IDEA’s Deaf Labor Force

IDEA Philippines is able to employ more than 100 deaf men and women in its various EIGPs  (Employment / Income Generating Projects), schools, and office.  It is now the second largest employer of the Deaf in the Philippines.  Hapee Toothpaste manufacturing company in Manila now holds the number one spot.
IDEA Philippines is very proud of its labor force.  Most of these people were at one time students supported by IDEA in elementary school and high school.  Along with their academic education they learned a trade and now have good jobs.

New patio being constructed at the Dao Diamond Hotel

Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines

IDEA Philippines continue improve and expand its EIGPs with the help and expertise of the talented men and women.  Even the seeming simple thing such as placing patio pavers takes skill.  Each paver was also hand made by a team of deaf men.  By the way, most these deaf employees are now married and supporting families of their own.

Pavers and Patio Video Link

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Hotel and Restaurant For Sale

In the spirit of the old saying, “nothing stays the same and change is inevitable”, IDEA continues to seek ways to improve its sustainability efforts through its Income Generating Projects. This means we must change with the times.

About 10 years ago, IDEA built a dormitory for the Jagna deaf elementary school children just across the street from the government elementary school.  Along with housing students we began operating a small restaurant and hotel in the same structure.  As time went on, it became apparent that we would be better to separate the business and the dormitory so we built a different building to house the students and converted the original structure into all hotel and restaurant known now as the IDEA Pension House and Garden Cafe Jagna.

Ten years later we are dealing with the difficulties of managing a business that is far from our main office in Tagbilaran.  Although the IDEA Pension House is a profitable enterprise, we have come to the conclusion that it would be better to sell the business and invest the proceeds in the expansion of the Dao Diamond Hotel and Restaurant in Tagbilaran City.  This is a much easier location to manage.

Tourism in Tagbilaran and the connected island of Panglao has EXPLODED.  Bohol has been the number one tourist destination in the Philippines for the past three years running.  There just aren’t enough hotel rooms in Tagbilaran to accommodate all the visitors.  Dao Diamond has also carved out a niche for itself catering to Local Government Units (LGUs,) and non-profit organizations with live-in seminars.

So, although we have an emotional attachment to IDEA Pension and many wonderful memories, time marches on and opportunity knocks.  It would be to the advantage of the buyer to retain the very well trained employees as well as the very popular menu.  This is a turn-key operation.  Someone will get a very good deal when they buy this business.  If the Jagna employees are not retained, IDEA’s Dao Diamond will be able to absorb most of them in the new expanded hotel.

Please click on the link below to watch a video about the IDEA Pension House and Garden Cafe Jagna.

JAGNA VIDEO

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Silent Sunday in Bohol

Tagbilaran City, Bohol has a pretty large Deaf community.  By far, the majority of these deaf attend the Catholic Church as do about 90 % of all Filipinos outside of Southern and Central Mindanao.  The other 10% of the population attend various Protestant churches.  The Tiptip Deaf Church in Tagbilaran represents only a handful of Independent Protestant Christian churches in the whole Philippines that cater exclusively to the Deaf.  The congregation in this beautiful little church runs between 30 to 50 members on any given Sunday.  One Sunday of each month features a fellowship meal before the service and has been know to attract over 100 deaf persons from the community.

Many Deaf in Tagbilaran have married and now have hearing children so that the Tiptip Deaf Church is planning to add children’s Sunday School so that whole families can attend.  In addition the church will begin focusing on activities to make the services more relevant to men.

Click on the link below to view a video of a typical Sunday service.

Tiptip Deaf Church Video

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ADVENTURE IN BOHOL

Adventure Church team with teachers and students at Loon Central Elementary School, Bohol Philippines

The youth from Adventure Community Church in Duvall Washington came to Bohol this past July.  Shortly after the team arrived in Tagbilaran, they were asked what their expectations for the trip were.  They responded that they only wanted to serve and were open to how God would use them.  They were not disappointed with their experience here and left a lasting positive impression on many people.  During their two weeks on Bohol, they presented the Gospel in drama form in many places and to many groups.  They helped out at IDEA’s Bohol Deaf Academy with putting in a large vegetable garden, painting of dormitories and the constructing an erosion control trench on the campus to minimize damage to some of the buildings.

As was observed by the IDEA staff and Dao Diamond staff, each of these team members were also on inner spiritual journeys during this two weeks.

It was a joy to have the team visit IDEA and we are so grateful for their willingness to share their energy and hearts with us.   We look forward to seeing them all again someday.

A special thanks to Judy and Wes Robbie for bringing the group over.  Wes currently serves as one of IDEA’s Board Members and both Judy and Wes served as missionaries here in Bohol with IDEA for three years.

Visit the Adventure Community Church blog to see a video clip and many more photos of their trip.  Just click on the link below.

Adventure Community Church

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Hearing Aids Anyone?

We were so happy to welcome Dr. Gene Bukowski to Bohol.  As a doctor of audiology and a board member of IDEA, Dr. Gene has taken a keen interest in helping us set up a complete audiology clinic.  With a great deal of help from CBM International and the Honolulu Rotary Club, IDEA Philippines was able to put up a new building in a suitably quiet place near IDEA’s Dao Diamond Hotel.   Dr. Gene, along with Starkey Labs, Dr. Darrell Mickey, CBM International and Gary Kidder donated equipment and aids to make sure we have a well equipped facility.

Click on the link below to watch a short video about the clinic.

HEARING CLINIC VIDEO

Help For A Teacher

Meaghan in the center with the head teacher and some of the older deaf students.

Meaghan Shanahan served as a volunteer for a month this summer in one of the prep classrooms for the Deaf in the town of Loon, Bohol, Philippines.  Meaghan came to IDEA from Hawaii but has been working toward her teaching degree in Virginia and had some training in sign language.  This was one of those cases when everybody were winners because the kids loved Meaghan and Meaghan loved the kids.  Everyone really appreciated Meaghan’s attitude and her work with the little kids.  She was also able to spend some time with the Adventure Community Church team and formed some new friendships.  Thanks for the help Meaghan.

Cindy, Meaghan’s co-teacher in the prep classroom

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