A capacity crowd of more than six hundred Lasallian students and teachers filled the Covered Court, Heritage Campus of La Salle University this city last October 28, 2010 to witness the awarding of this year’s LSU Mr. and Ms. Heritage Icon 2010 title.
After the dust settled, Mr. William Kane Conol, grade 8 and Ms. Florebelle Laput, grade 10 both were Deaf Students from the School for the Deaf of La Salle University emerged as 2010 LSU Mr. and Ms Heritage Icon.
Conol also won best in sports attire, voters’ choice award and best in school uniform while Laput won best in talent and best in sports attire awards.
Laput impressed the judges and audience with her graceful dance move despite of being a Deaf and a first timer in the Search for LSU Heritage Icon.
Joining for the LSU Mr. and Ms. Heritage Icon 2010 are the hearing candidates of Brother Martin Simpson Laboratory School (BMSLS) Mae Camille Tapayan, grade 8 and Night High School (NHS) Fave Rupert Tagam, grade 10 (1st runner-up); while Jan Dominic Bati-on, grade 7-BMSLS and Anjanette Amante, grade 9- BMSLS ( 2nd runner-up).
During the question and answer portion, both Conol and Laput answered the questions in sign language and Ms. Sarah Talibong acted as the interpreter and the voice interpreter.
The event took place at the Heritage Campus of La Salle University where the Specialized Schools composed of the Brother Martin Simpson Laboratory School (BMSLS), Night High School (NHS), and the School for the Deaf (SD) conducted 2-day Sportsfest 27-28 October 2010.
Among the games and sports during the sportfest were basketball, volleyball, soccer softball, badminton, table tennis, chess, word factory and scrabble. The students both Deaf and hearing were grouped according to the Brothers’ Houses: Br. Miguel, Br. Jaime, Br. Mutien Marie, and Br. Benilde. Cheer dance competition and the search for Mr. and Ms. Heritage Icon 2010 were the highlights of the event which is celebrated every last week of October.
It goes to show that “Deaf individuals can do a lot of things except hearing. They have the skills and potentials to show to the public”.
The organizers of the Search for LSU Mr. and Ms Heritage Icon 2010 have included Dr. Wennie Caseros, BMSLS principal, Ms. Irene Iguico, NHS principal, Ms. Sarah Talibong, School for the Deaf principal, with the collaborative effort of the teachers of the specialized schools.