July Update
Posted by editor on 13 Jul 2010 | Tagged as: IDEA DEAF Philippines
A Long Overdue Book
About two years ago IDEA Philippines began a project that was expected to be completed within six months. The goal was to make a sign language dictionary that would reflect the particular signs used in the Visayan region of the country. As the writing began it was realized that this dictionary could have wider use so each sign was linked to the spoken English, Cebuano, and Tagalog languages, making it applicable all over the Philippines. The title of the book is “Filipino Sign Language Dictionary”.
It took a long time to complete but the dictionary was finally printed last week and the result was even better than expected. The first 500 copies are being given out to all the deaf students on Bohol and Leyte as well teachers and deaf adults. It is thrilling to finally have this resource. After making a few minor adjustments and officially having the book copy righted, a second larger printing will be done in August. At that time the new dictionary will be placed in bookstores around the Philippines. This could be a good income generator for IDEA with the proceeds going to help educate more and more deaf youth.
Good Progress In Southern Leyte
Although classes officially opened in the Philippine public schools on May 14, a few new classes for deaf children in Southern Leyte are delayed. IDEA continues to work with the Philippine government to set up new classrooms for neglected deaf kids and to place the specially trained IDEA teachers. Typical government bureaucracy just takes a little longer but we are making good progress.
Three of the newly trained teachers for Southern Leyte are now finally placed and already have students in their classes but the efforts to bring more deaf children in from the surrounding areas continues. IDEA was also able to convince the government to allow some of their Special Education teachers to focus their full time attention to teaching the Deaf. Previously, despite the fact that these teachers had special training to teach the Deaf, they were assigned to handle hearing classrooms. IDEA is hoping to see as many as 80 new students in full time classes by the end of August. One of the major challenges is convincing the parents to send their children to school and help them understand that there is a bright future for their deaf children if they will only educate them.
The kids that are now being brought into class have no language yet. They enter as kindergarten students no matter what age they are. These are exciting times for the new students in Southern Letye.
Just some of the deaf children that IDEA
has found in Southern Leyte to bring into school.
This is the home of one of the students. Poverty doesn’t leave much money for education but IDEA and its sponsors are filling in in the gap.
A Fond Farewell
Barbara (Barbi) Cheryl Hormillida
It is very difficult to say goodbye to Barbi after ten years of service to IDEA Philippines. Barbi as been the comptroller and so much more to the foundation. She started working with IDEA when there were only a few employees and has worn many hats other than comptroller. She has been the staff legal officer and was affectionately given the nick name “attorney Barbi”. She served as the human resource manager for many years. Barbi has been IDEA Philippine’s number one defender when ever the foundation came under attack. Her list of responsibilities goes on and on.
IDEA Philippines was much more than a job to Barbi. It was part of her family and she was like the older sister. Her young looks disguised her depth of character which only came after being tested in trials and difficulties. Her inner strength is impressive.
So you see, it is difficult to say goodbye to someone who has meant so much to the foundation and to her co-workers. She will be greatly missed. Barbi and her family will soon be immigrating to Canada and starting a new life there. Canada will be richer for her presence. We wish her all the best and our prayer will go with her.
TVs from Hawaii and
the Philippine Deaf
You really have to ask yourself about this title. What do TVs from Hawaii and the Deaf living in the Philippines have to do with one another? You’ll be surprised to learn of this unique way of helping fund deaf education.
Several months ago, IDEA made a new friend from Hawaii who had come with the Honolulu Rotary Club to assist us in building our new medical/dental/ hearing clinic. They were a great help to us. A month or so had passed after their departure when this new friend gave Dennis a call and asked him what IDEA could do with some used TVs. Quickly connecting the dots, Dennis realized that IDEA Philippines could sell them and use the profit to help pay for the education of hundreds of deaf students!
So the wheels were put into motion and on July 14 a 40 foot land/sea container was being pulled up the hill to our high school, Bohol Deaf Academy, to unload its contents of around two hundred 27 inch Philips TVs. Our friend from Hawaii had purchased them from a hotel that was upgrading to all new flat screen TVs.
With the TVs now safely in IDEA’s warehouse, the task of selling them falls on Aaron Drake, the Special Projects Coordinator. In the U.S. the whole nation has gone to HD technology, so these TVs are considered out of date over there; but, in the Philippines, they are still very desirable. Aaron is hopeful that these televisions will be snapped up quickly.
