San Isidro Parish Welcomes the SDEAS Deaf Community

For the first time interpreted masses were held at the San Isidro Parish in Taft Avenue Pasay City last October 21, 2007. And thru the efforts of students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) these interpreted masses continue to this day. The second year Deaf students (E2A and E2B) under Ms. Maria Teresa Buenaventura’s RECONSE (Religion and Contemporary Search for the Self) classes have taken the responsibility of organizing and coordinating this effort.

The interpreted mass every Sunday, 8:45 -10 am continues to accommodate SDEAS Deaf students, alumni, faculty and even some friends from CAP College, School for the Deaf. Ma. Teresa Buenaventura says the idea behind these efforts is to make Sunday church services accessible to those living near the Taft Ave. area. Ms. Tess urged her Deaf students to help build the Deaf community by serving their spiritual needs. Ma'am Tess is also a volunteer.

The students organize and coordinate all the requirements for the interpreted masses. What used to be a big dream continues to come true.

SDEAS faculty members turned church outreach volunteers like Ms. Noemi Lacambacal, Ms. Nicky Perez, Ms. Agnes Canayon, Ms. Rubylee De Castro, Mr. John Baliza and Mr. Leo Cabasag serve as sign language interpreters while Deaf Faith Formator Mr. John Paolo Trinidad serve as reader.

The parents are also helping, one of the parents donated a reading stand (the parent is actually this writer’s mom). Another parent (Mrs. de Leon) donated “reserved” signages for Deaf mass goers. This project falls within the La Sallian Ministry for the Deaf (LMPD). The first celebrator of the interpreted masses at San Isidro was Fr. Job Padayattil from India

Below is the interview I have made with Fr. Job :

Ana: Was this your first time to see a Deaf community?

Fr. Job: “I have met many deaf people before. But I am meeting Deaf people as a community for the first time. Even though I had seen a Deaf community near De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, when I became the celebrant for your masses, I felt how spiritually very enriching to see your participation in mass. Always the community had been an inspiration for me. How you face the challenges in your life is quite amazing.”

Ana: How did you feel when you see the Deaf community every Sunday during the mass?

Fr. Job: “Dear Deaf friends, I am very happy to see you for my mass. You fill my heart with joy. I really see your enthusiasm and your deep faith. Many who have all blessings do not realize the value of the blessings they have. I know all of you realize the value of all the blessings you have as you lack one blessing of hearing. But you are only physically deaf. You are all spiritually able to hear. Many people in the world can physically hear, but are spiritually deaf. It is better to spiritually able to hear than, being only able to hear physically and spiritually deaf.

God will certainly reward you for your spiritual hearing (hearing Jesus' inner voice, talking to you.) I hope all of you can hear it. That is why you are an inspiration for me. The way you read, sing (through sign language) ... all really touches me. I know you are inspiring all other churchgoers there. Your smiles, genuine love etc... are so visible to me. God loves you all. I too love you all. God loves you more than other people, because He has preferential option for the less fortunate (in your case, as you are not fortunate to hear). He loves you always. He will guide you and all of you will achieve much blessings just because you are faithful to Him. That is why I say "You are an inspiration! Please continue to be inspiring others to Love God".”

Ana: What do you wish for the Deaf community?

Fr. Job: “I wish for the Deaf community to love each other in the community. Support each other. You can understand each other better than anyone else. And I know all of you have inner pains. Some may have sadness and anger because of the condition. I pray for them to heal that pain and they are able to overcome all obstacles. Some may have already accepted it as a God's gift.

I believe even your deafness is a God's gift to you. Accept it as his gift and Thank Jesus for being Deaf. There is a plan for God, making you deaf... we do not know it yet! but God will reveal to you "why" later. Keep praising him, keep thanking him, believe in God. Second, would be to believe in your self. When God does not give certain gift, he compensates it by giving other gifts. God has compensated you with other gifts.

I don’t know what they are. You have to find them out and improve them. You have many gifts and talents. You can be more loving, more sympathetic... to suffering humanity.....by sharing the gifts which God has given you. And I believe that some of you will be great and famous one day. And some of you will touch the hearts of many. And you are already inspiring many. I am also proud of you, how you could defeat the obstacles which were on your way and you were able to manage well and have good achievements.”

Ana: Thank you very much for your kind words.

Fr. Job: You are welcome and God bless you always.

(Ana Arce)

La Salle University Deaf School held Deaf Recollection

OZAMIZ CITY, November 15, 2008─Aiming to strengthen their spirituality, 45 hearing-impaired teenagers from Iligan City, La Salle University (LSU), Ozamiz City, the Columban priests-run Hangop Kabataan, Pagadian City and the Columban Sisters-run Community of Hope Special Education Center this city, gathered for a two-day recollection November 13-14.

LSU Deaf School Coordinator Sarah Talibong said the Recollection for the Deaf is part of the celebration of the 2008 National Observance on Deaf Awareness Week with the theme “Ano DAW? Deaf Ako Walang Hadlang” on November 9–15, 2008.

The recollection for the Deaf being held at the LSU Retreat Center this city with the theme: “Deaf Unity with God: Source of Reconciliation and Peace” had Bro. Dennis Libarnes, PMS, from the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf, Cebu City as their retreat master.

“Each day had various activities with special emphasis on the spiritual formation for the deaf,” Talibong said.

She added the ministry of the Gualandi Mission for the DEAF is to help the spiritual formation of the DEAF. Libarnes used sign language during the recollection.

The highlight of the recollection was the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation of the individual Deaf participants from LSU Spiritual Director Fr. Regidor Abalde.

“During the confession the Deaf wrote their sins on a piece of paper and the priest read it and after the confession was the ritual or para-liturgy where they put their sins in a clay jar for burning,” Talibong said.

The recollection for the Deaf culminated with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Abalde at La Salle University Art Center and Bro. Libarnes interpreted the Mass in sign language.

“Religious formation for the Deaf is vital because it is a way of helping them to have fear in God and live in the right direction,” (Sarah Talibong)

La Salle University Deaf School held Deaf Recollection

OZAMIZ CITY, November 15, 2008─Aiming to strengthen their spirituality, 45 hearing-impaired teenagers from Iligan City, La Salle University (LSU), Ozamiz City, the Columban priests-run Hangop Kabataan, Pagadian City, and the Columban Sisters-run Community of Hope Special Education Center gathered together for a two-day recollection last November 13-14, 2008.

LSU Deaf School Coordinator Sarah Talibong said that the recollection for the Deaf was a part of the celebration of the 2008 National Observance on Deaf Awareness Week with the theme “Ano DAW? Deaf Ako, Walang Hadlang” last November 9–15, 2008.

The recollection for the Deaf that was held at the LSU Retreat Center with the theme: “Deaf Unity with God: Source of Reconciliation and Peace” had Bro. Dennis Libarnes, PMS, from the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf, Cebu City as their retreat master.

“Each day had various activities with special emphasis on the spiritual formation for the deaf,” Talibong said.

She added that the ministry of the Gualandi Mission for the DEAF is to help the spiritual formation of the DEAF. Libarnes used sign language during the recollection.

The highlight of the recollection was the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation of the individual Deaf participants from LSU Spiritual Director Fr. Regidor Abalde.

“During the confession, the Deaf wrote their sins on a piece of paper for the priest to read. After the confession was the ritual of para-liturgy where they put their sins in a clay jar for burning,” Talibong said.

The recollection for the Deaf culminated with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Abalde at La Salle University Art Center while Bro. Libarnes interpreted the Mass in sign language.

“Religious formation for the Deaf is vital because it is a way of helping them to have fear in God and live in the right direction,” (Sarah Talibong).

edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes

14th Deaf Festival Kicks Off with a Deaf Mass

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) students, faculty, alumni and members of the school community welcomed the 14th Deaf Festival with the celebration of a Deaf Mass on November 17, 2008 at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzales Theater.

Fr. Anthony Riosa,SSS, was the officiating priest and was supported by SDEAS students who work in the Lasallian Ministry for Deaf People (LMDP): Khia Yumul, Nanie Calagos, Beverely Sapno, Raniel and Donald Magno. Ms. Tess Buenvantura served as the interpreter.


SDEAS’ Silent Steps Performing Arts Group composed of Jonathan San Juan, Mary Grace Arcilla, Lynn Cappal, Daisyielynne Reyes, Costa Rica Quindipan, Rodelio Ebuinga, Rochelle, Kelvin Anonvevo, Rodolfo Iligan Jr. and John Alexis Abad interpreted the songs “Bayan Umawit,” “Prayer,” and “Gloria”.

The Deaf Community offered heartfelt prayers for thanksgiving and gratitude to God on this day and for the realization of the 14th Deaf Festival’s theme: “Rediscovering and Valuing Strong Filipino Deaf History, Identity and Culture.”

14th Deaf Festival

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REVILLA FILES CLOSED CAPTION BILL

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.
12 November 2008

REVILLA FILES CLOSED CAPTION BILL

To ensure equal access of deaf Filipinos to public information, Senator Bong Revilla today filed a bill that would require all,televis!on ne!works to put closed captions in their news programs.
In his speech during the National Conference on Sustainable Partnership1for Deaf Transformation held today (Wednesday, November 12, 2008) at the Ople Hall of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the senator said there is an estimated 4.5 million deaf Filipinos, most of them poor,who have no access to programs that will help them realize their full potentials. "This is a very sad reality and government makes it worse by turning a blind eye to this fact. Thisis our biggest hurdle, and we will transcend this if we, the private sector and the government, work
together and share in this responsibility," said Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media.

Revilla stressed that all Filipinos should have equal rights guaranteed under the Constitution. "One of these rights that particularly elude the deaf is access to information. We must uphold Section . 7 of our Constitution that says the right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized," he explained.

In pushing for an equal access to public information of deaf and hard of hearing Filipinos, Revilla simultaneously filed Senate Bill 2872 that would oblige all franchise holders or operators of television networks or stations and producers of television news programs to have these news programs broadcast with closed caption.
Closed-captioning refers to the method of subtitling television programs by coding statements as vertical interval data signal that are decoded at the receiver and superimposed at the bottom of the television screen.

Under the bill, any owner or operator of television networks or stations and any producer of television news programs who shall violate the requirement shall be punished by a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OOo) or ,by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or any other judicial person, the president, manager, administrator or the person-in-charge of the management of the business shall be liable therefore. In addition, the license or permit to operate the business shall be cancelled.
~~
"The passage of this bill will address the constitutional mandate for the state to recognize the basic right of the people to information on matters of public concern," Revilla pointed out. (30)

12 SDEAS Students Recognized in Honors Convocation

One SDEAS student ranked 9th overall in DLS-CSB

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) recognized twelve (12) School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) students who were consistently part of the Benildean Honor Roll from first to third term of School Year 2007-2008 during the Honors Convocation held at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Building last July 25, 2008.

The 12 students who were recognized (ranked from highest to lowest) are: Ana Kristina Arce, Raymond Manding, Raphael Domingo, Anaditha Angcay, Nadine Calagos, Jocelyn Tamayao, Aaron Bernard Jao, John Alexis Abad, Jerene Justiniano, Mark Jay Bilaro, Katherine Arjona, and Felice Noelle Ferido.

Arce is a trailblazer in the history of SDEAS when she ranked 9th overall among the Honor Students of DLS-CSB. She had a grade point average (GPA) of 3.75. This is the first time that an SDEAS student became part of the Top 10 students with Academic Honors in the whole DLS-CSB.



edited by: Marina Viktoria De Los Reyes