Gallaudet University Letter for Febe Sevilla

Finally! I found the acknowledgment letter Febe Sevilla, my buddy sign language interpreter wanted to see. It was sent to me by Gallaudet University. Probably because she is a history teacher, she wanted “historical evidence.” Just telling her about it was not enough. Hahaha!

I personally met Ms. Diana Moore, the university librarian to donate a copy of my film,  A MI PATRIA with the last book that I published for my historian-brother. Febe with husband Jun were my interpreters for the film. It features five poems of our National hero JOSE RIZAL interpreted in Filipino Sign Language by Deaf individuals for the first time over a hundred years after they were written. Deaf students the world over can view it there.

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Deaf Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines Used FSL

Sometime last year, I visited Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. with my relatives. I had an appointment to meet its librarian Ms. Diana Moore. I previously had email communications with her because of her interest to have a copy of “Silent Odyssey,” my documentary on Deaf Filipinos for their library collections.

My relatives wondered how communication would go between me and the Deaf guard. It didn’t bother me a bit that I do not know how to sign ASL [American Sign Language]. Whether I would be understood or not, I used Filipino Sign Language [FSL], visual gestural communication and finger spelling. I was understood. For me, that was a “big” accomplishment since I only have basic knowledge of sign language. It was my first time to “talk” with a Deaf American.

Anyhow, at the time we visited the library, there was an ongoing exhibition of the Peace Corps activities worldwide. They were active here in our country especially in the 70’s. Ms. Moore led us to the exhibition place.

Gallaudet Univ Librarian Ms. Diana Moore leading us to the Exhibition Area

 

I was surprised to know that FSL was used by some Peace Corps members. I have always believed that they only used American Sign Language primarily because they are Americans. At the time that they started coming here in the 70’s there were no formal studies yet with regards the existence of Filipino Sign Language. I was mistaken in my belief when I read one of the testimonies displayed.

Recognizing the use of FSL by a Deaf Peace Corp volunteer surprised me. I used to think that they only promoted and used ASL and SEE [Signing Exact English]

Signing Exact English [SEE], the type of sign language Peace Corps volunteers introduced and popularized here is still being taught and is being adopted up to now by Miriam College, and by most schools in the Philippines, especially those that are handled by hearing teachers. However, from the 90’s FSL started to get popularized and is currently being advocated by majority of Deaf Filipino leaders as the natural sign language of Deaf Filipinos. The number of FSL users continue to grow as they become aware of their Deaf identity as a cultural-linguistic minority group.

It took me more than I year before I managed to write about this. I was only reminded again when I saw the photos above as I started looking for my travel files to review the shots for a music video that I am preparing for a family reunion tomorrow. My balikbayan relatives from Maryland who brought us to Washington D.C. are here. So, tomorrow, we’ll have fun reminiscing the long walks we did over there, as well as in Baltimore and Pennsylvania through my travel videos.

A Mi Patria Joins Silent O and Ultimo Adios in Gallaudet University Archives

Last July 29, my family and I went to Gallaudet University located in Florida Avenue, Washington, D. C. to meet Ms. Diana Moore, the university Deaf Librarian Collections and Archives Head to donate a copy of “A mi Patria — 5 Selected Poems of Jose Rizal in Filipino Sign Language.” I also gave a copy of “Collection Building: Filipininana,” a compilation of my brother’s writings on Filipiniana. Ms. Moore toured us around the library and showed the exhibit on Peace Corps featuring the works of Deaf volunteers.

Founder of Gallaudet University Edward Miner Gallaudet

With A mi Patria, I also gave Gallaudet’s Library a copy of “Collection Building: Filipiniana,” the last book I published on my brother’s compilation of writings on Filipiniana.

[L to R]: Tessie Juan, Even Dominguez, Diana Moore, MM; Behind are Angel Villafuerte, my niece Oying Villafuerte and nephew, Ronnie Medina

Souvenir from Gallaudet University Library and Archives

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Silent O and Ultimo A Now in Gallaudet Univ Library

Gallaudet University Photo from http://odeafo.blogspot.com/2010/12/washington-d.html

Last week, Ms. Diana Gates Moore, Gallaudet University Deaf Collection & Instruction Librarian acknowledged the receipt of Silent Odyssey, my docu on Deaf Filipinos, and Mi Ultimo Adios, the first-ever translation of Dr. Jose Rizal’s last poem in Filipino Sign Language. Now I feel secure about the copies of my work. Burning of our house into ashes in 1998 continue to make me insecure as I live in a crowded place in Pasay City.

At the same time, I am also happy that researchers from the U.S. who want to learn about the plight of the Deaf in the Philippines can now have access to them especially, Silent O, which is the first feature-length docu on Deaf Pinoys. There used to be some students from the U.S. who have asked me for copies. Now, they can go to Gallaudet U for their viewing when they are ready for issue by their students.

Violation or I would say, taking advantage of my trust and confidence led to multiplication and selling online of my first historical documentary on the life of Filipinos before the War in the Island of Corregidor entitled Tiga-Isla by a foreigner who have no respect for another person’s rights.  That experience made me somewhat paranoid and led to losing my confidence on people whom I do not really know. Persons with no delicadeza or kapalmuks doing that have no respect for intellectual property rights. They just think of their own pockets at the expense of their “poor”, literally poor victims. And to think that that person is a lawyer, is really quite appalling.

[Note: I met Ms. Moore at Gallaudet University with my relatives the following year. Click to see photos with Ms. Moore https://advocacine.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/a-mi-patria-joins-silent-o-and-ultimo-adios-in-gallaudet-university-archives/]