Congress Hearing

Students pose in front of HOR logo.

MCCID College students in full force showing their banner outside the House of Representatives gate.

MCCID College students were allowed to enter the congress lobby to appeal for the bill to be passed.

Ma'am Beth Villanueva interprets for the deaf.

Selected MCCID students were able to attend the congressional hearing.

Sir Jojo demonstrates to the congressmen the advantages of using the current cellular phones using the 3G technology.

MCCID represents the deaf sector assisting the government when it comes to information and communications technology.

MCCID Training Director attended the hearing as part of the government agency in charge of telecommunications group headed by National Computer Center's Mercy Nicolas and National Telecommunications Commission's Edgardo Cabarios.

Sir Jojo points out some loopholes in the bills and requests for the changes in their contents.

MCCID College Faculty pose with House Bill No. 2955 Author Cong. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr.- Party List Representative of Abante Mindanao.

The entire MCCID student population trooped to the House of Representatives building to attend the House Committee on Social Services last January 24, 2011 to support the two house bills on telecommunication services for the deaf.

MCCID was part of the government group which includes the National Computer Center, National Telecommunications Commission and the National Council on Disability Affairs.

The two house bills were discussed in the committee hearings. These are House Bill No. 1681 or “An Act Providing Telecommunications Systems Accessibility to the Hearing-Impaired and Speech-Impaired” authored by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and House Bill No. 2955 or “An Act Providing Hearing-Impaired and Speech-Impaired Persons Access to Telecommunication system” authored by Rep. Marcelino Teodoro.

For his part, MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa proposed that instead of pushing for this bill, a study must be made to upgrade its content to include the latest technology. He demonstrated to the house the use of 3G technology in video calls. He only requests the congress to require major telecommunication companies to lower the cost of their services.

A Technical Working Group was put up in order to study the enhancement of the said two bills.

adocdonation

ADOC Country Manager Jose Cheung accepts the MCCID Sign Language Wall Clock from MCCID Registrar Remedios Esposa.

MCCID Training Director Ervin Reyes inspects the sample computer unit.

MCCID Registrar Remedios Esposa signed the Memorandum of Agreement between ADOC-NCC and MCCID while ADOC Country Manager Jose Cheung and NCC Representative Mercy Nicolas looks on.

From left: MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa, ADOC Country Manager Jose Cheung, MCCID Registrar Remedios Esposa, NCC Representative Mercy Nicolas and MCCID Deaf Coordinator Ervin Reyes don an i-love-you hand sign.

Short discussion about ADOC's programs in the Philippines

A total of eight computer units were donated by ADOC-NCC.

Taiwan-based Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) through its Philippine government partner, the National Computer Center – Commission on Information and Communications Technology (NCC-CICT) donated eight slightly used branded computers to MCCID College of Technology.

In a simple turn-over ceremony held last December 22 at NCC Building, Philippine ADOC Project Manager Mr. Jose Cheng stressed the need to bridge the digital divide among Persons With Disabilities. He said that by providing computer equipments to other disability group, ADOC may be able to fully address their goal of opening digital opportunities to the marginalized sector of the society.

For her part, NCC ADOC Officer Mercy Nicolas explained that they selected MCCID as the recipient of the computer units in order to complete their support for the cross-disability sector. ADOC already provided equipment aid to ATRIEV School for the Blind and another one from the orthopedically impaired group. MCCID belongs to the hearing impaired sector.

The turn-over ceremony was capped by Memorandum of Agreement signing led by Mr. Cheng and Ms. Nicolas from ADOC/NCC and School Registrar Remedios Esposa, representing MCCID College of Technology. The event was also witnessed by MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa Jr. and Deaf Coordinator Ervin Reyes. The school is now an official ADOC partner in the Philippines.

Mrs. Esposa thanked the ADOC for the generous donation. She also expressed her gratitude to Ms. Nicolas for selecting the institution as their recipient. She presented the wall clock with sign language to both Cheng and Nicolas as the school’s token of appreciation.

The eight-unit workstation will be placed in a special computer room on the newly constructed MCCID building in San Mateo, Rizal. The deaf students and alumni will use these units for their web design outsourcing and proofreading projects which would then be monitored by NCC. These income-generating activities hope to provide additional employment opportunities to the Filipino deaf come 2011.

MCCID has been a longtime partner of the National Computer Center. This year alone, NCC conducted workshops and forums for MCCID students and even invited the school’s training director as one of their speakers.

Deaf Trainor Jerome Marzan represented MCCID College during the focus group discussion at the UP Institute of Human Rights last December 1 at the UP Law Center focusing on identifying human rights challenges and barriers to access to justice commonly experienced by persons with disabilities.

Atty. Ibarra M. Gutierrez III UP Law School Director invited key Persons with Disabilities sector to a focus group discussion which aimed to survey the current human rights landscape for PWDs. The focus group discussion is among the series of expert dialogues in order to enable the Institute to determine gaps in the current legal and regulatory framework affecting PWDs and to recommend policy reforms.

Sir Jojo was the FGD's official sign language interpreter of Sir Jerome and Mr. Raphy Domingo, deaf leader and one of the participants.

Among the thing Sir Jerome suggested are the recognition of Filipino Sign Language as the official language to be used in deaf education and putting of closed captions on news broadcasts. As a rejoinder, Sir Jerome made the following sentiments in the official MCCID College Facebook Fan Page:

I feel very pity that some deaf people in the Philippines have no work. So I think more deep about why some deaf don’t have work and jobs to other companies and places. It is because some government agencies and other companies are very lack aware, not considering the deaf and discriminating deaf people especially in some provinces. So I want to suggest more to UP Institute of Human Rights Focus Group Discussion about this.

I hope that the government and other companies must open their minds and become more aware about the deaf. They should accept, support and give chance to the deaf. Some deaf people who already have work are now successful and fair with hearing people. I also want the government to accept Filipino Sign Language as the language used by the Filipino Deaf and provide closed captions to all news programs on TV. All of these are our human rights and included in UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

Ms. Krissy Conti, one of the focus group discussion organizers informed the group of the next round of meetings in the near future to further identify the human rights challenges and suggestions on revision of the Magna Carta for the Disabled Persons or RA 7277.

Sir Jerome was accompanied by another deaf leader Raphy Domingo and Dr. Lisa Martinez of Philippine Deaf Resource Center. Sir Jojo Esposa was the deaf’s official sign language interpreter.

Because of a very low number of deaf people who took part in the recent presidential elections based on informal survey, MCCID College decided to launch its “Election Awareness Campaign” program last July 31 at MCCID Lecture Hall.

More than 50 second and third year deaf students attended the mini-lecture activity. This program will continue up to October 31, in time for the National Barangay Election, which will be held this October 25.

Deaf Student Omar Emata shared his experience voting in last May 2010 elections.

MCCID Administration together with MCCID Student Organization agreed to provide assistance and additional incentives to students who will be registering in their respective City or Municipal Election Offices. Among the perks of newly registrants include additional grades in their midterm for English, Deaf Culture, Current Issues on Disabilities and Values Education Subjects. They will also be excused from their subjects should they register on a school day.

Sir Jojo explains how to fill up the Voters Registration Form.

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa enumerated the many problems deaf people are encountering in the country like unemployment, inability to receive government services, closed captioning and sign language interpreting services and ignoring the 20% discounts on medicine and other vital services. He explained that by registering their vote, the government will become aware of the existence of the deaf community.

During the launch, Sir Jojo also explained to the students how to fill up the Application for Registration as well as the procedure and requirements for registering. He also gave a letter to the parents seeking their help in assisting their child when they register to their respective election offices.

For his part, MCCID Deaf Faculty Jerome Marzan shared to the students about his experience as a first time voter in the first automated elections last May. Other students also gave their experiences as well as problems they faced when their parents did not allow them to vote.

Here is the list of expected activities:

• Voting Orientation – July 31
• Voter Registration – August 3–15
• Voter Awareness of Barangay Candidates (Barangay Chairman and Barangay Kagawad) – Campaign Period to be announced later
• National Barangay Election – October 25
• Ballot guarding and watching TV about elections – October 25-31

[UPDATE]
52 deaf students from MCCID Cubao, Quezon City Campus have registered and voted during the Barangay Elections last October 25. The campaign was a success.

MCCID Deaf Students watch SONA.

From Left: Sir Jojo, DLS-CSB's Giselle Montero, GMA News Howie Severino, Deaf Myra Medrana and DLS-CSB's Nicky Templo-Perez (Photo Courtesy of DLS-CSB SDEAS)

Pres. Noy's SONA with Sign Language Inset

The first historical State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Benigno Aquino III also had another first, that of an inset sign language interpretation.

This is the first of its kind since SONA has ever been televised. It gives the Deaf people the right to participate in nation building, access to communication, access to be equal to people without disabilities. Educators and veteran interpreters from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), MCCID College of Technology, Philippine Deaf Resource Center, and the Philippine School for the Deaf together with Deaf leaders of the Philippine Federation for the Deaf (PFD) worked together to make the first inset-interpreting of the SONA possible.

GMA-7 staff and crew provided inset FSL interpreting through live streaming in gmanews.tv with Jojo Esposa and Nicky Templo-Perez as interpreters, Myra Medrana as Deaf representative and Giselle Montero as team leader. This was much appreciated by the Deaf Filipino community abroad.

Here is the Behind the Scenes Video of Sign Language Interpretation of SONA courtesy of Ms. Pia Faustino of gmanews.tv:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=17TduUTvGbI

For the Deaf community, this is a dream come true, and the realization not only came through one but through three communication channels. There is no boundary for inclusion or access. What a realization, that indeed, there is no monopoly of skill and intent to do good. There is no exclusivity of information.

For those with cable access, the ANC Channel aired interpreters John Baliza and Febe Sevilla with Raquel Estiller-Corpuz as Deaf representative and Joyce Dalawampu as team leader.
The Deaf students who were excused from their classes tuned in to TV5 with Junjun Sevilla and Therese Bustos as interpreters, Jay Sunico as Deaf representative and Techie dela Torre as team leader.

The Manila Bulletin Online wrote an article about how the deaf people understood the SONA.

Here is the entire video of SONA 2010.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa Jr. conducted a free three-day workshop on web accessibility and WordPress Content Management Systems (CMS) from June 23 – 25 sponsored by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).

The seminar/workshop was held at the NCDA Board Room. It aims to expose the government partner agencies as well as local government units about making their website accessible to everyone especially those with physical impairments.

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa Jr. conducts the seminar/workshop to government employees.

On the first day, Sir Jojo explained about introduction to Accessible Information and Communications
Technology. He also tackled on the popularity of online social networking and how it changed the lives of Filipinos. In the afternoon, he focused on access barriers of persons with disabilities and how web accessibility can help them remove those challenges.

On day two, he introduced the Philippine Web Design Accessibility Recommendations as well as the Manila ICT Design Recommendations. He also made a demonstration on how to validate web sites online as well as manually. On the third day, he introduced Content Management System using WordPress. The attendees were able to install web servers and WordPress CMS on their demo-computers and created their first simple website.

Ten government agency representatives working under their Management Information Systems/Information Technology departments were initially selected to participate in the workshop. Three of the attendees came all the way from Misamis Oriental and Iloilo.

Workshop/Seminar Participants

In his welcome speech, NCDA Executive Director-OIC Mateo Lee expressed his full support in promoting web accessibility as well as encouraging other stakeholders to be more concerned with visitors of their official website with which some of them might have difficulty accessing. He also promised future follow up seminars for others who were not able to attend.

Certificates were awarded to all the successful attendees.

Web Accessibility Forum

MCCID students took part in the web accessibility forum.

MCCID National Anthem Sign Language video shown on stage.

NCC Angelita Nicolas gave the welcome remarks.

DAISY Head Lauro Purcil also gave his talk.

DOTC Rizal Morales gives his inspirational address.

ICT Video is shown featuring Sir Ervin Reyes.

Sir Jojo gives his lecture on web accessibility.

Sir Jojo receives certificate of appreciation together with NCC Angelita Nicolas, DOTC Rizal Morales and NCDA Nelia De Jesus.

Web Accessibility Forum participants together with MCCID College students

Third year batch 2010 students of MCCID attended the first Web Accessibility Forum conducted by the National Council on Disability Affairs Sub-committee on Information and Communications Technology held last July 20 at Philvolcs Auditorium in UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

Aside from NCDA, other cooperating agencies include the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) – National Computer Center (NCC), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). NCDA member agencies like DOH, DSWD, Philippine Information Agency, DOST and DFA also participated.

MCCID Training Director and Philippine Web Accessibility Group Current President Jojo Esposa Jr., was one of the main lecturers. He expounded on the Accessible Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and how important it is to everyone especially those who are with physical impairments. He enumerated some access barriers experienced by PWDs when they open government sites. He also introduced a few tips on how to make websites accessible.

For his part, ATRIEV Executive Director Antonio Llanes together with Project Director Rene Orense demonstrated some assistive devices used by visually impaired and those with low vision. These includes screen readers and screen magnifier softwares.

Among those who gave their inspirational messages were DOTC Senior Transport Development Officer Arch. Rizal Morales, Philippine DAISY Consortium President Lauro Purcil and NCDA TCD Chief Nelia De Jesus.

The highlight of the forum is the announcement of the official signing of NCC-NCDA Joint Circular No. 1 requiring all websites of government line agencies including their attached, regional and state universities and colleges to redesign their websites in order to pass the web accessibility design standards set by Manila ICT Design Recommendations through the Philippine Web Accessibility Group. NCC IT Officer Angelita Nicolas gave the announcement. She also informed the participants about future workshops and seminars that will be held.

Aside from MCCID, other Persons With Disabilities Non-Government Organizations also attended the forum. These includes ATRIEV, Philippine Network of Daisy Consortium and Philippine Deaf Federation (PFD). PFD President Raquel Estiller-Corpuz requested all government agencies to open their doors to PWDs especially those who don’t have funds to connect to the internet to offer their services free.

The forum’s objective is to make the participants understand the concepts of web accessibility towards a “disability-inclusive” Philippines where information accessibility for persons with disabilities is based on human rights principles. It also aims to encourages the attendees especially the government sector to make their websites compliant to web accessibility standards under the Manila ICT Design Recommendations and/or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

The activity coincides with the country’s annual celebration of the 32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (July 17-23). This year’s theme is “Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able“. DPWH is this year’s lead agency.

In preparation for their upcoming On-the-Job Training and future employment, the graduating class experienced first hand how to apply for important government documents and credentials needed last January 18 and 20.

All 20 deaf students braced themselves as they meet the challenge of acquiring forms and documents on a government facility. They bravely fell in line, asked for directions, sought assistance and carefully read signs and intructions posted on the walls and billboards. All without the aid of a sign language interpreter.

On the first day, they went to the National Statistics Office in East Avenue, Quezon City. They mainstreamed with regular people in filling up forms, waiting in line, having their names called and answer interviews in order to get their original birth certificates.

Students write their requests to SSS Officer.

After getting their receipts and certificates, next stop was the Social Security System accross the street. They applied for the SSS ID Numbers. Only students living in Quezon City were accommodated. Others who live in various cities applied on the next day. SSS Number is an important credential in applying for jobs.

Third stop was at Quezon City Hall to get their Community Tax Certificates or commonly called “Residence Certificates” for 2009. Nearby was the QC Social Welfare Office. So they were also able to apply for their Persons With Disabilities Special ID.

On the 19th, the students were again challenged to get their National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearances. The head office is in their new location at 5th floor of Victory Central Mall in Caloocan City. This was pretty much a challenge for them because their subject teacher (Sir Jojo Esposa) did not allow them to go to the Courtesy/Disabled Persons Lane. They have to experience the same difficult task of getting it as with regular people. So they followed the steps on how to apply based on what they see on big billboards and doing what other people does.

Students fill up NBI Form

In the afternoon, deaf students living in Manila went to Manila City Hall to get their Residence Certificates and applied for PWD IDs. All throughout the activity, their instructor patiently guided them at a distance.

On the third day, they were able to apply for their PhilHealth cards in Quezon Ave., Quezon City.

Going through these activities strengthen the deaf person’s feeling of independence and giving them a taste of what the real world is experiencing. Also, preparing this before they graduate is important so that they won’t be cramming about it once they are ready for applying for jobs.

This activity is part of their Pre-employment Preparation Subject under Values Education. MCCID has been doing this since 1995.

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa together with MCCID deaf leaders Mark Sampang and Lucky McGill Paltep took part in the 1st National Disability Summit hosted by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) from September 24-25, 2009 held at the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

ICT Accessibility Video Played

Jojo explains ICT accessibility Issues

Sir Jojo explains ICT Accessibility Issues during Final Plenary Session

The two-day event focused on the theme “Accessibility and Development for ALL”. It was attended by government and non-government agencies who are the stakeholders of the sector. They were grouped according to Health, Inclusive Economic Development, Education and Accessibility. Key government agencies presented their platforms of concerns and assessed their inadequacies regarding the issues confronting the sector. Among them were from the Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation and Communications. All of these agencies seat into the governing board of NCDA.

Deaf Leader Mark Sampang and Liliane Correspondent Tess Dela Cruz

Sir Jojo was tasked to assist in facilitating the group on accessibility in matters of information and communications technology. He presented the concerns of the sector to the Accessibility group as well as the main plenary session on the last day. He was also assigned to provide an insight of an academe during the closing ceremonies. He stressed the need for full participation of all sectors in discussing issues which concern them, especially those who are with hearing impairment. He also emphasized on the respect of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on matters concerning sign language, inclusive education and deaf community.

NCDA Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz was the event’s overall coordinator. She encouraged all sectors to assist the government in finding ways to respect the law and follow its provisions to the fullest extent with consideration of “reasonable accommodation”. She also addressed the need to discuss and resolve issues of concerns with highlights on the role of PWD organizations and civil society in monitoring the implementation of the UN CRPD.

NDPR Week 09

Jerson and Eleazar

Five MCCID students demonstrated their design and animation skills.

Sir Ervin Reyes administers the student-demonstrators.

Another shot from same angle.

Jerson Bandiola shows his designing skills to visitors.

Clockwise: Eleazar Fancubit, Jasmine Bundalian, Lucky McGill Paltep, Madona Hermosura and Jerson Bandiola

Red Fox Animation Studio Manager Mr. Bernard Yeo inspects the designs of Jerson.

NCDA Executive Director Gigi Ruiz gives her welcome remarks.

Ma'am Nelia De Jesus (right) leads the sign language interpretation of Willie Revillame's famous song.

Exhibit view from 5th floor

The audience were a mixed of PWD and non-PWDs.

MCCID students Arianne Jane, Jannsen and Maricris inspects one of the flower decoration exhibitors.

MCCID College of Technology again participated in the annual celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week by showcasing its students’ talents and skills last July 23 at the 4th Floor of Annex Building of SM City North EDSA, Quezon City.

The students who demonstrated their computer and designing skills were:

1. Jerson Bandiola – Comics Anime Design
2. Eleazar Fancubit – Flash Animation
3. Madona Hermosura – Adobe Photoshop
4. Lucky McGill Paltep – Web Design Using HTML and CSS
5. Jasmine Bundalian – Creating Website Using Flash

More than 500 people attended this Jobs Fair and Skills Demonstration. This year’s theme is “Tungo sa Katuparan ng Karapatan ng PWDs”. The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) spearheaded the weeklong activity in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), SM Shopping Malls/SM Foundation and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

(From Left) NCDA's Dandy Victa, MCCID's Jojo Esposa, RBI's Mayette Regala, Filmmaker Ralston Javier and APCD's Ryuhei Sano

MCCID Alumnus Gimar Aguillon prepares for interview. Gimar currently works as a web designer at Nova Management, Inc.

Sir Ervin is being interviewed by Mr. Sano.

The Asia Pacific Development Center for Disability (APCD) funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) collaborated with Filipino stakeholders to create a 15-minute documentary film about the history and development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Persons with Disabilities.

The Philippine counterpart is composed of the following major stakeholders:

1. National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) – representing the government;
2. Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI) – representing the visually impaired sector;
3. Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf (MCCID) – representing the deaf sector.

The agencies were selected based on their active participation and contribution in the establishment of accessible ICT for Persons with Disabilities. NCDA is in the forefront for disseminating information about accessible ICT by sponsoring workshops and sending delegates to international foras. RBI produces assistive devices like braille printouts and DAISY while MCCID designs websites and actively promotes web accessibility to other non-government agencies. The three were also APCD-JAICA associate members.

Other agency that participated in the documentary includes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) where deaf encoders and MCCID alumnus Rona May Savares and Renato Moran were interviewed at their workplace in DFA Passport Division. Nova Foundation, ATRIEV School for the Blind and the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG) also took part in the documentation.

The main objective of the short film is to document the development of accessible ICT and best practices in the Philippines. It also showcases a short timeline between the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework in 2002 outlining issues, action plans and strategies towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons with disabilities up to the landmark Philippine contribution on Article 9 – Accessibility which formed part of the UN-Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities in 2007. The Philippines signed the treaty into law in 2008 and held a unity rally celebrating its ratification in April of the same year which MCCID is one of the participants.

The group chose to get the services of award winning filmmaker and screenwriter Ralston “Joel” Jover because of his professionalism and meticulous work detail. APCD Chief Adviser Mr. Akiie Ninomiya commended Mr. Jover’s attitude of diligently following the instructions set by the group without compromising his cinematic style. Jover’s famous films includes “Kubrador”, “Tirador”, “Manoro” and soon to be shown “Marlon” a docu-story of an 18-year old unschooled blind person.

The “Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability” (APCD) Project is a technical cooperation project between the Government of Japan and the Government of Thailand, which is started in Bangkok on 1 August 2002. The Overall goal of the project is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region.

The docu-film is expected to be finished and shown during the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week Celebration this July and at Disability Summit this September. SM Supermalls Committee on Disability Affairs also promised to assist in the presentation of the film in its selected activity centers. APCD will also lead the way for its international release. The short film has an English sub-title and sign language inset. It will also have Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilocano versions.

After nearly four months of negotiation, the National Council on Disability Affairs, an official government agency tasked to oversee and monitor disability related programs and issues in the Philippines, has finally entrusted MCCID College of Technology to design their official website.

NCDA Chairperson Rosie Lovely Romulo, through the recommendation of Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz, has approved the complete re-designing of their website. In the Memorandum of Agreement signed by both parties, NCDA will pay an undisclosed amount to MCCID College to design the website that must be completed within ninety working days.

NCDA Technical Cooperation Division Chief Rizalio Sanchez reasoned out that they selected MCCID because of their:

• Proven expertise in the field of web accessibility by participating in various NCDA-NCC led workshops, 3rd recipient of Disabled Friendly Website Award and a member of PWAG and international Guild of Accessible Web Designers (GAWDS);
• Web designing experience by creating working websites for more than 20 non-government organizations;
• Long time partnership with NCDA on its numerous activities;
• Champion deaf web designers;
• Member of the PWD (Deaf) sector;
• As a non-profit academic institution

Last April 13, Sir Jojo Esposa Jr., MCCID Training Director presented the Web Development Project Plan to the officials and employees. He also thanked the agency for entrusting MCCID to do the project. He explained that the proceeds of the work will go directly to the school’s scholarship fund especially to support deaf students from the provinces. Deaf alumni will be tasked to do the project under the supervision of Sir Ervin Reyes.

National Council on Disability Affairs is the national government agency mandated to formulate policies and coordinate the activities of all agencies, whether public or private, concerning disability issues and concerns. It is formerly an attached agency of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It is now under the Office of the Philippine President.

After months of processing important papers and documents, the Philippine government through the Securities and Exchange Commission finally approved the registration of the school last November 4, 2008 and now officially named MCCID College of Technology, Inc.

The change was necessary in order for the school to open four year bachelor’s degree programs and at the same time maintain its status as the only technical college for the deaf in the Philippines. Currently, the school offers three-year diploma courses in Arts and Computer Design Technology and Business Technology as well as one-year Certificate program in Sign Language and Computer Software Operations. All present courses are approved by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

CHED Indorsement Certificate of MCCID College of Technology

With this development, the school will now be under the supervision of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as per approval of its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. However, MCCID College stays with TESDA for its three-year and below technical courses.

Together with the change of its name is the transformation of its logo. The circular gear symbol is retained and so with the official blue and white colors. The content of the circle is now composed of the Bible – God is source of our knowledge; Torch – Symbol of education; Rays – Spreading knowledge to everyone; Computer/Atom – Technology and other courses; LY Sign – Focus on the Deaf and Circle Gear – Symbol of unity.

TESDA Indorsement Certificate of MCCID College of Technology

The school’s slogan has also undergone a change in line with the symbols on the logo and the new corporate image it projects. From “School of top deaf graduates in the Philippines“, its new catchphrase is “God, Education, Technology, Life“. With GOD as the source of all knowledge, we draw EDUCATION from the Almighty. These good values and practices will now be incorporated into the latest TECHNOLOGIES and skills. All of these will be useful to the deaf student as he equip himself into facing the challenges of LIFE ahead.

In line with these developments, MCCID’s official website is also undergoing a major face lift. Ervin Reyes, MCCID College’s Deaf Coordinator and lead web designer assured the public that the change will be in line with the school’s policy of promoting web accessibility, search engine optimized and following the latest Web 2.0 trend. Expect continuous updating of content and news articles as well as maintaining files related to deaf concerns and contact information within the country.

New MCCID Logo

Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf (MCCID) has been in existence since 1993. It has grown from a foundation offering one-year short term computer courses for the deaf when it started its operation in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Fifteen years and more than 250 graduates later, the school is now one of the country’s leading institution in deaf education recognized both here and abroad.

“All of these are for the glory of Christ whom we all serve and praise“, thus said MCCID College of Technology President Mr. Remberto Esposa.

In recognition of their expertise in deaf education, Sir Jojo Esposa was selected together with Teacher Lyn Balana of Philippine School for the Deaf to evaluate more than 45 titles mostly in sign language and values education.

Educational experts from various fields of studies (Mathematics, Science, English, etc) came from different regions were selected to participate in this activity. They also invited professional educators from prominent Philippine academe like University of the Philippines and Dela Salle University. More than 800 interactive multimedia software titles were submitted by various publishing companies mostly from the United States were divided into subjects. They were then given to a pair of professional evaluators to be scrutinized on its content, relation to the subject matter, errors in information, interactivity and aesthetics.

After the evaluation, it is expected that the approved materials will be bought by the government and will be distributed to more than 37,000 public elementary and 5,000 public high schools in the country as part of their class activities.

More than 50 students and faculty of MCCID attended this successful, historic and landmark Prayer and Walk for Unity and Global Celebration of Entry into Force of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held at SM Mall of Asia last May 12.

MCCID Students Parades with Banner

An estimated crowd of two thousand Persons with Disabilities and their supporters representing more than 100 organizations participated in this rally. Together with the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, MCCID is the only school in the country that represented the Deaf Sector in this event.

The program started with a celebration of a mass. Then, a march within the vicinity of Mall of Asia was held. After that, series of speeches and special numbers were rendered by special guests and representatives from the sector. Secretary Alberto Romulo of the Department of Foreign Affairs was the highest leader of the government that attended and gave the congratulatory message.

SM Mall of Asia was jampacked with PWDs and their supporters.

UN-CRPD Celebration lasted for more than two hours. Afterwards, a selected group of PWD leaders and the government sector led by the National Council on Disability Affairs went to Malacanang Palace and handed over the Manifesto of Commitment and Joint congratulatory message to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for giving passage to the convention.

Ms. Venus Ilagan, Secretary General of Rehabilitation International delivered a brief overview of CRPD.

To know about the overview ot The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as the first legally binding international instrument to adopt a “rights-based” approach to disability, please visit this link from withnews.org website that made an extensive coverage of the affair.