Launching of the Search for Apolinario Mabini Awardees 2017

The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled [PFRD] in coordination with Quezon City Persons with Disabilities Office Affairs [PDAO] is launching the 29th Apolinario Mabini Awards on July 22, 2016, Friday at 1 p.m. It will be held at Bulwagan Amoranto, Quezon City Hall.

The Apolinario Mabini Awards seek to recognize disabled individuals who have made significant contributions in their particular specialization. It honors groups, professionals and organizations that have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavour and have rendered outstanding services to the disabled sector.

Conducted yearly until 1974 since its inception, a decision was later made to hold the search as a biennial activity in order to provide more time for submission of nominations, as well as better, more in-depth evaluation of the nominee’s qualifications and achievements.

Last year, I was lucky to have been chosen as 2015 Media Advocate of the Year in recognition of my two advocacy film documentaries that tell of the plight of Deaf people, the discrimination they experience, including their fight for their linguistic human rights. In fact, all the works that I do, not only for them but for the PWD sector in general are all meant to empower them by showing their capacities and talents, and by letting our citizens know their condition or what ails them so that understanding and welcoming them would follow. I believe in the power of the visual medium. And strongly believing in an inclusive society, one of my two last works, which incidentally center on Apolinario Mabini himself, include members of SDEAS Deaf playgroup [Silent Steps], a Blind person [Arch. Jaime Silva, director of the 29th A. Mabini Awards], a physically disabled man [PWD leader Abner Manlapaz] whose disability turned out to be same as Mabini’s based on the latest research medical findings, and a twice-exceptional Person with Autism, [Thristan Mendoza], who scored a film for the first time in his life. He graduated from the U.P. College of Music.

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The First Film on Apolinario Mabini that Provides Deaf People Access to Information PREMIERED!

With Raymond Manding, President of the Youth Section, Philippine Federation of the Deaf [Right Photo]; John Baliza interpreted in FSL while I introduced the film. [Photo courtesy of Raymond from fb]. The screening was held at DLS-CSB ARG Theater, Taft Campus, Manila.

It was like a Deaf Awareness Week event when Deaf Filipinos in groups flocked to watch The Sublime Paralytic, our documentary on Apolinario Mabini, one of our great heroes. The turnout was for me unexpected. The reasons that I could think of are many: it is a film with interpretation in their own language — the Filipino Sign Language, and/or captioned for them in parts without; a film therefore that considered Deaf’s linguistic needs…a film that includes them; a film that shows and features their capacity and talent…

John Baliza, one of the FSL best interpreters in the country interpreted for me. [Photo courtesy of Cris Lorenzana]

The film is something that I made with Deaf Filipinos in mind and with full consideration to answer their need for historical information vital to their being as Filipinos. To all those who helped me in making this film possible, and to those who braved the heavy traffic on that day to join us, I thank you all very sincerely!!!

Closing Remarks by Leo Sulse

Photo by Leah Osido courtesy of SDEAS

The Silent Steps and Other Members of the Production Staff

Photo by Leah Osido of SDEAS

[R-L]: Sophia Manlapaz, Makeup Artist Nelson Demetillo, FSL Interpreter Febe Sevilla, Mabini Reader Abner Manlapaz, Center for Education Access and Development Techie dela Torre with her daughter, MM and Raymond Manding of PFD after the film showing

The Sublime Paralytic which focused on Mabini’s disability, being an icon of Persons with Disability in the Philippines, and his burning desire to serve the country despite his condition, is to be followed by the Filipino narrated version entitled PULE: UTAK NG REBOLUSYON [PULE: Brains of the Revolution]. It tells more of Mabini’s foresight and insights re the coming of the Americans in the Philippines at the turn of the century, and what their possible intentions were before they even landed on our shores.

PULE is interpreted in Filipino Sign Language by John Baliza of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies. He is one of the best hearing interpreters in the Philippines.

For more photos shot by Leah Osido [Deaf] of SDEAS, visit their Deaf-e-news website

THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC Screens Today, August 27!!!

The Sublime Paralytic is the English narrated version of my documentary on Apolinario Mabini. Narration by Cris Lorenzana; FSL interpretation by Bayani Generoso. It is will followed by the Filipino-narrated version, PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon, now in post-production. John Baliza interpreted the story in Filipino Sign Language while Dr. Apolonio Chua narrated the story. All interviews were interpreted in FSL by Febe Sevilla. Translation of the story from English to Filipino by Dr. Ruby Alcantara.

Screening Tomorrow! APOLINARIO MABINI: The Sublime Paralytic

Poster designed by Leah Osido [Deaf]

THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC is narrated and captioned or subtitled in English, with Filipino Sign Language interpretations and/or insets to suit all types of audience, including the Deaf and even Blind persons. Narrators are Cris Lorenzana, Winner Ka Pinoy! host at DZXL 558 RMN Manila, and Bayani Generoso [for the Malolos Segment]. Interpreters in Filipino Sign Language are Bayani Generoso, Febe Sevilla, Gess Michael Abrenica Jr. and CJ Patriarca. Reader of Mabini’s El Decalogo is Abner Manlapaz. This is to give Deaf access to information and to promote the widespread use of Filipino Sign Language as language of Deaf Filipinos.

Winner Ka Pinoy’s Cris Lorenzana Narrates the Story of “Apolinario Mabini: The Sublime Paralytic”

Cris Lorenzana recording for APOLINARIO MABINI: “The Sublime Paralytic.”

With first timer music scorer, Thristan Mendoza, and first timer Mabini reader, Abner Manlapaz, I got another first timer for our docu, APOLINARIO MABINI: THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC.

Cris Lorenzana, an inspiration speaker hosting Winner Ka Pinoy! at RMN Manila DZXL 558 is our docu’s narrator. Every Sunday at 11 a.m., her program airs and is heard nationwide.

I did not know her at all when I invited her to join our advocacy documentary on Mabini. But I usually listen to her program being one of the rare programs that talk on being positive, on being a winner… Her voice sounded good and cool to me, sympathetic and I thought she could help keep the hearing audience “awake” while listening to historical facts on Mabini. Luckily, she decided to join the team! So far, comments on her voice and delivery are quite positive. Her voice is clear, and her diction is good according to those who have already watched the film.

Narrated by Cris in English, the film is also captioned in English, and in most parts have FSL interpretations and/or insets. However, the interviews were largely conducted in Filipino. No doubt, we can say that the film is multilingual. The Malolos segment however was narrated by Bayani Generoso because of Cris’ unavailability after two recording sessions. The Sublime Paralytic has also a Filipino-narrated version, now in post-production. The title is PULE: UTAK NG REBOLUSYON, narrated in Filipino by Dr. Apolonio Chua from the Department of Filipino, University of the Philippines.

FSL Interpreters for THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC are Bayani Generoso, Febe Sevilla, Gess Michael Abrenica, Jr. and CJ Patriarca. FSL Interpreters for the Filipino-narrated version are John Baliza, Febe Sevilla, Gess Michael Abrenica, Jr. and Maria Elena Lozada. Janus Victoria and I wrote the script in English, and translated in Filipino language by Dr. Ruby Alcantara, also from the UP Filipino Department. 1899 documents in Spanish were translated by Prof. Anna Maria Yglopaz of the UP Dept. of European Languages.

PREMIERE Showing on August 27, 2015 at DLS-CSB ARG Theater, 5th floor, 4 pm. CSB Bldg., Taft Campus, Manila.

“Before this film, kulang ang alam ko about Mabini. Now I understand.”

The Blind Architect, Jaime Silva with Febe Sevilla, hearing interpreter. [Grabbed frame from The Sublime Paralytic; Segment on Mabini disability]

“...Mas naintindihan ko yung hirap ni Mabini as a writer, the policies that he did for the government para alam natin yung magiging direksyon ng Pilipinas, and the problems na hinurdle nya with his disability…Hindi rason yung kanyang disability, his love for [the] nation, his love for what he is doing was really something that the nation benefited from. Before this film, kulang ang alam ko about Mabini. Now I understand. Ni hindi ko alam na naexile pala sya sa Guam. These are some things that I’ve learned ngayon sa aking napanood,” says Architect Jaime Silva after “watching”, rather listening to the story of Mabini as my documentary, Apolinario Mabini: The Sublime Paralytic screened last Friday, August 14. A special preview was held at the Department of Foreign Affairs as part of their 2015 Post Celebration of NDPR Week. Arch. Silva is United Architect of the Philippines Chair on Disability Affairs. Known as THE BLIND ARCHITECT, he is the subject of a 14-min documentary with the same title that I made for APCD, JICA, NCDA and the UAP.

Interviewed for The Sublime Paralytic, Architect Silva talks about the discrimination Mabini must have experienced as a Persons with Disability [PWD]. The only difference then and now, he said was the fact that during Mabini’s time, there were no assistive technologies for PWDs and there was no law that protected the rights of PWDs. The Philippine Accessibility Law was enacted only in 1983, or 87 years after Mabini contracted paralysis in 1896.

A segment on disability matters and the causes of Mabini’s paralysis forms an important part of the film. The latest findings of Dr. Jiggs Gilera contests the pronouncements in the 80s that polio was the cause of Mabini’s paralysis. Guillain Barre-Syndrome [GBS] he says caused it. Incidentally, the reader of El Verdadero Decalogo / Ang Tunay na 10 Utos, Abner Manlapaz was crippled by GBS at the age of 16.

PREMIERE Showing on August 27, 2015 at DLS-CSB ARG Theater, 5th floor, 4 pm. Taft Campus, Manila. Contact DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies for more information.

Apolinario Mabini: The Sublime Paralytic’s Filipino-narrated version, PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon is now in post-production. Mabini was the Chief Adviser of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, First President of the Philippine Republic [1898] and his First Secretary of Foreign Affairs [1899].

PWD’s Outnumbered NON-PWD’s in the Making of “THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC”

Deaf talents highlighted in “The Sublime Paralytic.” It features the Silent Steps, the ALL-Deaf Performing Group of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies [SDEAS] with their interpretation of Mabini’s El Verdadero Decalogo / The True Decalogue / Ang Tunay na 10 Utos in Filipino Sign Language, choreographed by Myra Medrana [Deaf], music scored by Thristan Mendoza [Person with Autism]

More than 50 people made possible the documentary on Apolinario Mabini [1864-1903], the crippled Philippine statesman who defied American sovereignty over the Philippines at the turn of the century. Entitled THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC, it is our tribute to Mabini who is considered the icon of Persons with Disability [PWD] in the Philippines.

Notably, PWDs outnumbered non-PWDs in the film’s production as nearly 30 PWDs joined either as participants or members of the production crew. The featured artists largely consisted of Deaf students of SDEAS [SILENT STEPS]; one of the interviewees is Blind [Architect Jaime Silva]; the Mabini reader had Guillain-Barre Syndrome [Abner Manlapaz]; and the music scorer is a person with autism [Thristan “Tumtum” Mendoza].

If there is one thing this film wants to prove is the fact that Pwedeng-Pwede ang mga PWDs. They can do what we can do. Sabi nga ng mga Bingi, “Deaf Can!”

APOLINARIO MABINI: THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC Premieres on August 27, 2015 at DLS-CSB ARG Theater, 5th floor, 4 pm. For inquiries and ticket reservations, click: http://goo.gl/forms/SWf1Yks7tk

Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Move_Men on Wheelchair

Literally, on the Move — these two people are miles away –Manila and New York City — yet they surely share and practice the philosophy of independent living… They do not confine themselves in the comfort of their homes, nor in their shells. Afterall, they are part of us, and should be treated like anyone else in an enabling society.

This is Abner Manlapaz. I first met him in an Indignation rally of Persons with Disability [PWD] demanding the government to respect the rights due to them. He is the President of Independent Living Foundation. He is one of the participants in the docu that I am currently doing on Apolinario Mabini, our hero who himself was a PWD. Mabini was the Prime Minister, First Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chief Adviser of Emilio Aguinaldo, the First President of the Philippine Republic in 1898. This photo was shot at Mall of Asia, Pasay City in Metro Manila where Autism Walk was held a couple of years back.

I do not know this man. But he caught my attention because in the crowd, he was the only one going around on wheelchair. And since I advocate for PWDs, I felt quite happy for him because he could move like anyone else around him. This was shot in Times Square St., New York City.

Great coincidence!!! I just realized now that aside from being on wheelchairs, look at what they are wearing! Red t-shirt and blue jeans; both wear eyeglasses, and their heads?? Aren’t they nearly the same?

The Non-Handicapping Environment is a must in all places in the world. Here in our country, NHE has been introduced but the idea should ripple around, especially in Southeast Asia where PWDs should be given as much importance, priority and equality as any of the so-called abled individuals. They should be given opportunities, chances to prove their ability and capacity, and the right to co-exist with others.

Meet the Silent Steps!!! FSL Signers in Mabini’s “The True Decalogue”

The True Decalogue [El Verdadero Decalogo / Ang Tunay na 10 Utos], written more than 100 years ago in 1898 by one of our great heroes, Apolinario Mabini was interpreted in Filipino Sign Language [FSL] by the Silent Steps, an all-Deaf student playgroup of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies [SDEAS]. It is aimed at showing the talents of Deaf performers, promote FSL, expose the hearing audience to the beauty of FSL as a visual language, and to give the viewers — both Deaf and hearing — information and knowledge about one of the most popular writings of Mabini. The hero wrote it for our revolutionary leaders to serve as their guiding principles. He believed that a person’s “internal revolution” is important to the success of the country’s “external” revolution.

Gess Michael Abrenica Jr.

Lorhen Sumili

Ryan C. Revilleza and Bryan Santos with reader Abner Manlapaz

Marvin Pagtalunan

Alissa Salinas and Dinah Fe Jason

Brion King Lasutaz

Mark Joseph Albert

Nicole Mae Magpayo

Charlotte Punzalan

Mary Rose Gozon

Their performance was filmed as one of the highlights in the 50-minute biographical docu on Mabini entitled The Sublime Paralytic / Pule: Utak ng Rebolusyon. Myra Medrana [Deaf] choreographed the movements. Only half of the total time performed by the group is featured in the docu. Abner Manlapaz [PWD] read the Pilipino verson of the Decalogue.

The segment was shot by Dennis Balan [Deaf], Rem Vocalan, Yuka Eucasion and Mirana Medina. The film is produced by Miryad Visyon and SDEAS with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts [NCCA]; Direction and Editing by Mirana.

Recording with Cris Lorenzana at Soundesign Manila for Project Mabini

Last March 16, a Monday, I shot the segment for my docu, The Sublime Paralytic / Pule: Utak ng Rebolusyon. El Verdadero Decalogo was interpreted in Filipino Sign Language by the Silent Steps, an all-Deaf student playgroup of DLS-CSB SDEAS. Venue  of the shoot was at DLS-CSB School of Design and Arts Building Theater.

Cris Lorenzana at Soundesign Manila

Last March 23, again on a Monday, the voice recording of Cris Lorenzana for the same docu as narrator was held at Soundesign Manila located at Milelong Building in Makati. Cris is an inspirational speaker. I listen to her program every so often on Sundays at DZXL when I am at home. I have been using male voices for my past projects. So I thought that this time I would use a female voice over. When I was writing Mabini’s bio for Project Mabini, I thought of Cris’ voice. I believed that her voice would sound quite inviting to the students. I found her voice cool, and quite good to listen to. History is a boring subject to many students. But with good voice and music integrated with proper visuals, I am confident that it could be made interesting. Well, that’s my hope for the hearing viewers! Of course, that wouldn’t matter to my Deaf audience. Hahaha!

Before the recording… Cris inside the booth waiting for the sound recordist’s signal

So, I decided to contact Cris. She didn’t know me. I didn’t know her either. But the internet was there. It yielded her contact number and email address. I preferred the latter. I emailed her about my current project with the Deaf, and asked her if she could join us as narrator. Would she respond after I clicked the send button was a big question. “Suntok sa buwan, sabi nga nila.” After a few days, I received a reply re acceptance of my invitation. I was very happy. I just hope that Cris really enjoyed the venture with us, her first as a narrator she said. The day I emailed Cris by the way, I also contacted Joey Ayala. I was dreaming of a song for Mabini by Joey. Vim Nadera volunteered to provide the lyrics. Joey Ayala never responded when I told him my budget. Too small for someone like him perhaps! I emailed him again to ask him how much he charges. Wala pa ring sagot. “Awit para kay Mabini”? – Malamang wala na…

El Verdadero Decalogo Interpretation of Silent Steps in Filipino Sign Language; Stage Direction by Myra Medrana [Deaf]; Decalogo’s  Pilipino version read by Abner Manlapaz; Captions in English. [Grabbed frame from the film]

Nonetheless, expect “The Sublime Paralytic” as a pioneering docu on our hero, Apolinario Mabini. For one, it will contain the first-ever interpretation of one of his important works in Filipino Sign Language. Having sign language alone is a plus factor that would distinguish it from other works. Add the presence of a Person with Autism, Thristan “Tum-tum Mendoza,” a graduate of the UP College of Music as music scorer, and it becomes more than pioneering. The first time I talked to his mother Belina [I first met her during the preview of my docu on autism in 2006], she asked me if I can take a risk. He hasn’t done any music scoring for a film. I told her that Tum Tum can make the film his Guinea Pig to show his talent. If you call that risk, so be it. But I believe in Tum tum. And I believe in God who leads me to the right people to work with for my advocacy films. It already happened so many times. Tum tum will be as guided I know. I shall be meeting them after Tum’s concert this month re the project.

Abner Manlapaz, reader of Mabini’s Ang Tunay na 10 Utos, the Pilipino version of El Verdadero Decalogo said that it was also his first time to be in a film. So many first timers and firsts!!!

After the recording session… Kunwari ako ang narrator!!! Cris’ reflection on the glass a la selfie while taking the photo

Like — it was my first time to work with Soundesign Manila. No regrets. I commend the professionalism of the people at Soundesign… The first time I contacted them a month before the recording date last Feb 23, I already felt, and knew that these people work professionally. That was the impression I got from Zed, the first person I talked with when I contacted their office to ask about the rates and facilities. I booked immediately and was quickly sent the confirmation that I had asked for. I haven’t met Zed and Jackie, the other person I talked with over the phone from Soundesign but both sounded friendly, and happy. It was Andro who welcomed us a month later, on recording day. Karlo Vicente did the recording. Both were kind, accommodating and worked with efficiency. These are the type of people who are great to work with. Punctual, polite and reliable.

Thank God I found Soundesign which is so unlike Soundweaver studio! The latter boasts of land line numbers you cannot contact because they have to mute it during a recording. I also had to whisper the first time I went to see the place. Quite small especially the reception area. The space reminded me more of a doctor’s clinic in San Juan de Dios Hospital if you had been there. There was that unwelcome feeling somehow, capped by this incident: I booked on Feb 23 for a recording to be done on Mar 23. I was told that they would call back. They did text me — a month later, on Mar 23, the recording day itself. “…pasensya na. Di ko nasagot mga text mo. Fully loaded lang studio. Wala talaga bakante ng March.” says the text message. Whew! It was good my tolerance is high for nega matters like this one. And also that I banked on my instinct which told me then that that group seemed unreliable. Definitely undependable! Imagine replying to you a month after they were contacted! I was right afterall. I looked for other sound studios after hours of waiting for nothing.

I thank Edit Cube for giving me Soundesign’s contact number.
I thank Cris for her patience and cooperation, and for taking up the challenge to venture and to do volunteer work for a project aimed at the marginalized.
I thank Tum Tum and his mother who would take the risk with me.
I thank Abner for deciding to join us!
I thank Soundesign for being PRO, accommodating and kind.
And I especially thank Zed for giving me a discount! Hahaha! Totoo ba yun? Kung totoo, thank you! Thank you!

Maybe Mabini’s spirit was with me as I contacted and approached people I never knew before yet decided to join without not quite knowing me, or not knowing me at all.

Lolo Apolinario “Pule” Mabini must be very happy and as grateful to all Deaf and hearing participants involved in this project, in particular from SDEAS!