FEATURES: Every signal and movement of their hands carries their individual stories. Teacher Gemma, Teacher Juancho, and Teacher Jennifer may not be able to hear or speak, but they’ve found ways to hold space within their chosen communities. Among their individual roles and aspirations, they are bonded by a shared duty: to teach Filipino Sign Language (FSL). With the help of interpreters like Ma’am Ahnj, they are able to tell their stories—hopes and frustrations alike—to people outside the Deaf community. Language in all its forms must be continuously celebrated, even after Buwan ng Wika. Deaf teachers and FSL interpreters serve as a reminder that communication and understanding transcend verbal language and senses. Like everyone else, they have the right to speak and be heard. #FromTheSidelines Photos by Rhian Herrera Graphics by Kathryne Hidalgo
Though Teacher Gemma was born deaf, she never had to navigate it alone. Two of her siblings shared her condition, and at a young age, she already started signing to communicate. Since then, her siblings introduced her to various Deaf organizations, allowing her to take on larger roles—as a teacher, an officer for her organizations, and an advocate for their community. Now 61 years old, her siblings remain as a big part of her life as they continue to catch up with each other whenever possible. Over the week, she also pours a lot of her time into her responsibilities as part of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Association of the Deaf, Inc. (PADI). In her nine years in the organization, the Deaf community has always been a priority in all her work, whether by teaching FSL classes or joining organizational meetings.
You can find Teacher Juancho expressively signing whether he’s at school on weekdays or at church on Sunday. He was born hearing, but ended up hospitalized for months. His parents were surprised to learn of his condition when he could not hear anything while fireworks were being set off in their area. Entering school, he had no knowledge of sign language. Bit by bit, as he continued to learn, signing started to come more naturally to him. At the age of 58, he teaches at schools that provide special education (SPED). He has also spent 20 years at PADI. These organizations gave him hope, provided opportunities, and taught him his rights as a Deaf person. He asserts that rather than hearing people, deaf people should be given the opportunity to teach FSL, with interpreters only serving as their support. Apart from being in organizations, on weekends, he also spends time with his Deaf friends, talking, bonding, and catching up, while his Sundays are for serving at church. With the help of FSL, the gospels and teachings are now much clearer to him, as compared to when they were signed in English.
