2013 World Deafblind Confab Organizers Tap Local Experts
December 7, 2012
In town to tap local counterparts for a 2013 “International Conference of the World Federation of the Deafblind” slated in the country, was a delegation led by Mr. Christer Nilsson, International Coordinator, the Swedish Association of the Deafblind. With him are officers of the Japan Deafblind Association Mr. Noboyuki Takahashi, Mr. Shinichi Hashima, and their deafblind interpreters Ms. Kana Hashimato, Ms. Momoko Haruno, Ms Kanae Hasumi and English-Japanese interpreter Sachi Shirota.
Mr.Nilsson gives Conference details, Mr.Takahashi shows tactile signing and Mr. Hashima thanks NCDA.
Left photo: Mr.Bong Garcia and Mr. Purcil share project backgrounders and the above right photo shows the group marking all meeting agreements with a posterity shot.
Local experts Philippine School for the Deaf’s Principal Ms. Yolanda Capulong and Resources for the Blind’s Ms.Mila Wayno expressed support for the Conference and requested relevant details to guide the local team that would later assist in that world event. These include the number of participants, venue, theme, program, international steering Committee and admin requirements, which Mr. Nilsson partially provided, complete details to be sent ASAP.
Acting ED Carmen Zubiaga, after a briefing on NCDA by DED Mateo A. Lee, Jr., assured the group that the Council would support the event and reiterated the need for the abovementioned info, including the possibility of funding local participants and other funding arrangements.
Mr. Nilsson admitted he felt ‘’scared’ of the big task when he had to take over Mr. Grandia who recently passed away, but was relieved after Ms. Carmen’s commitment to help, alongside partners present and to tap more, as soon as important inputs are in from the organizers.
As model, Mr. Noboyushi Takahashi gave a presentation of their Association’s programs for the Japanese deafblind, including technology and other communication tools, which highly impressed the group.
Musashi University Professor Shares Disability Insights with NCDA
September 12, 2012
Last minute, but productive chat. Prior to her flight back home, Sociology Professor Naoko Takeda, Ph.D. from Musashi University, Tokyo Japan, traded notes with NCDA ED Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga (above right photo) and staff, (from left, TCD Chief Nelia de Jesus, Project Dev’t. Officer Josephine Despi and PMD’s Planning Officer Delfina “Bing” Bacquir), on community-based livelihood programs of/for persons with disabilities. This meeting would spin off following future joint projects: 1) field visits of Japanese sociology students to local livelihood projects such as beauty salon, bakeries and eateries run/manned by persons with disabilities, 2) posting of counterpart projects c/o Musashi University in Tokyo, Japan, on the Council website and other related info exchange.
Joy Center for the Disabled, International shares their “Joy-full Mission” with the Council
August 1, 2012
Joy Center for the Disabled, International – NCDA Interface. On the bottom left picture, standing from the left: Pastora Agnes B. Valdez, Joy Disability Mission, Inc.; Mr. Tim Kim, Missionary, and Mr. Greg Cho, Teacher, California State University, Maritime Academy. Seated from the left Ms. Eunmi Cho, Teacher, California State University Sacramento; Ms. Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga, NCDA’s newly appointed Executive Director and Mr. Martin Kim, Missionary.
A 21-team man from Joy Center for the Disabled, International, composed of Korean and Filipino pastors, teachers and students met the newly appointed NCDA Executive Director Ms. Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga at the NCDA Board Room on 2 July 2012 .
Joy Center shares their joy-full mission which is to oversee the operations of its year-long Saturday Schools in three locations, and facilitates summer, sports, and family camps. They also organize seminars and conferences to empower those serving persons with disabilities and promote the cause of disability ministry in the community, while sponsoring camps for parents of children with disabilities in order to foster a community support and encouragement.
Queensland University of Technology Coordinator Keeps Tab of Pinoy Fellows Action Plan
May 2, 2012
On the upper left corner, the “Filipino participants to the 2011 Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship” standing from the left Ms. Lila Simon (NCDA), Mr. Romeo Mina (DepED), Ms. Susita Bulawit (DILG), Mr. Vincent Sacriz (QUT, Australia), Ms. Florita Bisco (NCDA) and Mr. Mike Limon (NCDA). Sitting from the left Ms. Josephine Despi (NCDA), Capt. Oscar Taleon (AKaPinoy), Ms. Daylinda Taleon (AKaPinoy) and Ms. Gertrude Pabelona (HOR).
On the lower right corner, the “NCDA Officers with Vincent” standing from the left, Ms. Josephine Despi, Mr. Vincent Sacriz, Deputy Executive Director Mr. Mateo A. Lee, Jr., Ms. Nelia De Jesus, Ms. Ruth Tacujan, Ms. Marlu Evangelista, Ms. Cynthia Barriga and Ms. Leovigilda Oasin.
In town to monitor the Pinoy Fellows’ post-training accomplishments, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Mr. Vincent Sacriz, mentor and training coordinator of the 2011 Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship re-united with the 2011 Filipino Fellows on April 19, 2012 at the NCDA to monitor the group’s progress.
To sustain QUT-NCDA collaboration, Mr. Sacriz also met with NCDA Officers headed by its Deputy Executive Director for an update on the current and future Project Proposals under AusAID and invited the Council to submit relevant proposals for latter’s consideration.
NCDA Awards Braille Watches to Students with Visual Impairment
February 25, 2012
Deputy Executive Director of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Mr. Mateo A. Lee, Jr. (2nd from left, above photo) awards a Braille watch for the blind to Eugemar Red Garcia, a 3rd year student from Quirino High School during the Closing Program of the Training of Parents Volunteers Assisting Special Education Teachers Handling Multiple Disabilities with Visual Impairments conducted by the Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC) which was held at the NCDA last February 17, 2012. Witnessing the awarding are Ms. Gina Dela Cruz, PAVIC President and Mr. Francis Choy, PAVIC Chairman of the Board of Trustee. Other recipients of the Braille watches donated by Dr. Lur K. Pfau, a visually impaired lawyer from Switzerland and his wife Brigitte Ernest, are Angel Boo, Grade 5 student of Bambang Elementary School in Bocaue, Bulacan and Reynmerc Endac, a Grade 2 student from Commonwealth Elementary School.
Korean Team’s Power Wheelchair Spurs Young Pinay Rights Advocate
January 24, 2012
International Cooperation at Work! DSWD Undersecretary and NCDA’s OIC/ED Alicia R. Bala , Global Cancer Ambassador and New Vois Association of the Philippines President Emer Rojas and wife Volet cheer the first ride of new and lucky power wheelchair owner Carla dela Cruz, another highlight of the December 2, 2011 “Asia Pacific’s Walk for the Rights of PWDs”. Carla, an AFS-YES scholar and a cum laude graduate of Trinity University of Asia, BS Education major in SPED, looks forward to using her power cruiser in her future teaching career.
Other Korean team members who joined the ‘Walk’ aside from Dr. Lee and Mr. Choi were Prof. Yong-gil Jo of Gosin University Dept. of Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Jin Woo Lee, Branch Chair, Association of Disabled People’s Rights Support, Bright Tomorrow Director Kyung Ja Lee and Good Job Center for Independent Living Assistant Kwanghee Choi.
The Korean delegates took the opportunity to join the “2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress” hosted by the country last November 29-30, 2011, and urged NCDA to facilitate their exchange on rights issues on a regular basis, with their local counterpart people’s organizations and partners.