Ultimo Adios in HK Deaf Festival

 The Second Hong Kong International Deaf Festival is a non-profit charity community art event for celebrating the talents of Deaf filmmaking artists.  It will be held at the HK Arts Centre, Hong Kong. It is organized by the Hong Kong Deaf Association. 

Ultimo Adios in Filipino Sign Language of Mirana Medina has been chosen as one of the official entries.

日期及時間 /Date & Time: 24/02   8pm

彩色 /Col /DVD /103mins

As the Tribute Film of the 20th International Day of Disabled Persons in China, Love Before Sunrise features the young Chinese Deaf actor Sung Xiubo in a love tragedy.  Mi Último Adiós (in English “My Last Farewell”) is the Signing version of the farewell poem written by Filipino national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal before his sacrifice to the brutal colonial rule. Music and the Sea, The $10,000 that Did Not Exist and Minority within the Minorities are winners of the Film Competition of the First Hong Kong International Deaf Film Festival.  Feeling the vibration of the sound from loudspeakers, a Deaf girl imagines dancing with her cyber-dating boyfriend in Music of the Sea. Two devils want to destroy the trust between a hard-of-hearing couple in The $10,000 that Did Not Exist.  Minority within the Minorities is a delicate twist between a Deaf girl and a Hearing girl.  In Whispering Hands, the Deaf waitress Glory with supernatural https://www.facebook.com/power wants to help a spirit called Carrie.  In Pelita Hati, Deaf guy Kelana visits a village and teaches a Deaf Aboriginal villager Damak the Sign language.

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After the launch of the Ultimo Adios in Filipino Sign Language, Zarah Escueta, the Shrine's curator sent this note:

A photo of the couple who watched the Ultimo Adios in FSL last
December 30 at the AVR of Fort Santiago and the note they wrote:

      We were deeply impressed by the presentation of the film of "Huling
      Paalam".  Very Touching and full of memories of the greatness of the
     last moments of this national hero.  Congratulations to the Commission
      and the most of "presentors" of the film.

                                   B.M. Villarias, P.S.Villarias

They were from US on a vacation for the the holiday.  They were teary
eyed while talking to me about the film, so touched.  

 
 

 

A Message of Hope: Ultimo in FSL Launched at the Rizal Shrine

 

By Joyce Dalawampu

    I found myself walking down 

    the cobbled streets of Intramuros on my way to   Rizal Shrine. 

    There's an air of reverence as I entered Fort Santiago as    
    preparations continued for the Celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of 
    Dr. Jose P. Rizal since June 19 of this year and the eve of the 115th 
    commemoration of our National Hero's Martyrdom. 

It is fitting indeed that the National Historic Commission of the Philippines in cooperation with Miryad Vision, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde   School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies officially launched the First - ever Interpretation of ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell / Huling Pahimakas) in Filipino Sign Language, by Filipino Independent Advocacy Filmmaker Mirana Medina last December 29, 2011. Most of the Deaf consultants and actors of the film are scholars of the school.

      Rizal’s prison cell was located 

    in the old pantry. It is in this room where  Rizal has supposedly written the 

    *Ultimo Adios* on the eve of his execution, which he hid in a lamp given to

    him by the *Pardo de Taveras*. The lamp  and a reproduction of the original 

    manuscript printed on a 9×15 centimeter paper are displayed in one of the 

    rooms on the second floor  of the Rizal Shrine where the launch was held. 

The purpose ofthe project is primarily to translate for the Deaf Filipino comunity, considered a cultural-linguistic minority group in the country, Dr. Jose Rizal's enduring work and serve the needs of the Deaf for access to communication.

The Programme, hosted by Rizal Shrine Curator Zarah Escueta

 

 The program started with the National Anthem and Our Lord's Prayer in Filipino performed by Silent Steps, SDEAS' Dance Ambassadors who also played a significant part in the film. Present were the the whole Production Team: Aldrin Gabriel, Deaf actor; Myra Medrana, Deaf choreographer; Cathy Genovia, AD/PM;  and Rem Vocalan; Jojo Sia, Production Assistant.

 

 Ceasar De Larazabal, Director for  Center for External Linkages, Alumni and Development of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde shared the significance of the Rizal Project with  DLS-CSB's work with Deaf people and the respect and use of Filipino Sign Language.

 

Mirana Medina introduces her film, Ultimo Adios in FSL. Interpreting for her and the whole program is

Ms Febe Sevilla and Mr Junjun Sevila (not in photo) 

Prof. Vim Nadera, Consultant, Director of UP Creative Writing Center, Now LIKHAAN:
Institute of Creative Writing. Prof. Nadera was one of the reactors after the film, nearly 15 minutes long with English subtitles for the hearing audience who emphasized the value of preserving culture through language.  

  

Raffy Domingo (Deaf) of DLS-CSB CEAD   agreed that this project would very much benefit the Deaf community through awareness and familiarization with the Filipino Sign Language.

Atty. Ramoncita Reyes, descendant of Saturnina Rizal, eldest sister of Dr. Jose Rizal closed the programme and spoke on behalf of the Rizal family. That ultimately, their Lolo Jose's last work is a message of hope rather
than of grieving for his eminent passing, the hope that present and future generations will not forget his legacy by continuing to do our part in loving our country and protecting our freedom

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Ultimo Adios in FSL was also chosen as official selection of the Second Hongkong International Deaf Film Festival to be screened on February 24, 2012. 

“The Launch of Project Rizal”

In commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary Dr. Jose P. Rizal on June 19, 2011, and as part of the celebrations of 100 years of Lasallian Presence in the Philippines and 20 Years of Lasallian Deaf Education, we have launched “Project Rizal” yesterday, June 21 at CSB School of Design and Arts (SDA) Cinema. 

The launching of Project Rizal featured “Mi Ultimo Adiós” (My Last Farewell / Huling Pahimakas) by Dr. Jose P. Rizal. It is the first-ever interpretation of his most famous poem in Filipino Sign Language (FSL), and the first in the series of five poems to be interpreted in FSL by different Deaf actors.  

 

The film starring Aldrin Gabriel was produced and directed by independent advocacy filmmaker Mirana Medina in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS). She was a former FSL student under the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program of SDEAS. Mirana is also the writer and director for Silent Odyssey, a documentary about Sign Language in the Philippines. 

The purpose of the project is pririmarily to translate for the Deaf Filipino community, considered a cultural-linguistic minority group in the country, Dr. Jose Rizal’s enduring and most popular poems in Filipino Sign Language. It shall definitely help in the perpetuation of his great thoughts, moods and feelings among Deaf Filipino youth. It is also the project’s aim to serve the needs of the Deaf for access to communication. 

The film, nearly 15 mins long is subtitled in English for the hearing audience. It is our belief that people’s exposure to sign language will help them in appreciating Deaf signs, and eventually, Deaf’s language and culture. Such awareness and familiarization hopefully will aid them in welcoming the Deaf as an integral part of our society.

The Programme started with a Prayer and then the National Anthem, both with performances by the Silent Steps under the Center for Deaf Esteem and Formation of SDEAS,

 

  Welcome Remarks was delivered by Ms. Mela Lazatin, DLS-CSB Vice Chancellor for Lassallian Mission and Student Life. 

 

Mirana Medina  thanked all those who came to attend the launching of the project, then called and introduced the members of her production team: Aldrin Gabriel, Deaf actor; Myra Medrana, Deaf choreographer; Cathy Genovia, AD/PM; the two cameramen, Dennis Balan (Deaf) and Rem Vocalan; Jojo Sia, Production Asst.,

Dr. Marie Therese Bustos, FSL Consultant; Febe Sevilla, interpreter and the members of the Silent Steps. She thanked them all for making the film possible. Dr. Manolet Gonzales and Atty. Ramoncita Reyes, descendants of Saturnina Rizal, eldest sister of Dr. Jose Rizal were also acknowledged as well as the presence of Bible Institute of the Deaf President, Sister Elena Castillo.

 

Before the film ULTIMO ADIOS was finally presented, portion of the coverage while FSL Consultant Raphy Domingo and Myra Medrana were undergoing a “Session with Vim Nadera” was shown so that the audience would know the process before the film was actually made. Prof. Nadera, a poet-writer, was the former director of UP Creative Wrting Center, now LIKHAAN: Institute of Creative Writing. He explained well and beautifully the meaning behind each line from the stanzas of Rizal’s poem after which Raphy finally came up with a poetic, not literal translation or interpretation of the stanza. Only then was the film “Mi Ultimo Adios” with closed caption was shown. The fully occupied cinema hall was quiet throughout the film showing. All were attentively watching the superb performance of Aldrin Gabriel. 

After that, Dr. Manolet Gonzalez, 4^th great grandson of Ms. Saturnina Rizal, was called in to deliver an inspirational message. 

Aldrin Gabriel shared his experience while practicing the interpretation of the poem. He said he felt the spirit of Rizal in him. But he said he didn’t really feel afraid but encouraged to do his best instead. 

 

Michael Lopez, a student from SDEAS-CSB then shared his reaction on the film, on how he get to understand the message of Ultimo Adiós better, and Rizal’s love for country. The host summarized and talked about the Dr. Jose Rizal’s values, works and how they can serve as subject of emulation by the Filipino Deaf Youth Community. 

We would like to thank everyone for joining us: the administrators, faculty, staff and students of DLS-CSB, representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, our invited guests from Deaf and Hearing community, school, press, the filmmaker and producers of Project Rizal. 

Most especially, we would like to thank the descendents of Ms. Saturnina Rizal, sister of Dr. Jose Rizal. We are privileged to have you with us.

In honor of Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s Sesquicentennial Birth Anniversary and La Sallian Deaf Education, the new generation of Deaf Filipino youth must continue to remember Dr. Rizal’s life to serve as our model, and that we ought to work with honor, and like him, to live in a meaningful way.

Article by: Mark Joseph D. Calbay, Deaf Advocacy Program Coordinator,

Center for Partnership and Development, School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

With reports by Mirana Medina, Independent Advocacy Filmmaker