Graduation is always a celebration for every student. It is a time when all of your family and friends gather and congratulate you with well wishes for the future. But when you happen to be deaf and a graduate, there is more reason to celebrate. In a country where deaf awareness is still a work in progress, not all hearing-impaired have had the opportunity to undergo formal education.

For the school year 2010-2011, the Bohol Deaf Academy, Bohol’s only special education institution that offers secondary education for the Deaf, is proud to present to the community its 19 graduates. They had their commencement exercises on March 31, 2011 at the BDA campus. Such a triumphant feat is not only a reflection of each student’s success but also the continuous realization of IDEA’s vision and mission of having a society wherein the Deaf enjoy social and economic equality; as well as, assisting them to achieve self-reliance by providing academic, vocational, physical, spiritual and economic opportunities.

Chady and Marianne Guivencan with their proud parents

Leading the class in their academic victory are siblings Chady Guivencan and Marianne Guivencan of Panglao Island, known for its fine powdery sand and white beaches. Both are top performers in their class, not just academically for they also demonstrated leadership traits by being elected as class officers. It is with this sense of hard work and dedication that they look forward to finding jobs after graduation in order to help their parents and improve their standard of living. Chady is interested in the food service industry and dreams of landing a job that involves cooking. Meanwhile, Marianne wants to apply the skills she learned in school in the field of food technology. Equipped with values and a positive outlook in life, we are sure that these siblings will achieve their life’s dreams!

Another graduate who is excited to receive his diploma is Jay Cahimat. Jay shall forever be grateful to his aunt, who supports his schooling and other needs especially that his immediate family is in Manila. Early last year, Jay’s brother who had long been suffering with kidney problem died. Such tragic news caused him much sadness, but amidst the grief, Jay chose to remain strong and dedicate his achievements to his brother. This strength made Jay earn the trust and respect of the BDA studentry, who elected him as the Class President for the school year. He hopes to pursue a college education to further broaden his horizons and even plans to be a working student in order to save enough money to finance his studies. As they say, “reach for your stars,” and he is doing just that.

A health condition almost prevented Cheryl Ceniza from finishing high school; but thankfully, she made it through with the support and encouragement of her family and friends. To Cheryl, BDA will always be a place of happy memories since it is where she shared lots of laughter and funny moments with her classmates. She truly appreciates the peaceful environment of the school and that is why, when she soon ventures out into the real world in search for work and greener pastures, she hopes it will be in a place of serenity like BDA.

With this new set of graduates, IDEA is closer to its goal of eradicating illiteracy among the Deaf as it seeks to empower them to become productive members of society. Congratulations Batch 2011 BDA graduates! Spread your wings and soar high!

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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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Dennis Drake and two young instructors with hearing children of deaf parents.
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Dennis Drake and two young instructors with hearing children of deaf parents.

It is said that the family is the basic unit of society. It is where we first feel the sense of belongingness and love. It’s the first place where we learn the importance of acceptance and communication.

But what happens when you belong to a home where one of your parents or even both of them is deaf? Will that mean that you can never experience that moment where you can confide to your father how to court a girl? Or that mother-daughter talks on how to handle the pressures of growing up?

That may not always be the case. Because it is one of IDEA Philippines’ goals to improve family functioning and successful reintegration of the deaf into their families and communities.

Thus last October 28-30, 2010, a group of ten enthusiastic teens, from ages 11 to 19 years old, all with deaf parents, gathered at Dao Diamond Hotel for a 3-day training to enhance their sign language and interpreting skills.

The said activity was organized by IDEA through its social worker Argen Ajos and facilitated by Nueva Niña Nahial and Vera Marie Nahial, IDEA-sponsored students taking up the SPED course, to help these kids communicate more openly with their parents and to serve as interpreters when requested by the other deaf.

It is one of the organization’s plans to establish a group of interpreters who can readily assist the deaf when interacting with the hearing community especially when in the market, hospital, police or when dealing with private or government offices. This will also serve as a source of income for the children since they will be paid if they will serve as an interpreter.

Activities undertaken during the 3-day affair were lessons on sign language and re-enactment of certain scenarios where they applied their knowledge of the sign language and interpreting skills. They also had an exposure tour to hospitals and important government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS) office, Health Insurance office (Philhealth), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), among others. Before the culmination, an evaluation was conducted among the participants to assess whether they learned from the activity and to identify what areas they need to improve. They also had an open forum where the children shared their experiences of growing up with deaf parents and their realizations. As a conclusion to the memorable experience, the children were treated to a movie at Island City Mall, where they continued their bonding with their new-found friends and shared a few laughs.

With the success of the activity, the organizers are now planning for a possibility of holding similar trainings in the days to come. After all, IDEA believes that: “A family that signs together stays together.”

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