Was Sign Language Interpreter at Mandela Memorial Fake?

By AMANDA FERNANDEZ,GMA NewsDecember 14, 2013 4:45pm

(Updated 7:16 p.m.) Contrary to popular belief, sign languages around the world differ from one another, as each language has its own equivalent sign system.

 

This is the reason why sign language interpreters in the Philippines can't tell whether the man who was supposed to be signing for the deaf at Nelson Mandela's memorial service was a fraud.

 

"We can't tell. African Sign Language and Filipino Sign Language are different," Maria Veronica Perez, dean at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, told GMA News Online.

 

"The only ones who can say if the interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial ceremony was not qualified – I'm not comfortable calling him 'fake – are the deaf community of South Africa and the recognized interpreters there," she added.

JantThamsanqa jie, a 34-year-old South African sign language interpreter, gestures during a speech by India's President Pranab Mukherjee at a memorial service for the late South African President Nelson Mandela at the FNB soccer stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday, December 10. Deaf associations denounced him as a "fraud" for gesticulating gibberish before a global audience of millions, but he defended his actions, saying he had a sudden attack of schizophrenia. Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach

According to an earlier Reuters report, DeafSA, South Africa's leading deaf association, condemned the presence of a man at the memorial for Mandela for allegedly gesticulating gibberish before a global audience of millions...To read the rest of the article, visit this page: http://shar.es/OcwwR 

via @gmanews, JDS/HS, GMA News

Earthquake Primer for Benildeans by DLS-CSB CIC

The Deaf Leadership Forum: "Inspire One Another"

Monday afternoon of December 2, 2013, the first Deaf Leadership forum, which was hosted by the Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) in partnership with the Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW), was held at the School of Design and Arts Amphitheater,  SDA Building, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. PFD invited several DDW Filipino and American delegates to be panelists of the event. The aim was to share the experiences of the cross-cultural exchange in EMPOWER Program of DDW, and the inspirational messages of leaders to the audience. 

Eleven American delegates of DDW visited the Philippines as part of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs cooperative EMPOWER grant, which supports cross-cultural capacity building exchanges projects from November 15 - December 4, 2013. This is in partnership with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, Inc. (PFD).

DDW American delegates who visited the country learned many splendid things, resources, and cultures, and they were also able to understand the disability rights issues in the Philippines. During the Deaf Leadership Forum, the delegates shared what they learned during the learning sessions, deeply discussed, and contributed ideas on how to  improve education, organization, and leadership for the Deaf people and community in the Philippines.

Davin Searls, Executive Director of Discovering Deaf Worlds, delivers a key message for the Deaf Leadership Forum.

Leonides Sulse, Chairperson, Center for Academic of School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

According to Leonides Sulse, "Proactive leadership is about being an empowering leader, a coach and about establishing strong performance standards, the leader who can lead and support with heart to the community and actively work together with actions on their goals."

Rey Alfred Lee, President of Philippine Federation of the Deaf, hosted 

the Deaf Leadership Forum.

Jamie Munro, Past President, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims and Manager of Programming Operations, Harris Interactive. 

Jamie Munro said in his message, "as an EMPOWER participant, this experience has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. The US team is comprised of nine amazing individuals with diverse backgrounds. We really teamed up well with the Filipino deaf community members, especially with the leaders from the PFD group. Together, I have come to realize that the fight for deaf human rights and accessibility is truly a universal cause and we are in this together. We in the US may be further along, but we also need help from our friends around the world to advance their cause as well. Also, I have found the Filipino Sign Language to be a truly beautiful language that stands on its own. It is unique and separate from the American Sign Language that we use in the States. In fact, it has made me more appreciative of different languages and the need to preserve our cultural right to our own language."

                  Allie Rice, Youth Programs Coordinator, National Association of the Deaf

Yvette Apurado-Bernardo, Vice-President of  Philippine Sports Federation of the Deaf and Filipino Deaf Women’s Health and Crisis Center

Patrick Bryan Ablaza, Core Team of DDW-PFD, active supporter of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section, said "The Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD) works to have equal human, linguistic, cultural and legal rights for Deaf people in the Philippines. But these cannot be attained by PFD alone. We need your help and support. Stand up for your rights now."

Heather Harker, Director of Consulting and Executive Transitions, Third Sector New England and Board Member of Gallaudet University. 

Heather Harker also shared her sincere thoughts. "The two key points that either happened during the forum or in the discussion afterwards are the following: 

1. the Philippines should not simply replicate and copy ideas from other parts of the world (whether it be a deaf education curriculum or something else), rather, it is ideal to learn from what has worked best in different places around the world and then create something NEW that will work best for the Philippines and the unique history, culture and situation in the Philippines; and 
2. the best thing about a cultural exchange is the relationships that emerge from the experience because it is social capital that strengthens deaf communities and organizations around the world, and relationships 'live' beyond any program or grant. Hope that helps! and I guess one more thing is that there are things that the Philippines is doing better than the US and I hope to bring some of those ideas back to my work and deaf community here in the US. One example of that is the dedication of the leaders and also the collaboration and consideration of other cultures' leadership," she said.

George Lintag, General-Secretary, Philippine Federation of the Deaf

Julie Schafer, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

Raphy Domingo, Coordinator, Education Access for the Deaf, Center for Education Access and Development, said, "Being a leader is not about having the same person on top but having the same vision and passion for the Deaf community." He emphasized that leaders must inspire one another and support PFD's goals.

Sarah Houge, International Development Worker and Certified Deaf Interpreter, and Christie Ong, Contract Administrator, Defense Contract Management Agency, are sharing about their reflection and learning in the cross-cultural exchange.

Rowella Tanjusay-Par, Deaf Faculty and Mackie Calbay, Deaf Advocacy Coordinator are also sharing about their reflection and learning in the cross-cultural exchange.

SDEAS Silent Steps showed the Filipino dance "Niyog-Niyogan"

Successful DDW Filipino and American Delegates 

Lastly, Deaf Leadership forum emphasizes the important words to the audience that they must keep in their minds and hearts,"leader does not only lead but must also be willing to serve the Filipino Deaf Community." Those who serve towards people change, who nurture the values of the Deaf children and youth, and who give positive attitudes and influences for the issues and awareness, make good Deaf leaders; they guide groups and communities and encourage teamwork as well. Their strength as leaders is not for fame nor power but for being great role models. 

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~ John Quincy Adams

Article by: Mackie Calbay

Deaf Advocacy Coordinator
DLS-CSB SDEAS
Edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes

MOU Signing Between DLS-CSB and Hyatt Regency Hotel Manila

Memorandum of Understanding Signing

Related to On-the-job training and Employment of Deaf Benildeans

between

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manila 

and

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies 

(DLS-CSB SDEAS)

Date: November 28, 2013 9:00 am

Venue: Vatel Restaurant Manila,

CSB Hotel, Angelo King International Center,

cor Estrada and Arellano Sts, Manila

The event of DLS-CSB SDEAS and Hyatt Hotel was hosted by the three Deaf Benildean Hyatt Interns

Dean Nicky Templo-Perez, Mr. Sherlo Reyes, Br. Dante Amisola (FSC) 

and Mr. Cesar Larazabal.

Ms. Joanne Joy Endozo (Hyatt Regency Hotel Manila Director of Human Resources), Ms. Haydee Razon (Hyatt Regency Hotel Manila Learning and Development Manager) and Br. Dante Amisola (FSC)

Opening prayer by Ms. Jerene Alojado

The Hyatt interns are Mr. Jan Michael De Jesus,

Ms. Jene Alojado and Mr. Patrick Silver Padao

Br. Dante Amisola, FSC, and Director of Human Resources Ms. Joanne Joy Endozo are the signatories; witnessed by Dean Nicky Temlo-Perez and 

Development Manager Ms. Haydee Razon

Ms. Techie De la Torre, CEAD Director, with guests from Hyatt

Raphael Domingo, Coordinator for Education Access for the Deaf, 

discusses CEAD's plans for the next few years. 

CIC interviews the Hyatt Interns about their hopes and eagerness to start.

Jan Micahel, Jerene, and Patrick are very thankful to DLS-CSB and Hyatt Regency Hotel Manila for this opportunity. They said they will try their best to make SDEAS proud.