Stories of resilience, success at 30th Deaf Festival
In commemoration of the Deaf Awareness Week, Filipino Deaf youth recount the pivotal stories that have shaped the community during the 30th Deaf Festival.
Themed “30 Years, Countless Stories,” this year’s iteration aims to move forward with its mission to provide platforms for the Deaf to promote mindfulness and appreciation of their unique identity, share stories of resilience and success, and enrich their knowledge and creativity.
The celebration was established in November 1995 by the Deaf students from the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Inspiring industry experts and academicians will facilitate lectures, workshops, and discussions, empowering Deaf individuals to navigate challenges related to education, career, and language. The sessions will equip them with the proficiencies necessary to succeed in their chosen paths.
There will be a seminar on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) literature where attendees will be encouraged to write stories and poems in FSL.
Students will get to showcase their talents in competitions that will have them preparing coffee drinks and pastries, upcycling discarded fabrics into fashion pieces, or producing short advocacy films on Deaf experiences. There will also be photography, painting, and literary contests and a selection of promising entries will be displayed alongside an exhibition of the rich history of the Deaf Festival.
The Deaf Festival Games will include basketball, volleyball, and patintero tournaments, as well as a human chess challenge, a quiz bee, and puzzle and word games.
Winners will be recognized during the awards and gala night.
The festival will conclude with a fundraising cultural show, a theatrical adaptation of the fairy tale “Ibong Adarna” by Francisco Balagtas. It is spearheaded by Deaf choreographer, director, and trainer Myra Medrana and features Silent Steps, the official Deaf performing arts group of Benilde SDEAS. Voice interpreters are available for the audience.
The 30th Deaf Festival runs until today at the Benilde Taft Campus.
