Department of Education Secretary Bro. Armin Lusitro, FSC engaged in an open dialogue with the Deaf community and Filipino Sign Language supporters last September 8, 2011 at the Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Pasig City. Congressman Tinio, ACT Partylist hosted the roundtable discussion regarding the medium of instruction to be used in Deaf education.
This is in response to Undersecretary Dr. Yolanda Quijano's declaration that Signed Exact English (SEE), a manually encoded adaptation of spoken English, should be used in public and private schools. However, the Philippine Federation for the Deaf and and the Philippine Deaf Resource Center believe that the Filipino Deaf community has its own culture, language and identity. In recognition of such, supporters advocate that Filipino Sign Language is the National Sign Language of the Deaf.
Participants included representatives from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde--Center for Access and Development (CEAD), School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS); Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI), Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD), Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children (SDEADC), Phil-Sports Federation of the Deaf, Inc. (PFSD), Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC); University of the Philippines--Anthropology Department, Department of Linguistics, College of Education. Sign and voice interpreters were present as well as members of the audience composed of hearing and Deaf students, organizations and community.
The roundtable discussion proved to be productive as Secretary Luistro, Atty Magtanggol "Magi" Guingundo, and Atty. Tinio became supportive of Filipino Sign Language for all. The DepEd will make a statement to recognize FSL as the National Sign Language and revise the earlier policy declared by Undersecretary Quijano.
This is in response to Undersecretary Dr. Yolanda Quijano's declaration that Signed Exact English (SEE), a manually encoded adaptation of spoken English, should be used in public and private schools. However, the Philippine Federation for the Deaf and and the Philippine Deaf Resource Center believe that the Filipino Deaf community has its own culture, language and identity. In recognition of such, supporters advocate that Filipino Sign Language is the National Sign Language of the Deaf.
Participants included representatives from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde--Center for Access and Development (CEAD), School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS); Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI), Philippine Federation of the Deaf (PFD), Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children (SDEADC), Phil-Sports Federation of the Deaf, Inc. (PFSD), Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC); University of the Philippines--Anthropology Department, Department of Linguistics, College of Education. Sign and voice interpreters were present as well as members of the audience composed of hearing and Deaf students, organizations and community.
The roundtable discussion proved to be productive as Secretary Luistro, Atty Magtanggol "Magi" Guingundo, and Atty. Tinio became supportive of Filipino Sign Language for all. The DepEd will make a statement to recognize FSL as the National Sign Language and revise the earlier policy declared by Undersecretary Quijano.
(Photos by Henry Lee Perey)
Representatives from Deaf and hearing organizations and schools with Valenzuela District Rep. Guingundo I, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Partylist Rep. Tinio and DepEd Secretary Bro. Luistro, FSC.
Mr. Esposa of MCCID-College of Technology interpreted what the Deaf leader said while Ms. Rivera relayed it for the Deaf audience in the back.
Rep. Gunigundo I, Sec. Bro. Luistro, FSC, Rep. Tinio,Usec. Quijano and SDEAS Dean Nicky Templo-Perez
The dialogue with the DepEd officials on the use of FSL as a medium of instruction in Deaf education was organized with help from Rep. Tinio.
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