The De La Salle-College of St. Benilde SDEAS (School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies) celebrated “Best of 15 Years” Festival on November 16-21, 2009. This Festival aimed to spread public awareness that Deaf individuals can do things and in spite of their disabilities, they have aspirations, skills and talents to show.
The week-long festival included various activities as poster making contest, sports fest, and search for Mr. & Ms. Deaf Festival 2009, dance contest, table setting and food tasting contest and film showing portraying the life of a Deaf person. Career talk was also conducted for the alumni and parents of Deaf students sharing their life experiences. Topics discussed by guest speakers were the current situation of the country, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Deaf folklore.
On the last day of the Festival, various groups were invited to perform during the cultural show including some of PAIDE’s finest performing artists Jerly Ann Villanueva, Maria Antonette Padilla, Marlon Palma, Michael Potian and Ronald Santos with their own interpretation of “Look All Around Us”.
Proceeds of the activities were donated to victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.
By Lynn Garcia