De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s very own School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) gathered Deaf youth-leader advocates nationwide to participate in the annual “Young Deaf Summit” last July 30 to 31 via Zoom.
Hosting the first day of the summit were SDEAS alumni Francis Comargo and Aira Castro. Ms. Giselle Montero, SDEAS Dean, officially opened the event with her welcoming remarks. She presented a video called “Piper: Disney Pixar Educational Video” to the participants, highlighting the importance of “finding hope amidst hopelessness.”
Following this was the first talk session focusing on Deaf Resilience Amidst Adversity, facilitated by Jamilla Javier, another SDEAS alumna who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Deaf Studies with a specialization in Business Entrepreneurship. Javier, who is now a volunteer peer counselor for the Deaf at the Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC), shared her insights on Deaf Resilience.
“Care for yourself one small way each day. Do something you enjoy,” Javier stated during her talk. “Remember, you are not alone.”
The next session titled “Taking Control, Designing My Future” was facilitated by another SDEAS alumna and award-winning Deaf filmmaker, Jocelyn Tamayao. The said alumna graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Deaf Studies majoring in Media Arts and won an award for her film entitled “The Bin.”
“At first, I struggled with my time with study, extracurricular activities, family, and church ministry,” Tamayao expressed. “After I graduated from college, I got my job but I did not give up my dream. It took a long time to achieve my dream.”
Afterwards, Michael Vea, the third speaker for the first day of the summit, discussed “Deafhood and Process of Deaf Identity.” Vea is also an alumnus who graduated in 2004, with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Deaf Studies. He is currently an SDEAS faculty member. Vea also graduated with a master’s degree in arts majoring in Language and Literature at De La Salle University.
His talk focused on the positive value of being Deaf and for the Deaf to not be treated as a hindrance to success. Vea shared his insights on the meaning and importance of Deafhood and Deaf identity development.
Leadership and rights in the Deaf community
The second day of the summit was hosted by SDEAS students Ian Paulo Lincallo and Arianne Bulaong.
The fourth talk of the event “Opportunities for Leader-Advocates” was presented by SDEAS alumnus and former Benilde Central Student Government (CSG) SDEAS President Louis Christian Decara, who is now the current President of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section while working as a financial analyst in Accenture. With Decara was fellow SDEAS alumnus Bennet John Cabanilla, a graphic designer for Bluethumb Creative Agency, the current Vice President of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section, and an advocate for Sign Language Rights.
The fourth and fifth talks focused on available career and leadership opportunities, as well as the importance of acceptance and knowing one’s identity to respond to the challenges and barriers that most PWDs encounter.
Following this was the fifth and final session facilitated by Yukako Aoyama, Yew Hau En, and Laura Wijaya, three speakers from Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia, respectively.
Aoyama is the President of the World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat Asia Youth Section and works at NEC Management Partner, while Yew is the Secretary of the World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat Asia Youth Section and a Sign Language Instructor teaching International Sign and Singapore Sign Language. Lastly, Wijaya is the Treasurer of the World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat Asia Youth Section and a Senior Researcher at the University of Indonesia and the head of the Sign Language Center and the Center of Sign Language Interpreting Service in Indonesia.
The three speakers shared about how young Deaf leaders can successfully face challenges and obstacles. Furthermore, they also spoke about accepting one’s identity as part of the Deaf community.
After the series of talks was a closing ceremony led by Leonidas Sulse, Chairperson of the CA-SDEAS.
“It is very important that we Deaf people, especially the youth, need to develop resilience capabilities to grow and be successful,” Sulse stated. “I also hope that this event ignites everyone’s desire and capability that will direct toward active participation and involvement in facilitating organizational and community change and development.”
