An Honest Advocate… In Action!
By Nemz H. Abiday
Sign Language Interpreting in the Philippines is synonymous with PAIDE . PAIDE has successfully evolved since its establishment 10 years ago. It has continued and will continue to render honest and dignified services through its competent, dynamic, unique, and excellent roster of interpreters. But in the course of its evolution and growth lies also one's great commitment and enthusiasm to the profession and responsibility, which PAIDE is very proud of.
Sign language interpreting, as one of its foremost services, is also one of the most intricate and challenging jobs to do. It requires a lot of readiness and courage for one to face a group of people he or she is rendering the service with, may it be in the church, in the classroom, in a convention or seminar, or just simply an ordinary gathering. For PAIDE, it is a great honor and achievement to be given the opportunity to render and to serve for others in terms of sign language interpreting. Through the years, it has surpassed and demonstrated countless times of doing so on different occasions and situations. PAIDE is always available whenever its services are needed. Work and activities are unstoppable. There is always a task for everyone to do no matter how simple, complex and or challenging it is. Recently, the man behind all this was all tied up with a series of interpreting services plus a Radio interview from a local radio station. Fresh from his six weeks vacation abroad, he obliged to the request because for him this will substantiate that all the noteworthy services the institution offers are blessings and good opportunities for it to be entirely recognized by everyone. I also consider that this kind of job is just a straightforward and effortless task for him. For all his actions and words are reflections of his absolute commitment and dedication to the profession. The man I am describing is no other than PAIDE's (C.E.O.) Chief Executive Officer himself, Mr. Alfredo D. Celada Jr . Sir Jun, as we fondly call him, is really a true C.E.O. He is a Certified Empowering Officer, a model of professionalism and dedication, and an inspiration for us, someone who executes orders. The man in action!
Last June 22, 2007 , Mr. Rolando Fernandez of The National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) asked assistance for an interpreter to be sent to OMI for an Interpreting service for the “YES PROGRAM”. Sir Jun with pleasure accepted the offer. The “YES PROGRAM” then was in need of a sign language interpreter for their American Field Services Scholars. It was an Orientation Seminar and Workshop for all Scholars in preparation for their departure for the states. One of these AFS Scholars is Kathrina Gonzales, a 3rd year high school deaf student of Isabela School for the Deaf. Kathrina is 16 years old and one of the 42 AFS Scholars of batch 4 who will be flying this August as an Exchange students of “YES PROGAM” under the US Government. It was a whole day and exhausting activity for Sir Jun but was a very worthwhile and fruitful one.
Next was on June 24, 2007 , when Sir Jun was invited to be a guest for a live interview at The RADYO NG BAYAN, 738 KHz. a local radio station through their program “DAANG WALANG HANGGAN”. Ms. Mely Tenorio and Commissioner Mike Barredo hosted the show. The interview was a very comprehensive one about PAIDE and the services it renders. During the interview, Comm. Mike Barredo and Ms. Mely Tenorio had fun taking turns asking questions and points of clarification from Sir Jun regarding issues on sign language interpreting. Sir Jun honestly and factually answered all the questions and made clarifications on some issues too.
For the information of everyone, PAIDE was founded and established by righteous, self-giving, and responsible educators and psychologists; one of them is sir Jun of course, in their desire to be of help to those with hearing impairment. Today, it is not just an institution that renders sign language interpreting likewise a premier institution for sign language training and has more than 1,000 members here and abroad.
One of the questions asked was the issue on accreditation and certification. It was clearly explained by sir Jun that at PAIDE anybody of any profession may become an interpreter if he/she passes the 5 level courses in Sign Language interpreting it offers and the evaluations given towards the end of every course. A certificate of completion is given at the end of each course or level. Comm. Barredo even asked about the ratio of interpreters and deaf population at present as well as job opportunities for interpreters.
Unfortunately, here in the Philippines sign language interpreting is not yet recognized as a profession. The demand is high and there is really a shortage of interpreters. Interpreters are hard to find since most of them are teachers and are also working. Taking a course in sign language interpreting is quite costly but then the training is intensive and the skills earned are comprehensive for the demands required. At present Sign language interpreting jobs are so limited too for those who have the skills and talents, yet there are still individuals who are interested and motivated to become one including the host of the program herself! Sign language interpreting is not money generating profession but more on charity and service. And, whenever sign language interpreting is needed we at PAIDE are always ready to provide help but still, depending upon the services required and the cases offered, he added.
One thing more that everyone must remember is that one who aspires to become an interpreter must be proficient or skillful enough to be able to sign or interpret and to deliver the right message to all sorts of individuals or audiences, may the low verbal deaf or the highly one.
The last assignment Sir Jun had in June was that of a legal interpreting on June 27, 2007 in Quezon City . It was another learning experience for him though it was a very confidential matter. Sir Jun interpreted the whole proceedings. It was a case between a deaf teacher, seeking justice for her separation pay and a private school for the deaf.
The life of an interpreter is a daring and a challenging one. For in every interpreting service or assignment, new experiences would lead to new discoveries and learning. Yet, true success lies on the happiness and satisfaction one achieves while rendering honest and generous endeavors.
For Sir Jun, your continuous advocacy, encouragement, openmindness, and inevitable achievements in empowering the deaf as well as with the interpreters and PAIDE will direct you to more blessings you deserve. More power!!! :-)