a crack instead on Ezra’s leg and expressed dismay that the physician at the previous hospital did not bother to put the injured leg in a cast, as is usually done with broken bones.

Ezra is on his way to recovery. Initially, he was advised that he can only move around on a wheelchair. Though tough on the family’s finances, they hired a van at Php 250/one-way trip to bring Ezra to school. Ezra is very eager not to miss classes since excess absences could affect his standing as a 100% scholar at DLS-CSB SDEAS. Strong-willed and determined to keep his scholarship, Ezra now limps his way from class to class.

The management of the offending bus company has yet to respond to the complaint lodged by Ezra’s family with the police. Ezra was able to write down the bus plate number (DLK-726) but the bus company allegedly denies that the plate number belongs to their bus. Two teachers who befriended Ezra after witnessing the incident with the bus conductor refused to serve as eyewitness to the case.

UPDATE: Upon checking with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) vehicle registration verification facility via text messaging (TXT 2600 for all networks), plate number DLK-726 is not a registered vehicle.

Young Star Girls of Summer

JACKIE O’ FLASH

By Bea J. Ledesma

Friday, April 11, 2008
Section H-4

The Philippine Star

YStyle is big on female empowerment, which is why we’re so eager to bring you Sunsilk’s four ambassadors. These four women found success on their own terms, earning their place in the world by taking charge of their lives and climbing the corporate ladder one progressive step at a time. Sunsilk’s latest campaign, which features icons like Madonna, Beyoncé and Shakira, encourages women to assume responsibility for their own lives — to take the lead, take chances, take life by the horns. Meet the women who aren’t afraid to call out carpe diem on their own existence.

Diana Banas
Job: Chef’s aid

Few people overcome the hurdles they are born with. Diana is not one of them. Currently a success in her field (she’s slowly climbing the ladder of the culinary department of Manila Pen), she’s an example to people everywhere that anything is possible. Having been born Deaf, Diana grew up worrying over things that most take for granted. “Simple things like riding a jeep,” she says, become issues. “How will I pay? How will I get down the jeep?”

Challenges came her way every day. She experienced ridicule from her peers who made fun of her disability. Despite her dream of going to a certified cooking institution for college, she could only attend the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS). “Even if (the other school) wanted to accept me, they couldn’t because there is a lack of interpreters and teachers who know how to sign.”

But Diana took it all in stride, earning a place in student council in college, visiting the National Technical Institute of the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York as a student ambassador, and, later on, pursuing her dream of becoming a famous chef. Based on experience, she’s not afraid of aiming high — and setting a standard for people with the same disability.

“I hope that Deaf people who can’t find work will venture into business instead of just waiting for help from others and doing nothing at home. If we want equal rights with the rest of the people in society, we must also learn how to be responsible for ourselves instead of depending on charity,” she says. “And I hope that other Deaf people will have access to education so they can become productive members of society. I hope schools will open their doors to Deaf people because education will open opportunities for them, the same way it opened opportunities for me.”

Her take on the progressive Pinay: “Filipinas can make their life happen today because there are many doors of opportunities open to them. I know that they can succeed in any endeavor they venture into.”

STUDY SIGN LANGUAGE

This Summer,
LET YOUR HANDS SPEAK!

Enroll in
FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE

Summer Classes
for
KIDS and ADULTS
at
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies

Take on a new challenge,
have FUN and make NEW FRIENDS!

Sign language is considered one of the most fascinating languages to learn.

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Reasons for Studying Sign Language:

1. Learning a new language helps build confidence
2. Being a bilingual or trilingual expands your cognitive processes
3. You can sign with your mouth full or talk through windows of restaurants or offices
4. Efficient gestural communication for professionals like scuba divers, firefighters, police officers, stock traders
5. Sign language might help public speakers become more at ease with their hand gestures
6. Pilots and astronauts in earphones and/or helmets can say their final words a bit more than a "thumbs-up" sign and smile
7. A patient with acute hearing/vocal loss in an accident can convey in signs to communicate what s/he feels, needs or wants.
8. Enriches culture and art when used in its naturally simultaneous, cinematic nature
9. Adds a dynamic spice to school-day and bedtime storytelling. Kids love it and are hooked!
10. Enhances performing arts in theatre and dance. It produces a live, richly imaginative cinematic-like narrative in 4-dimensional language.
11. You can be sure that nobody can overhear through doors, "whisper" in signs in a library or church, or lively talk in noisy bars and discos.
12. You can have an edge over the other contestants when you join The Amazing Race!

Reference: http://www.handspeak.com/

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REGISTRATION PERIOD
April 8-18, 2008
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
April 16 – May 28

Kids (7-12 years old)
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
10:00 a.m.-12:00 nn

Filipino Sign Language Level 1 (for Adults)
Wednesdays & Fridays
2:00-5:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION FEE
Php 2,400

FOR INQUIRIES, CONTACT:
526-7441 to 47 local 131
balizaj@dls-csb.edu.ph

ENROLL NOW!!!

Confident Deaf Bowler makes it to the RP National Team


Lovella Catalan is confident she will eventually make it to the national women's bowling team of the Philippines this year. It's a feeling that stayed with Lovella after she qualified for the training pool.

Playing last March 1 and 2 against Elaine Florencio at the Green Valley Lanes in Pasig, Lovella garnered an average of 230 pinfalls. At one point her highest score was 280, almost a perfect score. Lovella became one of the very first to qualify in the training pool. She is the only Deaf bowler there.

When not bowling, Lovella is busy at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) as a Trainor and Formator at the Deaf Sports Program. She is an SDEAS alumnae.

Qualifying games were also held in Visayas and Mindanao. The new qualifiers like Lovella will join other former national bowlers who automatically qualified in the training pool. From the training pool, 3 women and 3 men will be chosen by coach Josephine Canare to represent the country in the Philippine International Bowling Cup. This tournament will be held in Manila middle of this year.

Though Lovella is confident she will make it to the RP national team, she is not confident about winning in the coming tournament. This is partly because she is not comfortable with the bowling lanes in Mall of Asia, where the tournament will be held.

Another reason, she points out, is the presence of strong Korean women bowlers. And lastly, she has not 100% recovered from the shoulder injury she sustained in 2005.

But with the way she played in the qualifiers, it's hard to think she is injured. Her scores speak for themselves and they say Lovella's chances of winning are as good as anyone else's.

SDEAS Counselors attend International Conference in Hong Kong

The Deaf Counselors of the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) attended the Regional Conference on Women with Disabilities organized by the Association of Women with Disabilities Hong Kong (AWDHK). This event took place at the City University of Hong Kong from January 7-9, 2008, and centered around the theme "Innovations and Solution Focused".

Ms. Jeniffer C. Mendoza and Ms. Florisa L. Punsalan presented papers on research participated in by female students of DLS-CSB SDEAS as well as their own research that they undertook as leaders of the Filipino Deaf Women's Health and Crisis Center (FWDHCC). Ms. Nicky Templo-Perez and Mr. John Xandre Baliza served as interpreters for this event.

The issues that were discussed during the various paper presentations for this conference centered on violence, poverty, health concerns, family concerns, and arts as it affects women with disabilities.


















From L-R: Jeniffer Mendoza, Florisa Punsalan, John Baliza & Nicky Templo-Perez)

SDEAS hosts symposium on NBN-ZTE Controversy

11 February 2008 – De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) organized a symposium on the NBN-ZTE Controversy with Rep. Teddy Casiño as the resource speaker and presenter. With a full-house crowd at the Augusto Rosario Gonzalez Theater, Rep. Casiño gave an overview of how the NBN-ZTE contract started as a good idea and ended as one of the most talked about corruption issues in the Philippines under the Arroyo administration.

The audience of 120 students, faculty and staff eagerly asked questions during the open forum, proof that Benildeans are very much interested in understanding vital issues in public governance and what can be done to address these issues.

View slideshow

Q&A With SDEAS Student Ana Kristina Arce on the NBN-ZTE Controversy

Deaf E-News (DEN): What can you say about the talk of Rep. Teddy Casiño?

Ana: I was totally not aware about the ZTE-NBN issue. Today I learned about what is happening in our country when I read the newspapers and listened to Congressman Teddy Casino during the forum.

I felt frustrated that some politicians lose their moral values in their quest to become millionaires while most people work hard to pay their tax to the government. Many of us got angry because of these corrupt government officials.

We are shocked because we don't really know what the government is doing.


DEN: What do you think about our government and what should we do?

Ana: Government system and policy are not strong. It's a mess.

We should study the background of people who would be candidates for mayor, governor, congressman and senator in the
Philippines. If they have good ethics and morals and can serve our country without being corrupt, we should vote for them during elections.

DEN: What is our role as students to the country?

Ana: As students, we should learn how to strengthen our morality, ethics and values so we can become good examples to our country.


DEN: Any suggestions for next topic of discussion?

Ana: I want to know about Charter-Change (CHA-CHA) and the problem in our government system. Thank you for your encouraging us to get to know about issues.

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January 25 General Assembly

Faculty and staff of DLS-CSB SDEAS held their first General Assembly also in January 25, (yes it was a busy day) and went straight into the seminar "Learner Centered Parameters." It sets the tone for what SDEAS will aim for in this Year of the Rat (2008): A new & trailblazing direction for a New Year.

And right after the assembly food was served to celebrate the birthdays of staff and faculty born in January. Everybody concentrated on the food and talk of the celebrants' ages did not come up. It was a busy happy day.

View Slideshow

Teachers' Day G.A. at SDEAS

(January 25) - A fitting opening to the new term and the New Year is an assembly and a seminar.

At the PEN-MLC Laboratory, Deaf and hearing faculty and staff of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies gathered to listen to Mr. Rodel Bugarin, (Director of Center for Learner-Centered Instruction and Research, CLCIR), explain "Learner Centered Parameters." But first, a briefing on how it came about…

On the imprimatur of Vice President for Academics Robert Tang, the Center for Learner-Centered Instruction and Research (CLCIR) took on the task of collating and then synthesizing existing DLS-CSB documents related to Learner Centered principles.

Fundamental definitions came out of that effort, example:

Who Are Learners?

Students – those who receive instructions under the academic programs

Faculty - the teachers who give instructions are also in the process of learning, perfecting their teaching techniques, improving themselves

Administrators – leaders of the institution and developers of the curriculum, like the Dean, have to study the directions the programs are headed, they learn about their jobs

Staff - non-teaching staff have as much to learn about the support roles they play as anyone else

Alumni - graduates comeback to share their experiences, some become faculty members, they learn from their work outside and bring it back into the campus

Parents - they are the first to support the instructions in the school, and they are the first to teach values to their children, parents have to constantly learn Everyone in the DLS-CSB community is a stakeholder, a contributor, a learner.

This synthesis has led to LEARN, an acronym for the skills necessary for a teacher to become Learner Centered:

L - learns continuously about his job and himself\herself, attends seminars, workshops etc.

E - evaluates learning experiences, seeks feedback

A - advances synergy and collaboration, develops an atmosphere of cooperation

R - respects diversity, accepts the fact that different students have different qualities,uniquely gifted

N - nurtures relationships, harmonizes, strengthens the community of learners

And to gauge a teacher's development (or lack of it) in LEARN, some Behavioral Indicators have also been identified. These Behavioral Indicators may reflect, for example, in the evaluation by students of their teachers. From there, the CLCIR will know which areas a teacher is weak and it can give appropriate training or workshops for them to take.

SDEAS Dean Theresa Christine de la Torre, explained that all these are products of DLS-CSB's growth, the evolution of its experiences, "It brings everything together, it will guide us on what we will do as a school."

She also roused-up everybody in the seminar to put their interest and energy into these skills because it will guide them and benefit their students in the classroom. It will also serve as a guide in their activities inside the campus. On a much larger scale, it can guide them in their participation as citizens of the Filipino nation.

Under the CLCIR logo are four words that best summarize the efforts of moving DLS-CSB into becoming a Learner Centered community – Developing People, Managing Change.

WE ARE ONE

For the duration of the Deaf Festival last November, the Deaf and Hearing celebrated as one community. We listened to informative and inspiring speakers, watched Deaf films, played games, and had fun. As the Deaf and Hearing continue to learn from each other, we see our path ahead with a little more clarity and smiles on our faces.

We have reason to be hopeful because whatever challenges awaits us, the Deaf and Hearing in the College of Saint Benilde, we know we will face them together ... as one.

On The Spot:

Bronson L. Escalderon
DLS-CSB SDEAS alumnus,
Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies
(Multimedia Arts track)
Class 2007


Don't be afraid to try. Bronson Escalderon learned this when looking for his first job after graduating in 2007. Pushing aside his doubts, he knocked on the door of Pixel Project Advertising and Design in Makati and applied as a graphic designer. Nobody referred him to this company; he just saw it then went ahead and tried.

Pixel Project Advertising and Design have never hired any Deaf employees before. Bronson was in fact the first Deaf person to apply for a job with them. The bosses had to take some time to evaluate Bronson's application, for not only is he Deaf, he is also a fresh graduate, inexperienced. It would also be a gamble for them.

Bronson's try paid off. He was hired. The management of Pixel Project Advertising and Design decided to put aside their doubts and give Bronson a try. He is their first ever Deaf graphic designer, and first Deaf employee. The boss made it clear to Bronson that they have high expectations of him.

Bronson admits he also has fears about his new job. He says, " I'm sometimes afraid of my boss but I try to challenge myself because I am Deaf."

In one instance, Bronson's boss got mad at him because he did not know how to use Coreldraw software. Instead of moping and feeling bad, he humbly apologized to his boss for his lack of knowledge and skills and quickly studied Coreldraw. Now, Bronson's boss is happy that he has this quiet determination to learn new things to enhance his performance on the job.
Bronson also finds inspiration from his colleagues at work who eagerly communicate with him through the simple sign language he teaches them.

What Bronson did took courage, to just apply in a company despite his doubts. This courage came from his training at SDEAS and he knows it. " I want to thank SDEAS for helping me develop self-esteem, gain enough confidence in improving myself and have the courage to meet whatever challenge comes my way. I am proud of my school. "

Bronson hopes other SDEAS graduates will do what he has done, and maybe more.

Fast Facts

As of 2nd Term of School Year 2007-2008, SDEAS has 114 students. Out of the 114 students, only 3 students pay full tuition. Data from the Student Grants Office show that the remaining 111 are scholars.

Here is the breakdown:

73 students are full scholars (100%)
38 students have partial scholarships;
6 students are 95% scholars
19 students are 90% scholars
3 students are 85% scholars
2 students are 80% scholars
1 student is 75% scholar
3 students are 70% scholars
2 students are 50% scholars
1 student is 40% scholar
1 student is 30% scholar.