Finally! Cris Lorenzana’s “Refuse to be Ordinary” to be Launched on December 15

Cris Lorenzana, narrator of my documentary on our hero, Apolinario Mabini, entitled “The Sublime Paralytic” will be launching her dream project — a 270-page book entitled “REFUSE TO BE ORDINARY.” She told me excitedly about it a year ago, and now with her dream come true, I am as excited because I very well know that she will surely be writing very uplifting notes, inspiring stories and matters — stuff I personally like to read.

The event shall be held next week on December 15, 2016 at the Yuchengco Institute for Advance Studies [YIAS], 5th Floor Tower II, RCBC Plaza, Rooms 527-529; Time: 2-4 pm. RCBC Plaza is located at 6819 Ayala Ave. corner Gil Puyat St., Makati City.

Cris, herself an Xtra-Ordinary person is the Chief Inspiration Officer of Training Edge, Inc. She hosts WINNER KA, PINOY! – a radio program airing every Sunday from 11a.m. to 12nn at DZXL, 558 MANILA or via RMN TV APP on your Android.

For photos and my reaction to the book, see my blog entry entitled “It’s All About Love…”  To read, click the following link: https://advocacine.wordpress.com/tag/refuse-to-be-ordinary/

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“PULE” Visited the Department of Foreign Affairs Today

DFA Officers and Personnel who attended the special screening held at the CMOAS Conference Room, DFA Bldg.

The First Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Apolinario “Pule” Mabini visited this afternoon the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City through a digital documentary film about his life, PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon / Brains of the Revolution.

The activity is part of the post-celebration of DFA’s 2016 National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week. DFA’s HRMO-BWD, Wellness and Family Affairs Unit sponsored the screening. Some DFA personnel including Assistant Secretary Grace Relucio Princesa, Department Legislative Liaison Unit; Human Resource Management Office [HRMO] Executive Director Mardomel Celo Melicor, HRMO-BWD Administrative Director Lenna Eilleen De Dios-Sison attended the screening together with DFA Deaf employees from the Office of Consular Affairs. Director Melicor gave the welcome remarks in place of HRMO Assistant Secretary Maria Aileen H. Bugarin who wasn’t  able to come. Mr. Jose Mari “Knoy” Fedelicio of HRMO warmly welcomed us, and sent us off as well after the screening. He was served as coordinator re the film showing schedule. According to him, PULE is “a must-see for every Filipino who takes pride of our history and heritage.”

I was quite happy to observe the excitement Asec Princesa showed for having watched the docu as she pointed at the need for more personnel of DFA to watch PULE. She said: “This movie really makes me appreciate our First [Secretary]…” She ended up by giving encouraging words to the PWDs in the audience who found inspiration from knowing better their icon, Mabini, himself a person with disability: “…there is nothing to stop us from using our brain, our heart, as long as we have integrity, character. The sky is the limit for you, guys. So, I really hope that you will do more in the department, outside the department …and show the world that being Deaf is not a reason not to be successful…”

DFA Assistant Secretary Grace Princesa, Department Legislative Liaison Unit addresses the audience after the screening of PULE at CMOAS Conference Rm., DFA Bldg.

To all those who have found the time to watch the film, I would like to say thank you!!

With the organizers

With Director Melicor

A try in Filipino Sign Language Communication

Incidentally, PULE was also shown in the morning and in the afternoon today at Metro-Manila College in Novaliches, Quezon City with the aim of raising awareness about Mabini’s life, and the hope of sparking patriotism in the hearts of their Grade school students. The screening there will last until August 2.

PULE was intentionally made for the general audience but it is more intended for the youth whose sense of history is becoming near to nil. I also had the personnel of DFA in mind when I was in the process of making it knowing that very few must be knowing Mabini’s real contribution to our nationhood. Who he was was my guide when I researched about him. I must admit that I know very little about him before I embarked on the project except the fact the he is known as “The Sublime Paralytic” and “The Brains of the Revolution.”

[Photos above and at the bottom by Knoy Fedelicio-HRMO-DFA; Mid-photo by MM]

Department of Foreign Affairs to Screen “PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon” on July 26

Today, July 23 is Apolinario Mabini’s 152nd Birth Anniversay, the end of the week-long celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week. However, as a post celebration of the NDPR Week, and as a tribute to Mabini, PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon is scheduled to be shown on Tuesday, July 26, 2 p.m. at the Department of Foreign Affairs Main Building located in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. Mabini afterall, was DFA’s First Secretary of Foreign Affairs [1899].

PULE: Utak ng Rebolusyon is the Filipino-narrated version of The Sublime Paralytic, the English narrated version which showed yesterday at the Launching of the 29th Apolinario Mabini Awards in Quezon City. They are both about Mabini’s life; his struggles as a working student, until he got involved in underground activities while yet a student of Law. As a Mason and a reformist, he was considered as a threat and subversive by the Spaniards. The cruelty of the Spaniards later turned him into a revolutionary. The educational documentary touches on the “intervention” of the United States in Philippine affairs which Mabini strongly opposed, the reason why he was deported to Guam in 1901.

Though I manipulated — [the advantage of being a film editor!!!] — transposed and changed juxtaposition of shots and segments used in The Sublime Paralytic, Pule’s thrust is more towards his role as the Brains of the Revolution being the Chief Adviser [1898] of the President of the First Philippine Republic Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, and later the First Secretary of Foreign Affairs. This version is also longer, being nearly an hour long. Except for the 1899 document opposing his appointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court due to his physical disability, matters about the causes of his disability, and a clause on the UNCRPD are excluded in Pule. Instead, more on Mabini’s cautiousness, doubt and foresight on the American interests in the Philippines at the turn of the century were added.

Described as stubborn, the Americans considered Mabini as the “Insurrection’s Brains.”[The Wichita Daily Eagle, Kansas, December 14, 1899]. Unfortunately, the fight for absolute Philippine sovereignty which Mabini dreamt of, and fought for seems to this day elusive. Big powerful countries continue to fight with the Philippines being sandwiched in between — whereas before it was Spain versus the U.S., now it still is the U.S. backed by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement [EDCA] that makes the U.S. presence in the country official, as tension brews in the Pacific with China’s nine-dash-line territorial claim over parts of the Philippine economic zone, and most of the South China Seas.

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.

“The Sublime Paralytic” – Music Scored by One of the ‘Famous Persons with Autism’ / in Celebration of 2015 National Heroes Day

The inspiring story of Apolinario Mabini is music scored by one of the Famous Persons With or Had Autism. [Click to read the original article or see the screenshot below]. Listed with Albert Einstein and Amadeus Mozart, Thristan Mendoza, a Filipino Twice Exceptional Person with Autism is described as a “Filipino marimba prodigy.” He was an international music concert artist at age 12.  “The Sublime Paralytic” is his first music scoring work. No marimba instrument was used in scoring the film however.

The film was made primarily to give Deaf access to information on Mabini, show the talents and capabilities of Persons with Disability, and promote the use and recognition of Filipino Sign Language as the national sign language of Deaf Filipinos.

The film was produced by Miryad Visyon in collaboration with DLS-CSB Sch. of Deaf Education and Applied Studies and the NCCA.

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.

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

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

On The Sublime Paralytic: “Very inspiring!…touching!” says DFA Director

DFA OPAS Director Lenna Sison, Master of Ceremonies introduced OPAS Executive Director Mardomel Celo Melicor who gave the welcome remarks

“Very inspiring. Actually, I know a little about his life after he got captured so it was nice to know what happened to him after the capture. And your presentation [treatment] of Decalogo is beautiful — profound [reading in] Tagalog [Filipino language] simultaneous with interpretation [in Filipino Sign Language] plus the English subtitles — I felt more its significance. It was touching! I fully appreciated how Mabini’s mind and heart worked.” [Original recorded statement: Very inspiring! Actually kakaunti alam ko about his life after he got captured so it was nice to know what happened to him after the capture and maganda ho pagkakapresent ninyo ng Decalogo eh! like malalim yung Tagalog tapos sabayan pa yung interpretation [FSL] plus yung English na subtitles, mas naramdaman ko significance nya. Nakakatouch! Na appreciate ko nang husto kung papano rin nagwork ang mind ni Mabini – mind saka heart.] This was Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Personnel and Administrative Services Director Ms. Lenna Sison said when asked for her reaction after the screening of The Sublime Paralytic held at DFA’s CMOAS Rm. yesterday afternoon.

Ang Pangatlo sa 10 Tunay na Utos. Abner Manlapaz, PWD leader reads with one of the two Deaf students who interpreted it in FSL. El Verdadero Decalogo is presented in multilingual, multitract form: Reading in Filipino, Subtitles in English and interpreted in Filipino Sign Language.

Ms. Sison’s reaction just proved how important and powerful communication is to anyone. The oral [voice narration], textual [subtitles or caption] and visual-gestural [sign language] modes of communication effectively worked well in her. Through them, the message succeeded in getting deeply through in the hearts and minds of the audience, like Ms. Sison, including perhaps the Deaf and the Blind. A group of Deaf employees at DFA led by Ralph Torralba, [Hard-of-Hearing] attended. They enjoyed watching it they said because of the FSL interpretations which made them come to learn more and know Mabini better.

The audience before the special screening starts. Febe Sevilla [foreground] interprets for the Deaf. Muneer Peña [PWA] sits with the group.

When I introduced the film, I told the audience that hopefully after watching the documentary, Mabini would stop just being a statue seated at the ground floor of DFA Main Bldg. Appreciation of his great contribution to our country, and gratitude to him after knowing him a little more than just the fellow on the 10-peso coin are the reactions I am hoping for from those who would watch it. He was a great statesman, and a courageous one despite his disability. High hopes! but if there are those who would feel that way, then I would have succeeded in achieving one of my aims before embarking on this project which took me a year to finish.

Deaf Employees of DFA led by Ralph Torralba, second from left; From R – L: Bert de Santos, docu’s sound designer, Mr. Rizalio Sanchez, Information Chief of the National Council and Disability Affairs and Febe Sevilla, one of FSL interpreters in the film

MM between Mr. Rizalio Sanchez [R] and Bert De Santos [L]

Thanks to OPAS Asst. Secretary Noel Servigon for the opportunity to share the film to DFA personnel. I did not meet him though because he was in Iloilo at that time. In 2012, he was supportive of our film, ULTIMO ADIOS in FSL when selected as the lone Philippine entry in the Hong Kong International Deaf Film Festival. He helped in promoting the film and welcomed us [Giselle Montero and I] at the Hong Kong Consulate. Unfortunately, then Charge d’affaires in Ankara, Turkey, now Director of African Affairs Leilani Feliciano was not able to come because of important meetings she had to attend. Luckily, I met her days before the show. In 2013, she graced our film showing event in Istanbul as our guest speaker. She later hosted my stay in Ankara, Turkey for a couple of days.

With DFA Deaf employees, organizers from DFA Office of Personnel and Administrative Services, Jan Peña of ASP with Muneer and Mr. Rizalio Sanchez of NCDA

Also, thanks to soft-spoken Ms. Anna Arzadon who served as our liaison [DFA and me], Ms. Thelma Sta. Ana and Ms. Jazmin for their assistance. And of course, to Jan Peña for the coordination work with PWD leaders Architect Jaime Silva and NCDA Information Chief, Mr. Rizalio Sanchez who managed to attend.

The Sublime Paralytic premieres on August 27, 2015, 4pm, at DLS-CSB ARG Theater, Taft Campus, Manila. For inquiries, contact DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies.