SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program

SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program Feb 9,2009



SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program Feb 10,2009



SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program Feb 11,2009

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De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde welcomes Korea Nazarene University (KNU) in a cultural exchange program with the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) from February 8 to February 12, 2009.

Korea Nazarene University sent 18 delegates composed of 14 Deaf students, 2 faculty and 2 Korean Sign Language interpreters to learn about Filipino culture, Filipino Deaf Culture and the SDEAS programs.

SDEAS prepared activities that will facilitate interaction among students and faculty from both schools. An exhibit of the best works of SDEAS and KNU students can be viewed at the PEN-International Multimedia Learning Center lobby.

13 Korean students of DLS-CSB's Consular and Diplomatic Affairs Program volunteered as interpreters to translate spoken Korean to spoken English and vice versa. SDEAS and KNU are Post-secondary Education Network International (PEN-International) partner institutions.

Hand Y Craft

Hand Y Craft
A weaving of a partnership between the YES-Deaf and BUKAL Cooperative.

Hand Y Craft is a showcase of traditional to modern application of Filipino embroidery techniques in clothes. Women embroiderers from Lumban, Laguna embroidered intricate designs in traditional barongs and T-shirts to be modeled by Deaf students of the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS).

Hand Y Craft aims to open up livelihood opportunities and sustainable
business practice for local artisans of Lumban while staying true to their
traditions, culture and heritage.

The Youth Entreployment Support for the Deaf (YES-Deaf) Project of SDEAS with the Deaf Benildeans Multi-purpose Cooperative serves as the marketing arm of BUKAL Koop for their embroidery products.

Special guest is Mr. Rick Bennet who served as consultant for a similar socially responsive art & design project launched in May 2008 called
[re]frame Manila. The artwork is now on display at the foyer of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts Building.

About Rick Bennet
Rick Bennet is the founder and director of the Omnium Research Group and a professor of the College of Fine Arts in the University of New South Wales. Omnium is engaged in projects that are of community,
environment and social benefit including design work created for aid and support of Sri Lanka, Timor Leste and Kenya. He is also a visiting professor of the School for Design and Arts at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. As visiting professor, he was involved in the [re]frame Manila project, that brings traditional embroidery process into a new and modern context.

About BUKAL Koop
Bayanihan sa pagpaUnlad ng Kabuhayan at Lapian Multipurpose
Cooperative (Cooperation towards the development of livelihood and
organization) is a cooperative established by SADAMALU, Pinagkaisahang Magbuburda ng Lumban (PML), and the Business Skills Development and Resource Center (Microfinance Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde)

About the Deaf Benildeans Multi-purpose Cooperative
DBMC is the cooperative of students and alumni from the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Currently, they operate a coffee shop inside the campus and is the
marketing center of products created and developed by the Deaf. They are the beneficiaries of the Youth Entre-ployment Support for
the Deaf (YES-Deaf) Project, a project funded by AusAID’s
Philippines-Australia Community Assistance
Program (PACAP).

SDEAS joins For The Kids 2009

THE SUN HAS NOT YET RISEN at 5:30 am on January 18, 2009 but 26 students, faculty and staff of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) braved the cold early morning breeze to line up at the North Gate of De La Salle University-Manila. No, it is not enrollment day. It’s For The Kids 2009.

For The Kids is an annual mini-olympics for children with special needs organized by the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) of De La Salle University-Manila’s Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Effort (LOVE) Program. Every January, 600 children with special needs from different centers and schools gather at DLSU-Manila to play games such as softball throwing, standing long jump, running, marathon, relay, and basketball shooting.

SDEAS volunteers were assigned as “Ate” (sister) and “Kuya” (brother) of Deaf kids from Rosa L. Susano Elementary School. The day started with the celebration of the Holy Mass which was made more accessible to the Deaf participants and volunteers through the help of volunteer interpreters Ms. Rubylee De Castro and Mr. Leo Cabasag and Deaf Lectors Anaditha Angcay and Ana Arce. The Mass was a fitting celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño since For The Kids is a celebration of the uniqueness of Filipino children with special needs.

After the mass, the Deaf kids were excited to start joining the games assigned to them. The heat of the morning sun did not stop the kids and their assigned Ate and Kuya to join games such as Tennis Ball Throw (TBT), Standing Long Jump (SLJ), and 75-50-25 meter run. During breaks from the games, the children entertained the audience with their special performances. They performed with love which truly touched the hearts of the audience.

Even before lunch time, both the kids and Ates/Kuyas were already hungry from all the running and jumping at the open field. SDEAS’ very own DBMC Café catered the breakfast and lunch of SDEAS volunteers. The banana leaf-wrapped meals were gone in minutes as the volunteers satisfied their hungry stomachs. Over lunch, SDEAS students distributed bookmarks with sign alphabet which were eagerly received by parents of Deaf children and other volunteers.

There were more bonding opportunities in the afternoon as Ate/Kuya and the kids joined interactive games, told stories about each other’s lives and everyone’s favorite bonding activity --- getting their pictures taken at the Photo Booth!

By 3 p.m., Ates and Kuyas were very tired from taking care of the children but the happy smiles, hugs and kisses from the kids to show their appreciation for the loving service were more than enough to soothe away the tired muscles of everyone. Ates and Kuyas sent off the kids with the reminder to study hard, learn sign language and look forward to a bright future as their Deaf Ates and Kuyas await them at DLS-CSB SDEAS.

Photo and text contributor: John Jason Santos

Christmas Baking Class

Christmas Baking Class
SDEAS students and teachers attend baking class at SHRIM
By Cathy Alonso, SDEAS Faculty



Last Saturday of November 29, 2008, I, along with nineteen other participants (faculty and students) from SDEAS, attended the Baking Lessons sponsored by SHRIM’s Chefs In Progress (CHIP) as part of their Christmas Goodwill activities. The baking lessons were held at the 7th floor of AKIC building at promptly nine o’clock in the morning, with student Chefs Sarah Marcos and RV Manabat as our instructors.

The activities taught us how to bake three kinds of cakes for the holidays: Food for the Gods, Butter Scotch and Banana Cinnamon Cake. We were also taught how to roast chicken using three different kinds of herbs.

Everyone was so eager and I was lucky to be in the first group on the first long table because we were assigned to bake Food for the Gods. We let the students have first hand experience on how to mix the ingredients. It was amazing because they learned so fast and they need not be told twice what to do next on the other batch of cakes as the procedures were all similar to the first cake my group baked. The only exceptions were the ingredients they used in baking.

We had so much fun during the entire lessons especially before we put the cake in the oven and we had to drop the pan on the table which caused a loud banging sound. It was fortunate that most of us were Deaf participants so the noise didn’t bother us that much except that we’re sorry for our hearing friends. HAHAHA!

After baking pastries, we were taught how to do the Roast Chicken using different kinds of herbs: Rosemary, Taragon and Thyme. We were all elated at this last part of baking because we were quite sure we will end up eating the chicken afterwards.

The baking ended past twelve noon and student Chef RV gave us a copy of his cook book, “Gastronomy & I”. It was only at that time that I noticed that our instructor is a celebrity. We thanked both of our instructors and had our pictures taken.

The baking activities were very enriching as it were timely for this Christmas season. We can use the experience and start baking to either sell the cakes for profit or just give it away as Christmas presents to our family and friends.

We are very thankful to SHRIM for our wonderful baking lessons. I will never forget how very accommodating, kind and patient they were to us. We hope there will be other lessons like this in the future for this will benefit the students a lot and help them be more productive. However, I suggest that the next time there will be another activity like this, students and teachers should have separate lessons. Students can avail the free lessons but I think it will be good if the faculty will be tasked to pay for the ingredients since they have jobs and are already earning. That way, it will not be too much on SHRIM’s part. As faculty, we should also contribute something because we are so much blessed already to be given free lessons. I will never forget this and once again, thank you SHRIM for this enriching experience!

Photos courtesy of Lovella Catalan

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