In Celebration of the 2016 National Arts Month-PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon

Now busy preparing for the premiere screening next week of my latest educational documentary that is meant primarily to give Deaf access to information about one of our greatest heroes, Apolinario Mabini. He is currently considered an icon of Persons with Disability in the Philippines. Paralyzed at the age of 31 in 1896, the year Jose Rizal was shot to death, he worked while studying until he finished the Bachelor of Laws from UST. Mabini was the Chief Adviser of the First President of the Philippine Republic and the First Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The Americans tagged him as the “Insurgent’s Brains.”

Most importantly, the film is our vehicle to promote the use and recognition of Filipino Sign Language [FSL]. Signing Exact English continues to be used in the educational curriculum of the Deaf.

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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

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.

Mabini’s “El Verdadero Decalogo” Interpreted in Filipino Sign Language 117 years After it was Written

“Unique in itself, using and recognizing the natural sign language of Deaf Filipinos help in raising their morale and esteem because recognizing Filipino Sign Language is recognizing their identity as Deaf Filipinos.” This was posted four years ago in 2011 by Rizal descendant, Ms. Lisa Bayot. She was referring to the FSL version of ULTIMO ADIOS by Aldrin Gabriel that I produced in time for the Sesquicentennial Birth Anniversary of her lolo, Dr. Jose Rizal. She earlier said: “Since our agency highlights the lives of our heroes, most especially Dr. Jose Rizal, it is quite notable that Filipinos like Miss Mirana Medina, an independent advocacy filmmaker produced the FSL version of Ultimo Adios 115 years after Rizal wrote it. For until now, nobody has given serious attention to FSL. No one saw that using the language of the Deaf to present Dr. Jose Rizal’s literary work could even be more touching than hearing the poem recited in the most passionate way.” http://myrizal150.com/2011/12/mi-ultimo-adios/

Presenting the SILENT STEPS!!! In the First-Ever Interpretation of Apolinario Mabini’s El Verdadero Decalogo / Ang Tunay na 10 Utos [1898]’; Choreography by Myra Medrana [Deaf]; Music by Thristan “Tumtum” Mendoza [Person with Autism]

In like manner and with the same purpose, but this time, in celebration of the Sesquicentennial Year of Apolinario Mabini, I envisioned to have in my docu, the FSL version of El VERDADERO DECALOGO. It is not a poem though. According to writer-historian, Dr. Paul Dumol, it is similar to Emilio Jacinto’s “Kartilya ng Katipunan.” But like Ultimo Adios in FSL, it already did touch some people because of its form. [Read DFA Director’s Reaction to El Verdadero]. Visual and gestural, the Silent Steps’ FSL interpretation of the Decalogo along with the caption and its reading in Filipino would most likely make the hearing audience in particular understand better the messages of Mabini, as well as appreciate the beauty of FSL.

Watch the SILENT STEPS in the first-ever Filipino Sign Language interpretation of the preamble of the Programa Constitucional de la Republica Filipina, 117 years after Mabini wrote it in 1898! The DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies All-Deaf Performing Group was ably choreographed by Myra Medrana [Deaf].

Hearing interpreters John Baliza, Febe Sevilla, Nati Natividad and Giselle Montero helped in the translation and interpretation process from their English and Filipino versions into Filipino Sign Language.

The SILENT STEPS was established to compete with the hearing people and to prove that DEAF CAN!

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

[The version narrated in Filipino – PULE: UTAK NG REBOLUSYON is now in post-production.]

In Promotion of Filipino Sign Language: “APOLINARIO MABINI: THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC”

SILENT ODYSSEY [2008], the first feature-length documentary on Deaf Filipinos was produced seven years ago. It had segments on the Filipino Sign Language [FSL] origin, importance to the Deaf of sign language, and the need for recognition of their linguistic human rights. Surprisingly, those in the Department of Education did not even know that FSL existed. Blind to its existence then??? and Now?

Bayani Generoso Interprets in The Sublime Paralytic

Thus, FSL in APOLINARIO MABINI: THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC [and soon! in PULE: UTAK ng REBOLUSYON] was intentionally used again– to prove that it exists and keeps on flourishing through the years. Largely interpreted in FSL, it is primarily aimed at providing Deaf individuals access to information on Mabini, the First Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the First Prime Minister of the Philippines. No doubt, the visual medium is one of the best ways to help promote FSL, its recognition as the preferred language of Deaf Filipinos, and in the preservation of Deaf language and culture. Too bad that up to now, the government is not officially recognizing FSL as the national sign language of Deaf Pinoys.

John Baliza Interprets in PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon, the Filipino-narrated version of The Sublime Paralytic

As former student of FSL moreover, under the Filipino Sign Language Program of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies [SDEAS], it is one of my aims to provide the hearing students of FSLLP a film that will help them get familiar with FSL signs. Exposure to signs will aid them in improving their receptive skill because it was, and still is admittedly, my problem up to now!

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, PULE: UTAK NG REBOLUSYON, now in post-production are John Baliza, Febe Sevilla, Gess Michael Abrenica, Jr. and Maria Elena Lozada.

The FSL fight for government recognition is on! Support FSL!

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

Interpreter Education Program (IEP)

Posting a letter from John Baliza of DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies addressed to sign language interpreters:

Greetings fellow sign language interpreters!

We at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is in the process of establishing an Interpreter Education Program (IEP), and is seeking input from working interpreters all over the Philippines by participating in this short email survey. We are assessing our current situation of sign language interpreting, and your participation in this survey will be very much appreciated.

We intend to start our pilot program by next year and we will be calling on working interpreters to commit two semesters to train on Ethics, Wellness and Skills Development. We are asking current interpreters to register for this course because this will not only be a great training opportunity, but also a means to collaborate and further improve our interpreting profession as a whole. Hopefully people who wish to be involved in our pilot program will become future leaders and educators for the sign language interpreting community in the Philippines.

For inquiries about the interpreting program and/or in sending your reply to our survey, please email bayhero@gmail.com or johnxandre.baliza@benilde.edu.ph.

Thank you and we are looking forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Interpreter Education Program Team
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde