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Deaf Students Garnered Awards

Two deaf students of La Salle University School for the Deaf garnered awards in the poster making contest conducted during the culmination of the local celebration of the 32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week held at Ozamiz City Central gymnasium with the theme “Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able” last July 23, 2010.

Joseph S. Abarquez, grade 7 won the first place in the poster making contest while Ryan Lutching, grade 6 won the second place. Abarquez received 200Php and a gift pack from smart communications. Also, Lutching received 150Php and a gift pack from smart communications.
A culmination program took place after the poster making contest and parlor games. In addition, selected Deaf students presented an intermission number. There were significant people who contributed to the success of the affair namely; Mrs. Juliet Poloyapoy, SPED Coordinator of Ozamiz City Central School SPED who gave the opening remarks, Mrs. Ludie Raras, CSWD Officer who gave a short message and City councilor Cecelia Mabanag, committee chairman on Disability affairs, who gave the closing remarks.
The selected schools which participated in the event were Landon Academy, Ozamiz City Central School Special Education Center, Community of Hope Special Education Center, and La Salle University School for the Deaf. Hence, people with disabilities from different sectors of the city attended the special event.

Archbishop: The Deaf Have a Place in the Church

Opens "Ephphata" Congress In Rome

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 7, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Within the Church, there is a special call for the pastoral care of the deaf, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry.

Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski said this over the weekend at the conference organized by his dicastery titled, "Ephphata, the Deaf Person, Herald and Witness of the Proclamation of the Gospel."

The event ended Sunday. Last November, a similar event was held titled "Ephphata, the Deaf Person in the Life of the Church."

The president said the deaf "can always contribute more to pull down the walls behind which a more serious spiritual deafness is fortified," and that it's necessary to promote the access of deaf persons to religious practice, "at the local and universal level."

One of the objectives of the conference was to design "ideal strategies and instruments for the improvement and promotion of the pastoral care of the deaf, and the concept of ecclesial and social integration of the deaf in Italy and Europe as well as in the whole world."

The prelate pointed out that it is important that Christians "recall the mandate received at baptism and work for the diffusion of the Gospel through personal commitment and witness, becoming true 'heralds and witnesses,' even if they cannot hear or are close to persons affected by deafness."

"Thus, we will be involved in a 'laboratory' or better still, an 'office,' where our technical and scientific competencies will optimize the strategies that have already been delineated and finalize the necessary instrumentation," said Archbishop Zimowski.


Christi simus, non nostri – Go mba le Críost sinn agus nach linn féin – Let us be of Christ, not of ourselves (St Columban)

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Bangor to Bobbio

ZE10060708 - 2010-06-07
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Teachers of Schools for the Deaf in the Philippines Conducted U.S. Educational Tour

Four (4) schools for the Deaf in the Philippines composed of La Salle University Ozamiz School for the Deaf (LSU-SD), Bible Institute for the Deaf (BID) in Valenzuela City, La Salle Green Hills-Adult Night High School Program for Deaf Learners (LSGH-ANHS PDL), and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) with two representatives per school conducted a site visit to selected schools for the Deaf in the US, April 25 to May 2, 2010.

The tour was made possible through the effort of Ms. Theresa Christine dela Torre, the director of Center for Education Access and Development (CEAD) who initiated the creation of the Secondary Education Initiative (SEcI) project to explore the possibility of improving secondary education experiences of Deaf students in the Philippines by creating a Model Secondary School program/s for the Deaf in the Philippines. The Model Secondary School program/s will serve as a benchmark in Deaf education that will inspire the movement towards further enhancement of Deaf education in Philippine Secondary Schools.

A necessary first step of the SEcl Project is to establish the SEcl network with a select number of Secondary Schools with extensive experiences in the education of the Deaf. The aim of the SEcl network is to assist schools in the enhancement of the secondary education experiences of the Deaf and hard of hearing students. This will be done through research undertakings, capacity-building initiatives in Deaf education, Deaf studies, Interpreting, cultural exchange and appreciation, and other related arrangements.

The delegates visited Rochester Institute of Technology National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT-NTID) last April 26 in Rochester, New York. On April 28 they visited the Learning Center for Deaf Children in Boston, Massachusetts and on April 30 the University High School in Los Angeles California.
The visit was facilitated by Dr. Sue Foster, research faculty member in NTID’s Department of Research and Teacher Education; and Nora Shannon, Senior Project Associate of PEN-International.

The purpose of the visit was to provide venue for cooperative and collaborative work that shall contribute to the enhancement of the secondary education experiences of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students of the partner schools for the Deaf in the Philippines.

The tour was funded by Post Secondary Education Network-International (PEN-Int’l), a global network of universities and colleges with Deaf programs established to help improve the circumstances of Deaf students in post secondary education around the globe. PEN-Int’l headquarters is in Rochester Institute of Technology-National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT-NTID) in Rochester, New York.

The participants composed of Ozamiz LSU President Br. Jaime Dalumpines, FSC and Sarah Talibong of LSU School for the Deaf Program Coordinator; Bible Institute for the Deaf (BID) spearheaded by Elena R. Castillo (Principal / President / Teacher) and Ana Liza C. Sia (Business Manager / Teacher); LSGH-ANHS PDL Mr. Baldwin Noelito I. Que - Moderator, Program for Deaf Learners and Mr. Rheal D. Dayrit, Principal; Mr. John Xandre C. Baliza, Chairperson, Center for Academics of DLS-CSB and Ms. Theresa Christine B. de la Torre, Director, Center for Education Access and Development (CEAD) And PEN-Philippines who also led the Philippine delegation.
(by: Sarah Talibong)

A Deaf Retreat to Remember

Aiming to make stronger their spirituaity, 30 Deaf students of La Salle University Deaf School, gathered for a two-day retreat February 27-28, 2010.
The retreat for the Deaf is one of the yearly activities of the school.
The retreat for the Deaf held at LSU Retreat Center with the theme "Deaf in Unity with God" had Ms. Agnes C. Canayon, coordinator of La Sallian Ministry Program for the Deaf from DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS), Manila as the reteat master.
Each day had various activities with special emphasis on the spiritual formation of the Deaf. The Deaf were facilitated in self-processing, quietly meditating on their relationship with God, sharing their experiences in the small group then later in the big group. They were constantly challenged by the facilitator to stay connected to the Creator, create harmonious relationship with the people around them and more importantly to the Deaf community, and attune their day to day undertakings to the Divine Providence. During the later part of the day, each Deaf offered candle and silently pray individually. Soon after,crying and hugging moments took place. Canayon used Filipino sign language during the retreat.
The retreat for the Deaf culminated with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Rev. Fr. Lanie Serino at Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Ms. Canayon interpreted the Mass assisted by Ms. Sarah Talibong, LSU Deaf School coordinator.
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