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Sounds and sights of silence - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
At the preview of Miranamedina’s new documentary “Silent Odyssey” it seemed a cosmic joke was played. The film lost its sound.
Presented at the De la Salle-College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB), “Silent Odyssey” was the first documentary about the Filipino deaf community.
Though somebody joked soundless was okay because the audience was deaf, the filmmaker was actually aiming towards integration.
“My hope is to help people in our society to be able to welcome the deaf in the society,” Miranamedina said in her introductory speech. “I don’t believe there should be a line between the two.”
“Silent Odyssey” is her third film but this is the first time she is an outsider to the world of her subject. Her first two documentaries were inspired by family members: her parents and their hometown ("Taga-Isla”, 2003) and a low-functioning autistic niece ("Alyana”, 2006).
Beautiful sight
The idea for Odyssey came to her as she watched students of neighboring Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay City use sign language. She thought it was beautiful.
She enrolled in a basic sign language class at the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) at DLS-CSB and was asked to give a seminar on film pre-production to students majoring in multimedia arts.
As she worked with them, she noticed a common theme in their stories—oppression.
“If you’re the only one hearing, ikaw ang taga-labas,” she said of her experience. “Being deaf is linguistically isolating.”
The film drew from interviews and research, including a 17th century account by Spanish missionary Pedro Chirino on the existence of a form of sign language used by Filipinos then and an interview with Markku Joniken, president of the World Federation of the Deaf.
The film “shows who deaf people are,” said Ana Kristina Arce, president of the Benildian Deaf Association, “and what they want.”
Despite the significant number of Filipino deaf, “We don’t have an existing Filipino sign language,” said Simeona Ebol of the Department of Education.
“We don’t have material for that. If there is Filipino sign language and English sign language, there will be conflict with the teachers... If the deaf community insists (in having) their own sign, I think that will create conflict,” she said.
Yet Article 5, section 1.4.1 of DepEd’s Policies and Guidelines for Special Education states that “Filipino sign language (FSL) shall be used in the education of the hearing impaired.”
Right to choose
Ricardo Nolasco of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino says the deaf have the right to choose the language that will advance their interests whether or not it is called Filipino sign language.
The SDEAS is working towards advancing this right as a leading education advocate for the deaf community, and currently it has 138 scholars. It also seeks to instill in the students the “mind frame to be teachers,” said Noemi Pamintuan-Jara, SDEAS coordinator. About half of the faculty is composed of alumni.
“My hope is to show options,” Miranamedina said. “Nasanay na ang deaf na prescriptive ang education,” she said. “So when they were presented with a film with different perspectives, they did not know who to believe—the deaf or the hearing?”
“Silent Odyssey” will have screenings on Nov. 18 and 20, SDA Auditorium, DLS-CSB SDEAS; Nov. 22, Olongapo City; and Nov. 28, Dumaguete City. Visit Advocacine’s Blog.
At the preview of Miranamedina’s new documentary “Silent Odyssey” it seemed a cosmic joke was played. The film lost its sound.
Presented at the De la Salle-College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB), “Silent Odyssey” was the first documentary about the Filipino deaf community.
Though somebody joked soundless was okay because the audience was deaf, the filmmaker was actually aiming towards integration.
“My hope is to help people in our society to be able to welcome the deaf in the society,” Miranamedina said in her introductory speech. “I don’t believe there should be a line between the two.”
“Silent Odyssey” is her third film but this is the first time she is an outsider to the world of her subject. Her first two documentaries were inspired by family members: her parents and their hometown ("Taga-Isla”, 2003) and a low-functioning autistic niece ("Alyana”, 2006).
Beautiful sight
The idea for Odyssey came to her as she watched students of neighboring Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay City use sign language. She thought it was beautiful.
She enrolled in a basic sign language class at the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) at DLS-CSB and was asked to give a seminar on film pre-production to students majoring in multimedia arts.
As she worked with them, she noticed a common theme in their stories—oppression.
“If you’re the only one hearing, ikaw ang taga-labas,” she said of her experience. “Being deaf is linguistically isolating.”
The film drew from interviews and research, including a 17th century account by Spanish missionary Pedro Chirino on the existence of a form of sign language used by Filipinos then and an interview with Markku Joniken, president of the World Federation of the Deaf.
The film “shows who deaf people are,” said Ana Kristina Arce, president of the Benildian Deaf Association, “and what they want.”
Despite the significant number of Filipino deaf, “We don’t have an existing Filipino sign language,” said Simeona Ebol of the Department of Education.
“We don’t have material for that. If there is Filipino sign language and English sign language, there will be conflict with the teachers... If the deaf community insists (in having) their own sign, I think that will create conflict,” she said.
Yet Article 5, section 1.4.1 of DepEd’s Policies and Guidelines for Special Education states that “Filipino sign language (FSL) shall be used in the education of the hearing impaired.”
Right to choose
Ricardo Nolasco of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino says the deaf have the right to choose the language that will advance their interests whether or not it is called Filipino sign language.
The SDEAS is working towards advancing this right as a leading education advocate for the deaf community, and currently it has 138 scholars. It also seeks to instill in the students the “mind frame to be teachers,” said Noemi Pamintuan-Jara, SDEAS coordinator. About half of the faculty is composed of alumni.
“My hope is to show options,” Miranamedina said. “Nasanay na ang deaf na prescriptive ang education,” she said. “So when they were presented with a film with different perspectives, they did not know who to believe—the deaf or the hearing?”
“Silent Odyssey” will have screenings on Nov. 18 and 20, SDA Auditorium, DLS-CSB SDEAS; Nov. 22, Olongapo City; and Nov. 28, Dumaguete City. Visit Advocacine’s Blog.