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.”