Play Off Teams

Bohol Deaf Academy (BDA) sponsored a second annual basketball tournament this November.  Two other private high schools as well as deaf teams from IDEA’s Office and Construction Crew, Dao Diamond Hotel, and Garden Café all joined the fray.

The event was held on BDA’s campus at the amphitheater style court.  Because much of the audience were deaf, the cheering was not all that audible but the energy was off the charts.  As the play by play commentator(obviously only for the hearing audience)  announced over the PA system near the end of the final game, “The crowd is going crazy”, but it was a quiet type of crazy for sure.

The final game was between the IDEA Crew and the Dao Diamond Hotel Crew with the IDEA Crew winning only by one (1) point. It was a real cliff hanger.

IDEA Crew consisting of; construction workers, drivers, and office workers
Dao Diamond Crew consisting of; cooks, maintenance workers, and drivers.

The half time entertainment featured a wonderful dance routine by three BDA students and also a short skit by two other students.
There was a one hour break between the final two games when the defending team needed to take a rest so an exhibition basketball game was played between the ladies from Dao Diamond Hotel and the ladies from the IDEA Philippines Office.  What a hoot.  The crowd was on its feet for much of the match and this time the laughter from both the deaf and hearing was a load.

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Jimmy and Rezel with Jimmy Junior

If ever there was a story that could remind us of why IDEA exists, it would be that of Jimmy & Rezel.

Today they are a happy, loving couple with a handsome baby boy. They are employed, financially independent, educated, confident in their decisions, and decided on their ambitions. It hasn’t always been like this; however, and both have traveled a long way to get to this point. Here is their story.

Jimmy was born in the town of Jagna, on coastal Bohol, to a farming father and a stay-at-home mother. His father owned little land and regularly struggled to provide enough food for his family; Jimmy learned to be hungry at an early age. His mother was protective of him and very aware that people would not be so kind to her deaf son; therefore, she kept him hidden inside their house. He spent many hours there in solitude. At the age of six, his mother enrolled him in an IDEA supported special education program. Jimmy had never been apart from her and was scared at first, but soon, through the patient understanding of his teacher and the companionship provided by the other deaf children, he began to flourish.

At the age of seven, Jimmy’s wife, Rezel, recalls being tormented by the neighborhood boys whenever she would go out. They harassed her, called her stupid, crazy and even made crude sexual gestures at her expense. She was Deaf, and therefore, unacceptable in their eyes. Despite all of her parents love and affection, she felt incredibly cut-off and alone. They soon put her in a hearing elementary school, but less than a year later her teacher forced her out citing that Rezel was just too stupid to be in school. Her parents remained undaunted; they knew that their daughter had great capacity for learning. That’s when IDEA staff visited the family and enrolled her in IDEA supported special education classes. She stayed in an IDEA dorm, met other deaf children and, for the first time, no longer felt isolated. She learned sign language, how to read, write, count, and continued up through the grades as a stellar student. During high school she worked part time at Garden Café, an IDEA income generating project, in order to help out her parents. She graduated high school with honors and immediately began working full time with IDEA. She was then financially able to support both her parents and her two siblings. Rezel still works for IDEA and continues to be a star employee.

In 1998 Jimmy was hired on at Garden Café’s Jagna branch but was soon fired due to a drinking problem. He then met Rezel and sobered-up permanently. IDEA management saw the change and rehired him, and so began Jimmy’s now 12 year career with IDEA. Jimmy and Rezel dated and got married. They both had jobs, friends, money to support their relatives, and were ready and excited to start a family of their own. For the next year they tried, but to no avail. Disappointed and close to giving up hope, Rezel met Ellen Freed, a volunteer, who encouraged her to see a reproductive health doctor. There they discovered a cyst on one of her ovaries. She needed surgery, but it was far too expensive; so IDEA loaned them the amount. Rezel had surgery and not long afterward was able to conceive and give birth to their son, Jimmy Junior.

Jimmy and Rezel responsibly paid off their loan and are now saving for their next dream: to own a home. IDEA is hoping to fulfill their ambition. IDEA is in the midst of establishing a housing community with its employees. In cooperation with the local government, IDEA will build houses on lots and give employees the opportunity to own their own land and pay on it slowly over time. This is an unheard of concept in a place where most people build homes on land that they do not own and could never afford.

IDEA is proud of Jimmy and Rezel. Their story and their lives are a reminder of why we do, what we do. It is because of the many stories just like this that IDEA continues to serve the Deaf here in Bohol and Leyte.

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Celine, Bohol Deaf Academy’s entrepreneur teacher, recently helped the students come up with a truly home made product.  With absolutely no machinery, the kids turn out a creamy style peanut butter that beats the store bought kind.  Now the students are in the process of learning how to market this new product.  The student can use this new skill to earn extra spending money while in school or go into their own little business back in their home town when they graduate.

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By: Francis and Laura Mallorca
IDEA: Southern Leyte, Philiippines

Seven year old Peljune lives with his aging parents and sister in the mountains above Maasin City, Southern Leyte and the city’s SpEd center.  IDEA’s transportation allowance is enough for the boy’s fare to and from class, but the extremely rough road makes the trip twice daily nearly impossible.  Even if the road was passable, his parents are unable to accompany him because of their poor health and dire poverty.  For now, until alternative housing can be arranged, Peljune will not be able to enroll.  Despite their disappointment, his parents’ warm welcome during our home visit and gifts of corn and bananas showed their commitment to do whatever they can for their son.

The government red tape involved in setting up this work is huge but it’s worth it.  Every second of waiting, every minute in meetings, and every moment spent working toward creating education opportunities and life for the deaf children in Southern Leyte is worth seeing the progress of the program and growth of the newly enrolled students.  While in Maasin last week, we had a chance encounter with Peljune and his mother who were down from the mountains to visit his aunt.  It was wonderful to see the boy again, and at the same time was a powerful reminder that IDEA’s work here has just begun.
Peljune and many more like him are still in the mountains, waiting for a dormitory and their chance to join their peers, to study, learn and grow like all children should.

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