Antonia Benlayo-Blanca

      Patience, dedication, commitment and genuine love for special children are the key to Mrs. Antonia Benlayo Blanca's success in her 24 years of serving the deaf. This fine lady, who is a Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Physical Education and English, and a Master of Arts in Education with specialization in Special Education graduate, has captured the hearts and minds of many people when she was featured in several television programs like Channel 2's Bahay Kalinga in “The Life of an Interpreter”, Channel 13's Public Service Program “MAHAL”, and as a sought after interpreter for NEWSWATCH in Channel 9 and KAPWA KO, MAHAL KO in Channel 7. Surely, it was a chapter in her life she would never forget. But, there are still more to “Ms. Annie” for she is also a recipient of five awards as an outstanding teacher at her school in BATINO Elementary School, throughout Quezon City and the entire National Capital Region from 1991-1999. A champion coach in the 1 st National Quiz Bee for the Handicapped, she humbly recognizes her first students – Buda, Lewi, Esperanza, Tony, George and the others for inspiring her and bringing out the love for special children in her. Her leadership and dedication in her work, together with Ms. Sonia Lodado (another awardee) and Marita Hatami, has made the BATINO Elementary School worthy of becoming the chosen school by the Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko to receive the National Public Service Award in 1995.

Mrs. Antonia Blanca is currently the Division SpEd and CFFS coordinator and a school administrator. Despite her strict schedule, she devotes time to impart her wisdom and valuable experiences to those who follow her footsteps and believe in her visions by lecturing at the Philippine Normal University, University of the Philippines , and CAP College School for the Deaf and PRID (Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf). She dedicates her award to our Lord for giving her all the wonderful special children, members of the faculty and school administrators of the Southeast Asian Institute for the Deaf, a loving and loyal husband and her 4 children who are the source of the meaning in her life. She shares her award to all the people who have given her many opportunities to create a difference by serving the deaf. Most of all she is grateful to all the members of the Philippine Association of Interpreters for Deaf Empowerment (PAIDE) for coming up with a marvelous idea to honor her as an interpreter in the Philippines through the Golden Hands Awards.

“SPED-DEAF-LIFE-LIVE.  S erve with p atience and e nthusiasm to the d eaf to d evelop and e ncourage him to a ttain f ulfillment in life. A li fe full of i nitiative and e agerness to li ve i nterestingly with v igor in his e nvironment.” - Annie Blanca