PAIDE: “INFINITY @ 16” – A Concert in Sign Language 6
The Philippine Association of Interpreters for Deaf Empowerment (PAIDE) will once again showcase its sign language interpreters’ talent on December 16, 2012 to be staged at the Philam Life Theater, United Nations, Avenue, Manila. This is PAIDE’s 6th Concert in Sign Language coincides its 16th founding anniversary as sign language training institution in the Philippines.
PAIDE: “INFINITY @ 16” – A Concert in Sign Language 6 The following sign language interpreters have pledged their participation and support for the success of the concert. Namely: Sonia Lodado; Judith Ruperto; Emelie Gentalian; Antonette Padilla; Nemia Abiday; Vivian Hipolito; Criselda Sabayan; Ludina Manalastas; Dean Carsula; Je-Ann Villanueva; Ronald Santos; Marlon Palma; Joffrey Ortanez; Christian Celada; Leonora Vizoro; Carlo Anonuevo; Rosalynn Garcia; Priscilla Roxas; Emlou Vargas; Bridgette Pereyra; Marlyn Palce; Genelyn Salmorin; Manuel Celada II, Margaret Lorraine Delos Santos; Maureen Aguilar; Jun Celada and Michael Potian who will also serve as the concert director.
Expect another superb performance from PAIDE Performing Artists together with surprise guest artists.
This concert is a fund-raising project of PAIDE for 2012 and part of the proceeds will be donated to the Foundation for Disadvantaged Children.
Sponsors and donors are most welcome. For details you may contact us at Tel. 534-5512. Thank you.
The dream of every Filipino sign language interpreter to be unified as one institution and be recognized all over the world has been achieved when the Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI) was founded and established on May 21, 2011. This great endeavor is a collaborative effort among all Filipino sign language interpreters in the country spearheaded by MR. ALFREDO D. CELADA JR., CEO of the Philippine Association of Interpreters For Deaf Empowerment (PAIDE). Mr. Celada together with May Andrada, Michael Potian, Natividad Natividad, Remberto Esposa, Jr. and Rossana Villanueva initiated the process of establishing PNASLI by calling for assemblies, convention meetings and the election of officers/board members which made Mr. Celada the first PNASLI President. The other members of the board are: May Andrada, Febe Sevilla, Marie Therese Bustos, Joy Cristal, Ma. Veronica Perez, Natividad Natividad, Remberto Esposa, Jr., Julius Andrada, Rey Alfred Lee, Leonides Sulse, Arturo Abrera, Jr. (Baguio City), Annabelle Catimbang (Camarines Sur), John Paul Maunes and Fr. Peter Miles Sollestas, PMS (Cebu)and Rossana Villanueva (Zamboanga City).
PNASLI is a unifying national association of sign language interpreters and deaf relay interpreters with members from all over the Philippines aiming towards the professionalization of sign language interpreting in the country and ensuring that there is full access to the Deaf throughout the country through quality interpreting with its vision-mission of upholding the highest standards of sign language interpreting profession in the Philippines for the best interest of sign language interpreters and the Deaf in need of access to information and services.
As a unifying body, interpreters are put on the highest standards, thus observing the PNASLI COE: PROFESSIONALISM, NON-DISCRIMINATION, ACCURACY, SINCERITY, LOYALTY, IMPARTIALITY, CONFIDENTIALITY, ORDER, DISCRETION, EDUCATION (Continuing Education).
May 19, 2012, on its second year, PNASLI held another general assembly meeting and election of officers with the theme “LEVEL UP! TAKING PROFESSIONALIZATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS IN THE PHILIPPINES TO THE NEXT LEVEL”. It was attended by sign language interpreters, deaf/hearing members and representatives. A new set of officers was elected, with Mr. Celada still elected as PNASLI President on his 2nd term. The new set of officers are the following: Marie Therese Bustos, Natividad Natividad, John Xander Baliza, Jun Jun Sevilla, Liza Presnillo, Reiner Blas, Yvette Bernardo, Rey Alfred Lee (Hearing & Deaf Board Members) Raphael Domingo, Mackie Calbay, Myra Medrana, (Deaf Advisory Council Members), Rossana Villanueva, Jennel Cheng, Emner Palma, Demelyn Chato, and Hilton John Edrial (Cluster Coordinators).
As what Mr. Celada says, “One must have a keen interest to learn sign language, having in mind the goal to serve the deaf with much patience, dedication, commitment and open mindedness”.
But, we don’t stop here. The journey of living this advocacy continues. With dedication, commitment and great value for service one will continue to flourish. Together, as an association, with a common vision-mission, with sign language interpreting being a profession, all Filipino sign language interpreters will always have a great place in this country and the world. We can do great things. In our hands, lies the power to share.
By: Nemz Huele Abiday
The saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” became a reality when for the first time Filipino sign language interpreters coming from different areas and fields of services gathered on a very historic event…the establishment/founding of Phil-NASLI (Philippine-National Association of Sign Interpreters) on May 21, 2011 at CAP College for the Deaf, CAP Development Center in Makati City.
A General Assembly meeting attended by Filipino deaf and hearing sign language interpreters and deaf representatives from Metro Manila and other provinces was held. A talk “Towards Professionalization of Sign Language Interpreters” by Dr. Liza Martinez, some lectures by Mr. Jun Celada, Jr. and Rapahael Domingo and open forum were presented. But, the most significant part of the event was the election of board members (7 board members, NCR; 5 board members, outside NCR; 3 deaf representatives) and name of the organization. From the result of the election, Mr. Alfredo “Jun” D. Celada, Jr. a PAIDE Chief Executive Officer, who got the highest votes was also voted by the elected board as the first president of the association.
Being one of the founding members of World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), sir Jun initiated the process of establishing an organization of sign language interpreters in the country as what WASLI has encouraged for Filipinos to have.
So Sir Jun, together with other senior and volunteer sign language interpreters started the process of establishing an association by calling for a general meeting on January 2011. Present during the meeting were sign language interpreters, teachers and deaf representatives from different agencies and schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. In the meeting, concerns and issues relating to deaf, sign language interpreters, interpreting and programs for the deaf in the country were discussed and clarified. Among the concerns discussed, professionalization and unity among/between sign language interpreters (Deaf and hearing) are the most vital and were given emphasis.
From the positive response of the people who attended the meeting and as for their request, three working committees (vision-mission, program and general assembly) with the headship of sir Jun worked on separate meetings from then on preparing until the main event on May 21, 2011.
The dream of every Filipino sign language interpreter to be recognized and unified is upon reach. But it is not yet final and we don’t stop there. The journey of living this advocacy continues. With dedication, commitment and great value for service one will continue to flourish. Together, as an association, with a common vision-mission, sign language interpreting, as a profession and Filipino sign language interpreters will have a great place in this country and the world.
By Nemz Huele Abiday
The 4th Meeting of Sign Language Interpreters in Asia was held during the 22nd World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat in Asia and the Pacific Representatives Meeting last Nov. 26 and 27, 2010 at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
Present during the WASLI meeting were delegates from Japan: Emiko Ichikawa, WASLI Asian Representative, NRASLI; Etsuko Umemoto, Chair, NRASLI; Eiko Ogura, JASLI; Tomoki Hayashi, recorder, JASLI; Masafumi Kawazoe and Chikae Nagasaki, J/E interpreter, NRASLI, South Korea: Beo Do Won, Won Tae-yeon and Kim Kun Youn, K/E interpreter, Hong Kong: Mindy Lai Man Chung and Leung Pui-Sum, Macau: Nerissa Lau Sutman, Indonesia: Pingkan C. R. Warouw, Nepal: Laxmi Devkota, Philippines: Michael S. Potian and Alfredo D. Celada, Jr. and Malaysia: Goh Soo Leng.
Being one of the founding members of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI), PAIDE was fortunate to have our very own Chief Executive Officer, Alfredo “JUN” Celada, Jr. and our Sign Language Training Officer, Michael “MIKE” Potian to join the WASLI group as panelists representing the Philippines.
Emiko Ichikawa gave her opening remarks and presented her report on WASLI Board Meeting. She acknowledged all the delegates and observers in the session hall. Delegates of each country took turns in introducing themselves and proceeded with their report on the situation of sign language interpreters in their country.
Sir Jun reported the following:
- Accreditation of sign language interpreters
- Sign Language being used in the Philippines
- Country’s spoken language
- Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
- Interpreter Training Program in the Philippines
- Testing and Accreditation system for qualified sign language interpreters
- Standard Rates for Sign Language Interpreting service
- Association of Sign Language Interpreters
- Full-time Sign Language Interpreters
Before the 1st session (Nov. 26) ended, the country representatives had their election for WASLI Asian Representative and luckily, Japan won its seat again.
A workshop on “Respect for Initiatives of Deaf People” was facilitated by Masafumi Kawazoe, J/E interpreter, NRASLI on the 27th.
The World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) encouraged all Asian countries to do the following:
WASLI encouraged all Asian countries to establish an organization of sign language interpreters and network with other sign language interpreters.
By Mikechel S. Potian
Our world right now is an ever changing landscape. As a part of this, we continue to grow and evolve. It is in our very hands that we can mold our future as well as bring change to our ordinary lives and those of simple individuals. As instruments of change, we can show and remind everyone that ordinary people can make a difference not only in this country but the world as well.
For the second time, the Philippine Association of Interpreters for Deaf Empowerment (PAIDE) has continually recognized and honored the competence and proficiency of outstanding Filipino Sign Language interpreters who have professionally and dedicatedly served the Deaf or hearing impaired for 15 years or more until now via the Golden Hands Award. It is possible through the guidance and headship of Mr. Alfredo D. Celada Jr., CEO with the support and assistance of the Board of trustees and PAIDE interpreters. The 2nd Golden Hands Award was held on May 02, 2010 at Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City. It was attended by some of the first batch awardees. Mr. Julius G. Andrada, the Vice-President of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf Inc. (PFD) was the special guest speaker. Representatives from the different Deaf groups and organizations in the country and some of PAIDE’s deaf friends were also present. The recipients of the 2nd Golden Hands Awardees namely are: Arturo Verzola Abrena Jr., Rhodora Pamaran Brouillette, Annabelle Sabordo, Linda Villacorta Colindres, Remberto Indita Esposa, Jr, Olivia Marcellana Lintag, Ma. Isabelita Valencia, Ricardo Balan De Los Santos, Belen M. Herreros.
A dream became a reality to these special people who have served the Deaf in various fields for countless years. These Golden Hands awardees are special breed of people. Special in a way because they have proven that it doesn’t take for an individual to have a high position to serve others. They have shown us the true value of service, commitment, dedication to one’s craft, fortitude and indefatigable spirit. Most of all, they have shown us what “Agape” love is. Love that is not confined within them, not confined within their family but love that encompasses their fellowmen. From now then on, these “Golden Hands” we possess will continuously and globally shine, inspire, guide and lead any Deaf or hard of hearing or even the hearing individuals into a better and brighter future.
The Golden Hands Award inspires us to celebrate both the profession of the Sign Language Interpreters as well as the language. May these wonderful people continue to inspire our generation and the next generations of sign language interpreters to come. Mabuhay to PAIDE and to all Filipino Sign Language Interpreters.
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