De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Produces First Graduates of
Filipino Sign Language Documentation Program
August 17, 2024
MANILA, Philippines—On August 17, 2024, nine Filipino Sign Language (FSL) researchers graduated from the inaugural Filipino Sign Language Documentation Program at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. This pioneering program was established through the Model Learning Institute on Deaf Centered Education (MLITEDCE) of the Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf (CEAD).
The first graduating cohort who completed this trailblazing program includes Maricris Galang, Kaila Gambong, Rey Lee, Nathaniel Macariola, Jasmin Rivera, Renz Kenneth Rivera, Marvin Prieto, Yamie Yadan, Patrick Abaza, and Shaquille de Guzman, also pioneered the CEAD Filipino Sign Language Research Team. Since 2018, the Deaf researchers have been documenting and studying the Academic Filipino Sign Language used in Benilde Deaf School and other Deaf schools in the country. They have also collaborated with Deaf faculty of SDEAS in 2020 on the enhancement of the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program.
In addition, their contributions include the development of innovative FSL learning materials for sign bilingual education, such as the FSL Corpus and Signbank, FSL Grammar and Dictionary, Academic Signs Documentation, and Deaf Heritage and Life Stories. These notable accomplishments were recently launched in 2023. They also developed the pilot preparatory course for Grade 7 BDS Deaf students. These resources are designed to support faculty and enhance the educational experience of Deaf learners.
Developed by Dr. James Woodward, a leading expert on sign languages in Asia and the Pacific, the Filipino Sign Language Documentation Program is an introductory diploma course focused on FSL sign linguistics. Dr. Woodward mentored CEAD on the analysis and development of the FSL Grammar books. CEAD aims to create research-based educational resources designed by Deaf individuals for Deaf learners. The Diploma Course in Sign Language Documentation equips Deaf teachers and trainees to study basic FSL phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics to deepen the understanding of its grammar.
Now offered as a diploma course through the Benilde-School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE), the program will soon be available to Deaf professionals interested in the field of FSL documentation.
Here are insights from the graduates of FSL Documentation Program:
Kaila Camille G. Gambong: “I felt included in my own Deaf identity and culture”
Kaila reflected on how Dr. Woodward’s teaching introduced her to the concepts and context of Filipino Sign Language, including syntax, morphology, and key parameters such as handshape, palm orientation, and non-manual signals. Despite initial challenges, she gradually learned these concepts and became proficient in applying them to academic sign documentation.
Kaila expressed that the program helped her feel a deeper connection to her Deaf identity and culture. “I felt included in my own Deaf identity and culture,” she said. Her experience highlighted the importance of collaborating with the Deaf Heritage Filipino Sign Language Studies (DHFSLS) team to develop FSL resources that advance Deaf education and support brighter futures for Deaf individuals.
Kaila conveyed her gratitude for the guidance she received: “I am grateful that God has a purpose in guiding me through this program,” she shared. “I am also thankful for Ms. Techie De La Torre, whose generous heart helped bring together Deaf researchers like myself to work with Dr. Woodward in class.”
Jasmin Rivera: “My goal is for FSL [Filipino Sign Language] to help strengthen and support Deaf education”
According to Jasmin, Dr. Woodward’s instruction in sign linguistics, including phonology, syntax, and morphology, helped her deeply understand sign analysis. This made her realize the significance of understanding FSL parameters and word order, appreciating FSL as a rich language embedded Deaf history, culture, and identity.
“I want to use what I learned from the FSL documentation course to teach Deaf and hearing students the right way,” Jasmin said. “My goal is for FSL to help strengthen and support Deaf education.”
Jasmin also shared her gratitude, stating, “I always thank God for guiding me in my life. I can’t believe it and I feel so proud that I have finished studying sign language documentation and sign linguistics courses. I am very grateful to TNF-MLITEDCE and CEAD for helping me gain skills, and I’m also thankful to Dr. James Woodward for teaching us sign linguistics in the Philippines.”
Renz Kenneth Rivera: “There are no FSL [Filipino Sign Language] resources or materials, therefore I had to research”
When Renz began working on Academic Sign Documentation in 2017, he created a proposed sign vocabulary, but he needed guidance on grammatical rules and criteria. “There are no FSL resources or materials, therefore I had to research,” Renz said.
In 2018, Dr. Woodward’s instruction through the Filipino Sign Language Documentation program provided Renz with a deeper understanding of handshape arrangements, basic word order, morphology, and phonological processes. Motivated to learn, Renz plans to use his knowledge to collect data on natural sign language from Filipino Deaf communities and teach hearing educators about FSL parameters and linguistic procedures.
“I am delighted to have accomplished this program because I will finally graduate from the FSL Documentation Program for the first time,” Renz shared. “I am also grateful to Ms. Techie De La Torre for encouraging our FSL research team to study in this FSL Documentation Program, and to Dr. Woodward for teaching me for over three years.” Renz shared.
Yamie Yadan: “Learning Filipino Sign Language enhanced my ability to think abstractly and creatively”
“It also surprises me that I completed the course and received a diploma in sign linguistics and documentation,” Yamie said.
Yamie emphasized that learning Filipino Sign Language has improved her abstract and creative thinking skills as well as her bilingual language fluency. She trained the CEAD research team through FSL learning materials and observed that some hearing teachers lacked effective strategies for teaching Deaf students.
“Some hearing teachers employed ASL, SEE and other proposal signs like invented signs or not true signs that did not match the academic concepts.” Yamie explained. “Some deaf students are okay or accepted with using their invented sign language, even though they still struggle to understand and be patient.”
Yamie’s goal is to use her knowledge to gather data and academic concepts from various schools and Deaf communities, contributing to CEAD’s mission to advance Deaf education. “I truly thank Ms. Techie for encouraging us to learn FSL Documentation even though I was nearly giving up. I am appreciative of Dr. Woodard’s instruction, encouragement, direction, and insightful feedback.” Yamie said.
“I am grateful to our FSL Research Team; we always help one another. I will never forget or fail to fulfill my responsibility as an FSL to help the Deaf community succeed.” she added.
Maricris Galang: “I’m interested in how my family will perceive me and how Deaf education will benefit Deaf youngsters the most”
Maricris expressed her appreciation for the knowledge she gained from her training with Dr. Woodward. She created a handshape chart inspired by Dr. Woodward’s work, which has been helpful in categorizing all projects and guidance for FSL analysis.
“I am proud of my ability to advise the FSL team on many different kinds of projects, such as FSL classes, FSL academic documentation, FSL Dictionaries, FSL Signbanks, FSL annotations, and FSL translation,” Maricris said. “I am really appreciative that I have a diploma from the FSL Documentation Program at CEAD, empowering me to officially advocate for FSL and linguistics.”
“I’m interested in how my family will perceive me and how Deaf education will benefit Deaf youngsters the most.” Maricris added.
The achievements of these graduates highlight the impact of the Filipino Sign Language Documentation Program in advancing Deaf education and fostering a deeper understanding of Filipino Sign Language.
This program was made possible with the support of The Nippon Foundation.