Handful Conversation

Education is for every citizen. It is a right and not a privilege. It accepts whether an individual is rich or poor, young or old, and even those with physical disabilities. An educational institution is a place where teachers and students interact, communicate, and exchange knowledge and information.
What if students do not listen because they cannot hear? What if hey do not participate in oral recitations, class discussions or any class activity that requires speech? Such a grate challenge, isn’t it? Discover how deaf individuals cope with their academic challenges. They may be challenged in listening to sounds but they have unique way of expressing. Instead of employing words, they are using their hands to be hard.
Their Challenging College Lives
In coordination with the Tulong-Dunong Scholarship Program of CHED, Br. Narciso Erguiza Jr. FSC introduced these nine deaf students to the scholarship in order to help them study in college. Each student receives Php 6,000.00 subsidy on their tuition fee every semester. They are the first batch of deaf students who are studying in this institution. Currently, they are taking up Associate in Hotel and Restaurant Management. The following are: Rosil Arapoc, 20; Jenny Marie Canonizado, 21; Agnes Bergado, 21; Chicky Brizo, 21; Christian Rae Ano-os, 22; Mira Pebida, 22; Sherlyn Mamhut, 22; Janice Pasagdan, 24; and Niño Lumanta, 24. Most of them were graduates from La Salle University Deaf School.
Nervous as they were when they first joined the throng of freshmen populace. These deaf students have fourteen units this semester. Their HRM and HHK subjects are exclusive for them but the rest of their subjects are mainstreamed with the hearing students so they find the subjects difficult. When they are confronted with new words, as interpreted by Ms. Talibong, they religiously look for the meaning of the new words in the dictionary. Inside the campus, wherever one of them goes all the rest follow, thus, their bonding tightens. Aside from their classes, they usually spend most of their free time at the library, SAO, kiosks and sometimes at the benches of the LS lobby. “Indeed college is very hard for us. We have to double our time and effort so that we can cope up the lesson our instructors have discussed or else we cannot pass the quizzes and examinations”, Ms. Sarah Talibong interpreted.
Adjusting With Their New Environment
Unlike elementary and secondary levels where their classmates were familiar to them, tertiary education is a seemingly different world to them. They have to make a lot of adjustments. One is that, most of the teachers are hasty in class discussions that they cannot easily comprehend. Deaf students can only understand simple English that they often bring dictionaries or go to the library to get a full grasp of the meaning of the difficult topics. Some of their hearing classmates are concerned with them. Some build friendships, while others ignore them. Most laugh at them. Many of the college students talk behind their backs as if they were strangers. Some students even tease them saying, “amang, amang” (deaf, deaf). “Yes, that was true and it definitely hurt. My deaf students keep on telling me that they are treated like that by most of the hearing college students. But, my students are very optimistic. They just ignore students who tease them and forgot about it.” They are also thankful to the students who are Special Education majors for they are the students’ companions including some students who treat them nicely. These are the students who are concerned and friendly to them.
Despite their condition, their willingness to study never fades. “In life, nothing is impossible. For as long as we have life, the journey must go on. It doesn’t matter how God created us for it is the way we are planned to live. It is now our time to let the whole world realize that physical disability is not a hindrance to finish our studies and continue a harmonious living as normal people do.” These statements relate wit the deaf students’ perception of life. With the unwavering support of Ms. Sarah Talibong, teacher/interpreter, they are able to cope with college life.
These special students, like normal students do, also have their wishes. One of those wishes is that they earnestly desire to become normal (can hear and talk) but they said that they accepted who they are and what they have. They blame no one. Besides, they are very thankful to God that He had given their lives to continue the challenge. They just bear in mine\d that there is a special plan for them. Undeniably, each of us has this special plan.
Though deaf students are challenged individuals, they still endeavor for education because it is very essential treasure that they could utilize for the future. At this point, we can say and prove that being incapable of something is not an obstacle to continue our journey. Instead, let it be an encouragement, an inspiration….a challenge in this fast-paced world.
(The Deaf were interviewed by Harold Bodiongan and interpreted by Sarah)
Source: Tingog: The Official Student Publication of La Salle University - Ozamiz City. September 2009 issue

Deaf Students Take Part During the University Day

Deaf Students Join Buwan ng Lahi Culmination

The Deaf students of La Salle University Ozamiz successfully participated in the culmination of the Buwan ng Lahi of the special schools together with the Brother Martin Simpson Laboratory School and the Night High School which was held at the Heritage Campus last August 28, 2009. Selected Deaf students presented the invocation and the pambansang awit. A barrio fiesta happened after the program. Different presentations were displayed by the different groups. The Deaf likewise took effort in the Filipino games done in the afternoon. The day was full of memorable experiences as each unit work together, eat together, and had fun together.

Deaf Students on Cooking Contest

The Deaf students of La Salle University Ozamiz City conducted cooking contest last July 27, 2009 as one of the activities in the nutrition month celebration with the theme “Wastong Nutrition Kailangan: Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan”. The Deaf enjoyed cooking their assigned food with their respective group. They brought the materials and the ingredients to cook. They shared responsibilities and were able to produce a good output. There was a small eat together in the deaf classroom where they shared together the cooked food after all were judged. It was a collaborative effort of everybody. They see the joy and importance of working together. The activity was held in the Heritage Campus of La Salle University.

Deaf Students Participate in LSU Day

The Deaf students of La Salle University Deaf School successfully participated in the different activities during the university day last July 10, 2009 at La Salle University. Selected Deaf students took part in the signing of the first, the responsorial psalm, and the gospel readings during the opening Mass held at the Arts Center. Field demonstrations followed at the SC grounds where the Deaf students showed off their talent in dancing. In the afternoon, they watched the cheer dance competition held at the Arts Center. The day was filled with fun, laughter and enjoyment as the Deaf involved themselves in the occasion and witnessed the different events.

Deaf Students Participate in Sunday Masses

To deepen the spirituality of the Deaf is the main purpose of the regular participation of the Deaf in the 8:45 to 9:45am Sunday Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Ozamiz City. There are Deaf students assign to do the signing of the First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, and the Gospel. Sarah Talibong, Marecel Aljo, and Beinvenida Paculba serve as interpreters and take turn in interpreting. Selected Deaf students do the collection of the Mass offerings. They occupy the first three pews in the front seat in the cathedral. Deaf students conduct regular evaluation after the Mass with the presence of the interpreters.

Deaf Students SY 2009-2010

Grade 1 - 5
Grade 2 - 2
Grade 3 - 3
Grade 4 - 1
Grade 5 - 3
Grade 6 - 1
Grade 7 - 8
Grade 8 - 5
Grade 9 - 4
AHRM 1 - 9
TOTAL Number of Students - 41
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The majority of the Deaf students come from families who live below the poverty level. Most of their parents are housekeepers and public transport drivers. There are a few who come from outside Ozamiz. Most of them are older than the required age of a particular year level because they started schooling late. Their ages range from 7 to 24 years old. They have poor socialization with the hearing people because they are most often teased. They prefer to be with their own deaf friends with whom they feel comfortable to talk to through sign language. Most of their family members don’t know sign language and so misunderstandings mostly happened. These people can go to public places independently and can run errands for themselves. They are responsible individuals too. They can manage on their own.