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 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

                          

MCCID College of Technology is very much blessed for having one of the best crop of highly skilled Deaf trainors/faculty this school year. The school always stands by its mission of developing new deaf talents and harnessing their skills in order to produce qualified people who would then share their knowledge to the rest of the Filipino Deaf community.

Here are MCCID College Deaf Faculty:

Sir Ervin Reyes

Sir Ervin holds the position of Overall Deaf Coordinator in MCCID. He is also teaching all computer and design subjects. He is also one of the members of the Board of Trustees of MCCID College of Technology.

As a veteran in the field of computer education for the deaf, he has been with MCCID since its inception in 1993. He has won numerous awards and recognitions both locally and internationally including the bronze medal in Web Designing during 6th International Skills Competition held in New Delhi, India. He also represented the country in International Deaf Missions Conference in South Korea in 2009. He graduated as “one of those” during his high school at Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) and college at Cap College Foundation finishing Associate in Arts in Information Technology. He also took up Computer Hardware Technology in the then Manila Christian Computer and Technical Institute, a vocational school for hearing people. However, after his enough exposure in MCCID, he was able to achieve great successes. That’s why both PSD and CAP presented him with Outstanding Alumnus recognitions. He also received the Most Outstanding Teacher award given by City of Mandaluyong in 1998. Here is a link to an article about Sir Ervin. [ Facebook Profile ]

Sir Jerome Marzan

Sir Jerome is currently the Computer and Deaf Culture Trainor as well as physical education. He is also the Student Organization Adviser and currently the Officer In-charge with the activities of MCCID Campus in Pampanga and Tiaong, Quezon.

Sir Jerome already shown stellar marks during his high school days. He excelled in various subjects as well as in sports activities. He was awarded Valedictorian at San Lorenzo Ruiz Integrated SPED Center in Baguio City. He was then qualified as a full-scholar of MCCID when he took up Diploma in Business Technology. His leadership skills and persuasive personality made his peers vote for him as president in their student organization for two years. While juggling his time in extra-curricular and academic affairs, he also excelled in basketball and other sports activities. He was awarded Salutatorian by MCCID as well as Leadership and Best in Computer Assembly medals during their graduation rites 2009. He was one of the deaf who made a skills demonstration in Jobs and Trades Fair sponsored by various government agencies and attended computer workshops including the Australian Disability Forum. He also represented the country in International Deaf Missions Conference in South Korea in 2009. Sir Jerome designed the official website of his high school. [ Facebook Profile ]

Sir Ace Diaz

Sir Ace is currently assigned as Computer Trainor of MCCID College Tiaong, Quezon Campus. He is also given tutorial assignments to deaf elementary and high school students of Bethsaida Alternative Learning System of Quezon, an MCCID College partner school.

Sir Ace belonged to the top three of his graduating class at Philippines School for the Deaf. He also received some curricular awards in high school. At MCCID, he also exhibited leadership qualities by holding positions in the student organization. He received 1st Honorable Mention recognition when he graduated at MCCID in 2009. He was also the recipient of Best in Computer Operations and Web Designer of the Year award also in the same year. After six months of rigid training in supervising students, the school gave him a chance to become the computer trainor in Tiaong, Quezon Campus. Ace is also conducting computer workshops to Kasamaka CBR of Makati every Saturday. Sir Ace designed the official website of Deaf for Christ Church in Quezon City. [ Facebook Profile ]

Sir Lucky McGill Paltep

Sir Lucky is currently the Computer and Physical Education Trainor of MCCID College Pampanga Campus. He is also the Adviser of its student organization.

This good looking young man is a graduate of Bible Institute for the Deaf. In that school, his skill in designing and theater arts were developed. He has performed in countless programs and invitations from many occasions. But it is when he studied in MCCID where his talents were greatly utilized and harnessed. He won in several inter-school computer and visual arts competition. He also gave demonstrations in Jobs and Trade Fairs sponsored by the National Council on Disability Affairs. His leadership quality also earned trust from his schoolmates by voting him president in school year 2009-2010. He took up Diploma in Arts and Computer Design Technology and received the Leadership Award during their graduation rites. He also participated in various government sponsored conferences including the Philippine Human Rights Action Plan and the first CBR Congress. [ Facebook Profile ]

                          

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ab8Sel-Ek

                          

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

                          

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.

                          

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjMeMHTtaC0

Video courtesy of Jaybee Bautista, 1st year deaf student of SF, Pampanga. The video was aired July 20 and simulcast at Radio Station RW 95.5 FM and interviewed by Reporter Zaira Fajardo. CL TV 36 reaches the whole of Central Luzon including parts of Northern Pangasinan and Baguio.

                          

MCCID Pampanga Blessing

Welcome Invitation Poster

1st Year Students rendering Philippine National Anthem in Sign Language

IMMFI Chairman Dr. Vito Roa gives his welcome remarks.

IMMFI Board Member and LFP Mediator Antonita Gomez explains the CTED program inception.

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa expounds on computer education for the deaf.

LFP National Coordinator Sis. Agnetia Naval introduces Liliane Foundation Philippines as lead agency of the CTED Project.

Memorandum of Agreement Signing

Memorandum of Agreement Signing

MCCID College President Remberto C. Esposa receives certificate of membership from CTED Project Head Sis Agnetia Naval.

Msgr. Cenovio Lumanog blesses the new CTED computer lab.

Msgr. Lumanog officiates the blessing of CTED project.

MCCID Deaf Trainor Lucky McGill Paltep is being interviewed by the media.

Liliane Foundation Philippines (LFP), in partnership with MCCID College of Technology together with Inocencio Magtoto Memorial Foundation, Inc. officially launched a computer project for the deaf in City of San Fernando, Pampanga last July 19.

Dubbed, “Computer Trainers Education for the Deaf (CTED)”, this special project aims to train deaf high school graduates from nearby provinces with the latest in computer application softwares and programs. After they complete the three-year program, they are required to impart their skill to other deaf youth from other Liliane who would also want to learn computers.

IMMFI President Dr. Vito B. Roa gave his welcome speech congratulating all those who worked hard in making this project a reality. For her part, LFP National Coordinator Sis. Agnetia Naval introduced CTED as one of the projects being undertaken by the foundation nationwide. She also hoped that this activity will be replicated in other partner organizations already numbering more than 140 in the Philippines.

Ma’am Antonita Gomez, LFP Regional Mediator gave a brief history on how this project was able to realized through brainstorming sessions which started in 2008. Sir Jojo Esposa justified the computer program for the deaf by enumerating possible job opportunities and companies that already hire and are very much satisfied with their deaf employees.

Another important event was the signing of Memorandum of Agreement for all key stakeholders and partner organizations. Among those who signed includes a representative from Brothers of Charity, Mr. Ricky Ebbay of Archdiocese of Iba, Mr. Remberto Esposa of MCCID College of Technology, Ms. Zenaida Guevarra of Akapin, Dr. Vito Roa of IMMFI and Sis. Agnetia Naval of LFP. The project will be for implemented for three years.

The whole afternoon affair was capped by the blessing of the computer room officiated by Msgr. Cenovio Lumanog of Immaculate Conception Church in Guagua, Pampanga. A total of 14 new personal computers complete with network and Internet connections were installed.

Aside from MCCID, LFP and IMMFI, other partner groups involved in the project are Akbay Lingap, Inc (Bulacan), Brothers of Charity (Baguio City), CBR Foundation of the Diocese of Iba (Zambales) and the University of Assumption (Pampanga).

The CTED Project Launch coincides with the nationwide celebration of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (July 17-23). Among those who attended were members of the local media, TESDA officials, representative of the Mayor of City of San Fernando and other LFP Partner Organizations in Region III.

MCCID College Pampanga Campus is located at Blk 1 Dolores Homesite, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

                          

General Assembly

JOANNA O. TEVES was unanimously voted president while JEFFERSON JAVIER clinched the vice-presidential post during the annual Student Organization Elections held Friday, July 9.

After preparing for three days and campaigning Wednesday and Thursday, third year Diploma in Business Technology (DBT) student Joanna garnered nearly 60% of the total votes clobbering second year contender Kristel Manipol. Meanwhile, Javier, also third year DBT student, got the second spot narrowly beating Elizar Bic Pongos, a second year DACDT student

Student Alliance Party Candidates

Student Group Party

Joanna’s political party MCCID Student Alliance Party four out of ten slots. The rest of the winners are: JEPA KERENA T. BASILIO (STUDENT GROUP) – Secretary, GLAIZA F. CRUZ (STUDENT GROUP) – Treasurer, RICHEE G. BALATINSAYO (STUDENT GROUP) – Assistant Treasurer, REGINA R. LEONARDO (STUDENT ALLIANCE) – Auditor, ROBERT JAY V. GALERA (STUDENT GROUP) – PRO, OMAR JOLAS LAZARO (STUDENT ALLIANCE) – First Year Representative, CRISTEL M. MANIPOL (STUDENT ALLIANCE) – Second Year Representative and WILHEIN S. CHAN (STUDENT GROUP) – Third Year Representative.

Joanna Teves

Vice President Jefferson Javier

Student organization elections are held yearly to teach and experience democracy to the students and at the same time take a more responsive role in all of the school’s activities. Teachers’ Bethsaida Lumangyao, Jerome Marzan, Annalyn Delgado and Ervin Reyes officiated the activity and counted the ballots.

Official Oath taking of winners will be held on August 28 during the annual Acquaintance Party where the students will meet their schoolmates from Tiaong, Quezon and San Fernando, Pampanga for the first time.

                          

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.

                          

Classes opened smoothly on both MCCID Main Campus in Cubao, Quezon City and in Tiaong, Quezon branch last June 14. San Fernando Pampanga Campus opened two weeks later in June 28 due to some difficulty in arranging for special boarding accommodations for students and the preparation of their new computer lab.

Sis Agnetia Naval of LFP explains the program.

A total of 93 students in Cubao Main attended the orientation grouped according to year level while Tiaong, Quezon had 13 students. Twenty six students complete the San Fernando class majority of which came from Pampanga. The rest are from Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan. Meeting with the parents of Cubao students was held on July 26.

Sir Lucky explains rules to Pampanga students.

The first day began with the introduction of the school and explanation of rules and policies to all students. Official class started on June 15. Sir Jerome Marzan was tasked to monitor and assist the activities of the branches. His first assignment was to give orientation to the two branches.

A parent explains her experience on having a deaf child.

Tiaong, Quezon Campus was opened in 2009 under MCCID College community based school strategy. The facilities, additional instructors and direct supervision come from Bartimaeus Center for Alternative Learning (Bethsaida, Inc.) headed by Pastor Benjamin Hugo and School Coordinator Loida Alvarez. Additional funding assistance comes from Liliane Foundation Philippines.

City of San Fernando, Pampanga Campus officially opened in 2010. It is also under MCCID’s community based strategy. However, its program is unique because a special project was formed. Dubbed, “Computer Trainers’ Education for the Deaf Project”, the program is completely funded by Liliane Foundation Philippines. All 26 students are considered as scholars and are expected to complete the three-year training in order to become future teachers/trainors for the deaf which will be deployed to various LFP partner organization nationwide. Their mission is to train other deaf in information and communications technology related field.

Innocencio Magtoto Memorial Foundation, Inc. provides for the facilities, additional instructors and direct supervision. Ms. Claire Magtoto, IMMFI Board Member serves as the school director while Ms. Antonita Gomez is the officer assigned by LFP to oversee the program. Incidentally, Ms. Gomez is LFP’s Regional Mediator for Central Luzon Cluster.

Other cluster members include Akapin, Inc. (Bulacan), Archdiocese of IBA (Zambales) and Brothers of Charity (Baguio, Pangasinan). Sir Lucky Paltep, a MCCID graduate, is assigned to Pampanga while Sir Ace Diaz is placed in Tiaong, Quezon.

                          

Graduation2010

Ma'am Charmagne leads the opening prayer.

From Left: Arianne Jaine Peralta, Janssen Ang and Aliza Berondo signs Lord's Prayer

Sir Ervin Reyes enumerates the recent accomplishments of MCCID College.

Now MCCID Faculty Sir Jerome Marzan gives his salutatory address.

Now MCCID Tiaong Quezon Faculty Sir Ace Diaz gives his special message.

First honorable Hazel Ann Sy gives her special message.

Sir Jerome receives his Salutatorian (silver) medal together with his father.

Jerome and Eleazar receives special recognition for taking part in deaf missions conference in South Korea in 2009.

Multi-awarded MCCID Alumnus Aldrin Gabriel receives his certificate of recognition and a special PGMA Academic Excellence Medal for being an Outstanding Alumnus of the Decade.

Aldrin gives his inspirational message.

Selected students render the "Wind Beneath my Wings" song dedicating it to their parents.

Some parents receive special tokens and gifts from their children.

Batch 2009 - 2010 presents their special number.

Administration, Faculty and Batch 2010 Awardees

Batch 2009 - 2010 Graduates

A truly memorable occasion greeted the parents and relatives of the Batch 2010 and 2009 graduates when they celebrated MCCID’s Eleventh Commencement Exercises held at Town and Country Hotel and Restaurant last May 21, 2010.

Dubbed, “A Tribute to the Parents”, thirty seven students who finished the academic requirements marched on the stage accompanied by their proud parents. This year’s celebration was similar from the graduation program held in 2008. There were no invited special guest lecturers unlike before when the school invites politicians, church leaders and government officials. The stars of the show are the graduates’ parents who did a very difficult job of raising their child despite great odds in coping with their disabilities.

What’s unique in this program is recognizing the successes of MCCID Batch 2005 Alumnus Aldrin Gabriel. The school awarded him the Most Outstanding Alumnus of the Decade and the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Academic Excellence Award. He is the first recipient of such award in the school’s history. A tribute was also given to him.

Among Gabriel’s achievements include “Most Outstanding TESDA Scholar in 2004″, “Most Outstanding Employee of Malabon City Hall in 2007″, “4th Place – English Desktop Publishing Contest in International Skills Competition in Shizuoka, Japan”, “Gold Medal of Excellence during the 12th Philippine National Skills Competition” and “2005 Asia-Pacific Young Professional for Academic Excellence for the Disabled Sector given by National Consumer Affairs Foundation”. Aldrin was a high school Valedictorian of Bible Institute for the Deaf and a Salutatorian of Diploma in Arts and Computer Design Technology of MCCID in 2005.

Twenty one candidates from Batch 2009-2010 were joined by fifteen graduates of class 2008-2009 because there was no commencement exercises held in 2009.

This year’s top honorees are:

For Batch 2008-2009:

1. JEROME F. MARZAN – Salutatorian, Diploma in Business Technology Course
   Best in Computer Assembly and Leadership Awardee
2. ACE B. DIAZ – 1st Honorable Mention, Diploma in Arts and Computer Design Technology Course, Web Designer of the Year and Best in Computer Operations

For Batch 2009-2010:

1. HAZEL ANN C. SY – 1st Honorable Mention, Diploma in Arts and Computer Design Technology Course

The complete list of academic honorees and recipients of special awards are listed on the List of Honors link.

                          

MCCID Training Director Remberto I. Esposa Jr., was one of the recipients of the 2nd Golden Hands Award given by the Philippine Association of Interpreters for Deaf Empowerment (PAIDE) in a grand Filipiniana evening on May 2, Sunday at the Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City.

Sir Jojo receiving the award

The awards is given to professionals who have continuously served the deaf community with unselfish commitment for 15 years and more. These year’s batch of awardees had an arduous yet dedicated service to the deaf people and doing admirable contribution to uplifting the lives of the community. Most of the recipients belong to the educational institutions, their service to the deaf goes beyond the boundaries and duties in schools. All the awardees have been engaged in community and outreach activities where they share their skills and aptitudes even without remuneration.

Sir Jojo gives his congratulatory speech.

In his speech, Sir Jojo thanked the PAIDE group for recognizing the tireless and often unmentioned efforts of the sign language interpreters. Receiving this award is truly an honor especially coming from those who are his peers. He also thanked people who were instrumental in making him switch from the hearing world, to a deaf world. These are Ma’am Sonia Lodado, his first sign language teacher at the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PRID), Ma’am Annie Blanca, one of his trainors, Ms. Joy Cristal, then director of CAP College for the Deaf who took gamble in accepting a neophyte like him as a computer instructor, his proud parents and MCCID College Board Members Mr and Mrs. Remberto and Remedios Esposa, Sir Ervin Reyes, MCCID Deaf Coordinator who is his constant companion and deaf teacher, Capitol City Baptist Church with Deaf Pastor Julius Andrada and his wife May Andrada (1st Golden Hands Awardee), Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf and his Saviour Jesus Christ.

Sir Jojo with Parents

Aside from Esposa, other awardees who came from different regions of the country include Arturo V. Abrena, Jr. (Baguio City SPED Center), Rhodora Pamaran-Brouillette (presently based in Rochester, New York), Annabelle Sabordo-Catimbang (Integrated Special School, Iriga City), Linda Villacorta Colindres (Barrio Obrero Elementary School), Macaria Punzalan-Ilao (Quirino High School), Olivia Marcellana-Lintag (Manila High School), Ma. Isabelita Valencia-Quebral (Miriam College), Ricardo B. De los Santos (Las Pinas North National High School), and the late Belen M. Herreros of the Philippine School for the Deaf who was given a posthumous award. Each awardee received a lovely trophy showing interpreting hands, a bouquet of flowers and an imported sign language book of phrases.

Sir Jojo with Sir Ervin

Deaf Pastor Julius Andrada was the special guest speaker. Mr. Ricardo B. De los Santos, PAIDE Sign Language Training Consultant, gave the closing remarks. They both underscored the pride for the Deaf identity saying that the “dumb” refers to the people who refuse to accept and recognize that sign language is a legitimate language.

Among the crop of awardees, Sir Jojo was the youngest who served for only eighteen years with the deaf community. The Golden Hands Award is the first of its kind in the Philippines and a brainchild of PAIDE Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alfredo D. Celada, Jr, one of the recipients of the first batch of awardees which was held in 2006.

For more of these, please visit the PAIDE News article.

                          

MCCID College of Technology was able to get a contract to train selected members of KASAMAKA Community Based Rehabilitation Organization of Makati City in information technology related programs.

Under the contract, MCCID College will conduct Information Technology training for Persons With Disabilities of Makati City for three courses; Database Management Through MS Access, Basic Accounting Using MS Excel and Basic Web Design Using HTML. The training started last Saturday, April 17 and will continue up to July 2010.

KASAMAKA CBR through their Managing Officer Gerry Mariano, requested MCCID to provide IT training to members of their organization to enhance their computer skills. They hoped that the additional skills that they learned will better equip them in performing common clerical tasks within their respective offices and barangays. They were able to push through with the training because of the financial assistance from Christian Blind Mission (CBM), one of their active funding agencies and continuously support their programs.

Joanna Teves together with Ace Diaz

MCCID has assigned Joanna Teves, a hard of hearing student of MCCID, to conduct the training. She is expected to sign and talk at the same time. This was requested by the organization in order for them to brush up their sign language skills. She will be assisted by another deaf alumni, Ace Diaz.

A total of 10 members are expected to complete the programs. Aside from the trainor, MCCID provided the training materials and training certificates. For their part, KASAMAKA CBR provided the trainees, venue and computers that will be used.

MCCID College is also negotiating for the design and development of their official website which will be assigned to one of the freelance deaf web designers.

                          

The MCCID FSL Font has all the equivalent alphabets and numeric characters that are used in finger spelling and hand sign. The hands used are similar to those with white gloves so special markings like fingernails and hand lines don’t appear. The characters are comic like to make the letters more clear and easier to copy.

Special Characters

Awarding Ceremony held last February 20

MCCID aims for the font to be accessed and installed freely to anybody’s computers in order to promote the learning of sign language and increase people’s awareness in learning this special language of the Deaf people.

Font Features

• MCCID FSL Font is on its first version (135 kb). Expect a clearer and more accurate font as well as additional characters in the near future.
• MCCID FSL Font is a True Type Font. The primary strength of TrueType was originally that it offered font developers a high degree of control over precisely how their fonts are displayed, right down to particular pixels, at various font heights.
• It can be installed into any PC with Windows Operating System (XP, Vista and 7) as well as Apple Mac OS 10 and above. It has also been tested for Linux Based OS (Ubuntu).
• Lower case and upper case hand letters are the same.
• MCCID FSL Font is a Regular Font. It means you can convert each character into Boldface and Italics.
• As a dingbat font, MCCID FSL Font does not appear clearly on font size lower than 90. You can better appreciate the font if you change the character size to 100 and above. 300 is the recommended font size.
• Unlike the Gallaudet American Sign Language Font, British Sign Language Font or Braille Fonts, the MCCID FSL Font offers more than 50 equivalent keyboard characters except for the tilde (~), caret (^) and closed apostrophe (`).

A special Facebook Fan Page was created so that people can freely access the font and its feature. There are already 254 people who liked it as of April 30.

How to Install MCCID FSL Font

For Windows Vista and 7:

Installing fonts are easy and quick. Do this.

1. In your favorite browser (IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.), click on the link below the banner of this website or click on this link. We will use Internet Explorer 8 in this demonstration.
2. Since the file (mccidfsl.ttf) is only 135 kb, the File Download Dialog Box appears in a flash. You may chose between Open or Save.

Screenshot of Install Font Dialog Box
3. If you select Open, it automatically shows the Install Dialog box. Select Install.
4. The font will be copied into Fonts folder inside the Windows folder. It will now be ready to use. Open your favorite softwares (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and simply select MCCID FSL Font.

Please go to the following links for instructions on how to install the font in different operating systems.

1. For Windows XP
2. For MAC OS 10 and above
3. For Ubuntu Linux

                          

MCCID Training Director Jojo Esposa Jr. together with Deaf Student Lucky McGill Paltep conducted a whole day conversational sign language seminar with the United Coconut Planters Bank Employees last April 22 at UCPB Main Office in Makati Ave, Makati City.

Sir Jojo conducts whole day sign language training.

Lucky Paltep, UCPB Program Officer Michael Mapua and Sir Jojo