In
line with its five years of serving the Deaf Benildean students and deaf community
inside and outside the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde school, the
Benildean Deaf Association (BDA) celebrated a four-day anniversary with the theme “BDA 5th Anniversary: Our Aspirations as Deaf Benildeans” last November 7-10, 2012 under the supervision of Ma. Jesusa Charisma Nofies.
The
opening ceremony started with a Holy Mass at the CSB Chapel of
the Resurrection, followed by the ribbon cutting headed by the BDA
President, Abigail Ablaza, and the BDA Adviser, Ms. Diana Pria Banas, then the showcase of the BDA exhibit, and finally the start of the opening program.
BDA hosted a number of seminars which include "Filipino Sign Language House Bill 6079 Forum" led by Mr. Mark Joseph Calbay, "Deaf Linguistics: Natural Sign Language Forum," which were both held at the CSB
Cafeteria Function A & B, and "Deaf K-12-Forum UNCRPD seminar" with
guest speaker Yvette Apurado
held at the Amphi Theater 12 Floor SDA Campus. They also had other activities such as the BDA Quiz Bee and the Basic Adobe
Flash Part 1 & 2 workshop prepared for the BAPDST students of Multimedia
Arts. The Deaf Film Festival, which aimed
to give entertainment and Deaf awareness to the Benildean community, included the movies “The Hammer” and
“See what I’m Saying” with ORDEV A & B accredited.
One of the highlights of the BDA anniversary celebration was the BDA reunion party held in the Amphi Theater 12th
Floor in SDA Campus as the start of the closing program. The event was
attended by more than 50 participants including the BDA alumni, BDA
Officers and members from first batch to present, SDEAS faculties, and
some BAPDST students. Some names on the list of attendees were Mr. Raphy Domingo, former BDA Vice-President of First and second batch, the former presidents Ma. Anaditha Angcay (2nd batch), Rodolfo Iligan Jr. (3rd batch), and Justine Camille Javier (4th batch), SDEAS Faculties Ms. Diana Pria Banas, Mr. Ferdinand Vizmanos, Ms.
Rowella Tanjusay, Mr. Alvin Llanares, Ms. Mary Joy Reyes, and Ms. Maricris
Galang, and the BDA alumni & current officers and members Anna
Salvador, Marl Kelvin Marcial, John Alexis Abad, Beverly Sapno, Roejen
Fernandez, Gladys Bisnar, Abigail Ablaza, Morly Canta, Michael Lopez,
Nicolaus Alferez, Zaneta Franada, Nathaniel Macariola, Chiellsea
Manimbo, Angelica Abayan, Rastaman Landero, Mark Gil Punzal, Melvin
Sibay, Maria Elena Lozada, Jon Reuel Santos, and more.
Ana
Kristina Arce, the first BDA president, is currently studying World
Leadership Training in Gallaudet University in the United States of America.
Even though she was not around, she sent an inspirational message video
for the said event. She encouraged, commended, and saluted the BDA
efforts for continuing to serve and work hard for the common good of
every Deaf Benildean and Deaf community.
by: Ma. Jesusa Charisma Nofies
Edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes
