During in-community orientation, I went to a High School in Cebu, one that looked like I went into an English Primary school, with the alphabetical sign language icons across the top of the wall. One, I hasn't seen since maybe, nursery. Before I went in, I had seen Deaf Filipinos sawing away at a tree log and planting. It wasn't clear to me, till I read this website. This website was owned by IDEA. The International Deaf Education Association. They have a mission...

'......because he owns a dog and its a pet.' This isn't seen as discrimination in this country. It is seen to be respecting the policy of entering the mall without animals. But its not just an animal, it is a blind mans guide and access to social inclusion. IPAD, Information for the Police in access for the Deaf is a project Pro 7 have set up which clearly isn't just one they need to cover. Disability as a whole and discrimination needs to be clearly defined an...

As we do pre-orientation, with our Team Leaders showing the whereabouts of certain organisations and schools as well as the police, the first stop was GVSP. My work placement. Gaulandi Volunteer service for the Deaf, partner with ICS in order to improve the economic and social wellbeing of poor and marginalised Filipinos. They do it through active citizenship and asset reform. GVSP have achieved the goal of creating awareness of 153 Deaf children and the wide...

The ideology here is simple. Someone can simply go to the local library and borrow a book, a journal or browse online. However the twist is that the 'book,' 'journal' or website is a living, breathing individual with a story to tell. Books are volunteers, with their own perspective drawn from their own background, reflecting cultural, religious and ethnic differences as well as view points. In short, people can be misrepresented and misunderstood. This is exact...

We had our first Breakfast that involved rice at Betania Retreat House (it is a getaway place for all the active and ascetic nuns out there). I have to say it was bizarre. Picturing dinner but at 7 in the morning. I couldn't decide if I could enjoy my meals or even tolerate it for three months. Two bowls of cereals to a rice, pork and egg blue plate meal. I had never felt so full on something so little. This surely does explain why the Filipinos are tiny. The n...