Caya Consunji: Proud to be a Deaf Kababayan

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies invited the Benildean community to another special screening of the First-ever Interpretation in Filipino Sign Language of Ultimo Adios by Dr. Jose P Rizal last Jan. 13 at the SDA Cinema



Mirana Medina's film was recently launched at the Rizal Shrine last Dec 29 on the occasion of the 115th death commemoration for our National hero, Jose Rizal. It has also been accepted to the 2nd Hong Kong International Deaf Film Festival this February.Ms Caya Consunji, a Deaf descendant of Rizal, was the guest of honor and warmly shared her insights about her family.

Welcoming remarks from Ms. Febe Sevilla

Consunji shares, "I didn't grow up in the Philippines. That means I did not grow up with the other Filipinos who respect my Lolo Jose Rizal. I was not able to participate in the events of Rizal that happen each year at his birthday on June 19th and his death on December 30th. Growing up in the US has allowed me to witness how admired Dr. Jose Rizal is even in other countries. I have seen plaques dedicated to him in San Francisco, in Chicago, in Paris, France and in Mexico City. I hope to see more plagues to Rizal in other countries because like Rizal who loves to travel, I love to travel too.

I am a sixth generation Rizal. I am a direct descendant of Narcisa Rizal, the sister who got the lamp from Jose Rizal with the poem "Mi Ultimo Adios". It is a great honor and privilege to be part of Rizal family as it taught us to carry a lot of responsibility. My parents and lola always reminded us of this responsibility.





Rizal taught us many things. One of these things was to stand up for the oppressed. Remember his quote, I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen" He died fighting for freedom and equality for the Filipino. He also taught us to fight for what is right and never be afraid as long as what we are doing was right.

Rizal made decisions that were sometimes bad for him and his family, but good for the country. Those are very difficult decisions. Luckily we do not face those decisions anymore because of a foreign power.






But now we still have to make our own decisions in this country between doing something wrong that will benefit us but will be bad for the country or doing the right thing that will help improve the lives of our people. If we apply the values and teachings of Rizal to these decisions, we will always know what is the right thing to do. Let us remember Rizal always in our hearts and minds and also actions. He loved the Filipino and the Philippines."

The guest of honor was very much willing to answer the audience's questions.

Mr. Leo Sulse, SDEAS Chairperson for Academics, presents a copy of the short film
as a token of appreciation.


Ms. Caya was overwhelmed by the positive feedback.

Students share...


Patrick Silver Padao"I was surprised to see Ms.Caya here in the Philippines because I really wanted to know who are the real relatives of our National Hero Dr.Jose Rizal. It was nice to see her and know her who is a Deaf relative of Rizal. It seems like we are proud having deaf relatives of Dr. Rizal. It was amazing that she is planning to teach in DLS-CSB SDEAS. Its a good effort for her to share to the other Deaf community who she is. "Proud to be a Deaf Kababayan"

Abigail Ablaza from E3-A."Last Friday, I attended the THE LAST FAREWELL Program and Deaf Guest Caya, a descendants of Rizal, 6th General of Rizal's Family. I couldn't wait too to see her since I learned a lot about her from my JOSERIZ professor, Mrs. Febe Sevilla. When this program started to call her to stand to speak for us. I didn't take off my eyes on her as if I was proud of her being a Deaf person of descendent of Rizal. She spoke in nature sign language and made me so touched that saying Rizal's Family's teaching for descendants who related to Rizal's blood is to make them remembering so hard, saying "Please continue to have nurture of our Filipino Culture, Value, and Identity, to have freedom with responsible for the country, Philippines, which related the blood of Filipino, to have rights to equality with other people." It seemed like Jose Rizal's teaching in book we have read and I can't forget those message from Caya."

Michael A. Lopez. Sophomore "Last Friday, January 13, 2012 at SDA Cinema, I was interested in listening to Ms. Febe Sevilla who related what she knew about Caya Consunji, the sixth generation of Rizal Family. At this, she said: "Years ago I saw Caya Consunji sing music orally, but I did not know that she was an offspring of Rizal. As a professor of JOSERIZ, I was curious about the deaf descendant of Rizal. I found that that was Caya Consunji by hearing the secret revealed by my Deaf friend. I realized that someone who is part of Rizal's offspring must keep the secret because in case he/she brags about this, he/she will be embarrassed by his/her failure to imitate the way Jose Rizal can accomplish. I am very excited to see Caya Consunji." Afterwards, I was watching the film which sings "Mi Ultimo Adios" using Filipino Sign Language for the third time as I did in CCP. This inspiring interpretation understood could reach my heart and made me shed a single tear. Subsequently, Mackie Calbay invited Caya Consunji to express what she reacted to the film and share how she knew Jose Rizal in the front of audience. In her childhood, she did not know much about Jose Rizal because the schools in the U.S. provided information about how the Philippines achieved independence, however, it eluded the information about Jose Rizal who had traveled around America. I wonder why the countries which displayed the statues of Rizal have no record of Rizal's great achievements in the educational books, especially The History of the World books. Yet, I am very grateful to Caya Consunji for her time to visit and share everything related to our national hero."

Special Viewing: Mi Ultimo Adios in FSL

Ultimo Adios in HK Deaf Festival

 The Second Hong Kong International Deaf Festival is a non-profit charity community art event for celebrating the talents of Deaf filmmaking artists.  It will be held at the HK Arts Centre, Hong Kong. It is organized by the Hong Kong Deaf Association. 

Ultimo Adios in Filipino Sign Language of Mirana Medina has been chosen as one of the official entries.

日期及時間 /Date & Time: 24/02   8pm

彩色 /Col /DVD /103mins

As the Tribute Film of the 20th International Day of Disabled Persons in China, Love Before Sunrise features the young Chinese Deaf actor Sung Xiubo in a love tragedy.  Mi Último Adiós (in English “My Last Farewell”) is the Signing version of the farewell poem written by Filipino national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal before his sacrifice to the brutal colonial rule. Music and the Sea, The $10,000 that Did Not Exist and Minority within the Minorities are winners of the Film Competition of the First Hong Kong International Deaf Film Festival.  Feeling the vibration of the sound from loudspeakers, a Deaf girl imagines dancing with her cyber-dating boyfriend in Music of the Sea. Two devils want to destroy the trust between a hard-of-hearing couple in The $10,000 that Did Not Exist.  Minority within the Minorities is a delicate twist between a Deaf girl and a Hearing girl.  In Whispering Hands, the Deaf waitress Glory with supernatural https://www.facebook.com/power wants to help a spirit called Carrie.  In Pelita Hati, Deaf guy Kelana visits a village and teaches a Deaf Aboriginal villager Damak the Sign language.

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After the launch of the Ultimo Adios in Filipino Sign Language, Zarah Escueta, the Shrine's curator sent this note:

A photo of the couple who watched the Ultimo Adios in FSL last
December 30 at the AVR of Fort Santiago and the note they wrote:

      We were deeply impressed by the presentation of the film of "Huling
      Paalam".  Very Touching and full of memories of the greatness of the
     last moments of this national hero.  Congratulations to the Commission
      and the most of "presentors" of the film.

                                   B.M. Villarias, P.S.Villarias

They were from US on a vacation for the the holiday.  They were teary
eyed while talking to me about the film, so touched.  

 
 

 

A Message of Hope: Ultimo in FSL Launched at the Rizal Shrine

 

By Joyce Dalawampu

    I found myself walking down 

    the cobbled streets of Intramuros on my way to   Rizal Shrine. 

    There's an air of reverence as I entered Fort Santiago as    
    preparations continued for the Celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of 
    Dr. Jose P. Rizal since June 19 of this year and the eve of the 115th 
    commemoration of our National Hero's Martyrdom. 

It is fitting indeed that the National Historic Commission of the Philippines in cooperation with Miryad Vision, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde   School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies officially launched the First - ever Interpretation of ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell / Huling Pahimakas) in Filipino Sign Language, by Filipino Independent Advocacy Filmmaker Mirana Medina last December 29, 2011. Most of the Deaf consultants and actors of the film are scholars of the school.

      Rizal’s prison cell was located 

    in the old pantry. It is in this room where  Rizal has supposedly written the 

    *Ultimo Adios* on the eve of his execution, which he hid in a lamp given to

    him by the *Pardo de Taveras*. The lamp  and a reproduction of the original 

    manuscript printed on a 9×15 centimeter paper are displayed in one of the 

    rooms on the second floor  of the Rizal Shrine where the launch was held. 

The purpose ofthe project is primarily to translate for the Deaf Filipino comunity, considered a cultural-linguistic minority group in the country, Dr. Jose Rizal's enduring work and serve the needs of the Deaf for access to communication.

The Programme, hosted by Rizal Shrine Curator Zarah Escueta

 

 The program started with the National Anthem and Our Lord's Prayer in Filipino performed by Silent Steps, SDEAS' Dance Ambassadors who also played a significant part in the film. Present were the the whole Production Team: Aldrin Gabriel, Deaf actor; Myra Medrana, Deaf choreographer; Cathy Genovia, AD/PM;  and Rem Vocalan; Jojo Sia, Production Assistant.

 

 Ceasar De Larazabal, Director for  Center for External Linkages, Alumni and Development of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde shared the significance of the Rizal Project with  DLS-CSB's work with Deaf people and the respect and use of Filipino Sign Language.

 

Mirana Medina introduces her film, Ultimo Adios in FSL. Interpreting for her and the whole program is

Ms Febe Sevilla and Mr Junjun Sevila (not in photo) 

Prof. Vim Nadera, Consultant, Director of UP Creative Writing Center, Now LIKHAAN:
Institute of Creative Writing. Prof. Nadera was one of the reactors after the film, nearly 15 minutes long with English subtitles for the hearing audience who emphasized the value of preserving culture through language.  

  

Raffy Domingo (Deaf) of DLS-CSB CEAD   agreed that this project would very much benefit the Deaf community through awareness and familiarization with the Filipino Sign Language.

Atty. Ramoncita Reyes, descendant of Saturnina Rizal, eldest sister of Dr. Jose Rizal closed the programme and spoke on behalf of the Rizal family. That ultimately, their Lolo Jose's last work is a message of hope rather
than of grieving for his eminent passing, the hope that present and future generations will not forget his legacy by continuing to do our part in loving our country and protecting our freedom

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Ultimo Adios in FSL was also chosen as official selection of the Second Hongkong International Deaf Film Festival to be screened on February 24, 2012. 

Naming Unsung Heroes: Sendong Volunteers

We would like to acknowledge Deaf faculty, staff and student volunteers who gave extra loving care and time  in the collection and packing of the boxes for Sendong survivors. 

Mylene Dela Cruz, Jerene Justiniano, Ma. Anaditha Angcay, Kristina Dilay, Bryan Bondoc, Emmanuel Felipe Jabrica, Morly Canta, Angelica Abayan, Grace Anne Pico, Mary Rosevie Samarista, Michael Lopez, Marie Genalyn Mones, Maria Elena Lozada Basil De Leon, Ariscel Lobo, Alvin Llandones, Sabrina Ventigan, Rastaman Landero, Patrick Silver Padao, Justine Camille Javier,Jose Dela Torre Rommar Bueno

Most of them are members of the Benildean Deaf Association and the Deafies Club.

We had initial problems on how to send and distribute the boxes to the affected PWD communities. But always, we have angels who made sure the boxes get to where it is intended to. Thanks to Br. Mikey Chua and Pie Palpallatoc for facilitating the LSGH pick-up, Br. Manny Sia,  Noia Mendoza, Jason Arboleda, Shiela Vitug, Sarah Talibong, Rhonda Reyes, Br. Richie Yap and Br Raffy Reyes.

We still have a lot of unnamed heroes. Always grateful:)

PWD Communities Affected by Sendong

Here are the PWD communities we helped:

Differently Abled Persons (DAP) Association , Opol, Misamis Oriental
*Initial reports they have sent, claims that there are 100 PWDs living in the area that were affected. We sent financial help to the organization. Below is their letter of acknowledgement.

Dumaguete Effata Association of the Deaf
*Includes Iligan and Dumaguete
*17 Deaf people with their families were reported affected by Sendong. 5 members of the groups lost their homes.
*Thank you, Katie for the accounting and  receipts on how the financial help sent was used.
Here are some pictures of their relief operations:

 

Cagayan de Oro thru Hazel Bual 
A list of Deaf people numbering to 25 was reported to have lost their homes or properties (due to flooding). Report was sent through Rey Lee, President of the Philippine Federation for the Deaf and through Raffy Domingo.

photo credits : Anreaf de veas and John Mark Santos

From Facebook: He said "Andref L. de Veas we are so safe my place.... but the problem wala light since last friday night brownout until now and also wala tubig... :(((.. it is alright... we just walk and see.."

JOHN MARK SANTOS  works as deaf minister in deaf ministry

in CDO

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We continue to seek for your financial help to help rebuild houses and livelihood lost by People with Disabilities.Please send them through the account of Deaf Benildeans Multipurpose Cooperative BPI Vito Cruz C/A 2771-0017-02. Please text 0917-8698231 or email deaf.partnernships@benilde.edu.ph indicating name, amount for proper acknowledgement and accounting.