3rd Deaf Education Weekend Seminar, Breaking the Silence: "Understanding Deaf Culture and Filipino Sign Language"

by Mackie Calbay

Following the Declaration of Undersecretary Dr. Yolanda Quijano that Signed Exact English (SEE), a manually encoded adaptation of spoken English, should be used in public and private schools, the Open Dialogue and roundtable discussion with the Department of Education proved to be productive as Secretary Luistro, Atty. 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.

The UP EDSP 129 (Curricular Provisions for Adolescents with Sensory & Physical Disabilities Class), Philippine Deaf Resource Center and Philippine Federation of the Deaf organized and set up a seminar on Deaf culture and FSL awareness and also learn about the Deaf Education. This was through the encouragement of Dr. Therese Bustos and the leadership of Paulina Marinda, Education Representative to the University Council, to meet the Deaf Community

This seminar activity is titled “3rd Deaf Education Weekend Seminar, Breaking the Silence: Understanding Deaf Culture and Filipino Sign Language recently on October 1, 2011 (Saturday) by 8:00am to 12:00nn at Benitez Theater, UP College of Education, Roxas Avenue, UP Diliman.

Culture by Dr. Nestor Castro

Deaf Culture by Mr. Rey Lee Alfred and Ms. Rowella Tanjusay

Participants attended from different schools, organizations, UP students and graduate students, Special Education (SPED) Teachers, etc. This program activity has the following list of topics and the UP students hosted and welcomed the guest speakers as well: Culture by Dr. Nestor Castro, Deaf Culture by Mr. Rey Lee Alfred and Ms. Rowella Tanjusay, Sign languages and Sign Systems by Dr. Liza Martinez and Yvette Apurado-Bernardo with comparison sign language on videos, Hearing and Deaf Views on Deaf Education by Dr. Therese Bustos and Mr. George Lintag, Multilingual Education-Mother-Tongue Based Education by Dr. Rolando “Ricky” Nolasco and Hon. Magtanggol "Magi" Guingundo, and Language Policies in Deaf Education by Raphael “Raphy” Domingo.

Sign languages and Sign Systems by Dr. Liza Martinez and Yvette Apurado-Bernardo with comparison sign language on videos

Deaf Relay for Mr. Ka Lauro Purcil

Multilingual Education-Mother-Tongue Based Education by Dr. Rolando “Ricky” Nolasco and Hon. Magtanggol "Magi" Guingundo

After the lectures, we had an open forum and the Closing Remarks and presentation of the short film Mi Ultimo Adios by Ms. Mirana Medina. The sign and voice interpreters present were Mr. Jojo Esposa, Ms. Jerlyn-Ann Villanueva, Ms. Ma. Veronica “Nicky” Templo-Perez and Dr. Therese Bustos. The seminar ended with the acknowledgements of the interpreters and distribution of Certificates of Attendance

Hearing and Deaf Views on Deaf Education by Dr. Therese Bustos and Mr. George Lintag

Language Policies in Deaf Education by Raphael “Raphy” Domingo

Presentation of the short film Mi Ultimo Adios by Ms. Mirana Medina

UP EDSP 129 class started an endeavor to have an awareness and understanding of Deaf Culture and FSL. They are now more than willing to support and sign the House Bill Signature campaign forms. We look forward to such events in other schools and organizations for the support and access for the Deaf in the Philippines.