PAIDE's SIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING OFFICER, MICHAEL S. POTIAN, GIVES THE GREATEST GIFT – HIMSELF

By: Leores P. Britanico, OTRP

 

“I would like to be involved in social works like serving the poor deaf members of our community” answered Michael in one of our after work casual conversations at school a year ago. The words freely went out of his mouth as we shared blissful images of the future that awaits us. While I fantasized about becoming an entertainer ( quite unthinkable but true ) his dreams were of creating good for others. Myk's hopes were not for himself but for the deaf most especially.

As if Michael the Archangel and the other angels dropped by at school that afternoon when he said he wanted to be of service to others, his wishes must have reached the heavens. More than a week after his 32 nd birthday, Michael S. Potian was appointed by Mr. Alfredo Celada, Jr, the chief executive officer of RIDE (now, currently registered under SEC as Philippine Association of Interpreters for Deaf Empowerment), as the first sign language training officer in April 16, 2005. No other gift would have been more meaningful to him on his birthday than being the chief's trusted training officer. “ It was upon my recommendation to the board of trustees that Michael had been appointed. I have faith in him and I believe in his capacity to take the responsibilities of a sign language training officer ” said the respectable chief executive officer himself.

For those who might be aspiring to become a sign language training officer reflect on the list below and think again. Mr. Alfredo Celada, Jr. delineates the roles of the sign language training officer as someone who…

-monitors all sign language classes

-monitors sign language trainers' attendance

-supervises rehearsals/practices

-supervises practicum adviser

-assists practicum evaluation

-monitors signed masses under PAIDE

-attends scheduled meetings, seminars, rehearsals/practices

-proposes activities, programs, projects on sign language courses and sign language training interpreting

-proposes updating of sign language curriculum

Looking at the list above only a person with a great sense of order, commitment and leadership can enjoy the perks of being a sign language training officer. A person with such responsibility is expected to raise and maintain the standard of professionalism among the people who are training those who aspire to be interpreters. His mind is like a vessel filled with meaningful ideas that would influence how one would revere PAIDE as a sought after sign language training institution of our generation. He is the man who arrives ahead and well prepared because he does not want to waste time. He empowers all interpreters by giving them equal opportunities to show to others what he sees best in them (from an email sent by Ms. Cynthia Lopez) . Meanwhile, the fearless Mr. Potian tops all these with a heart that beats to serve the deaf in any way possible. Early on his life he has began to pass a legacy of professionalism and dedication in all aspects of serving the deaf as a way of life among his co-trainers at PAIDE.

Michael was already headed towards an uphill journey in his career as an interpreter and sign language trainer. He took his first formal sign language trainings at the grand De La Salle University under Ms. Carmen Rieza before becoming a registered interpreter of RIDE (now PAIDE) in 1999. In the year 2000 he began teaching the preschool deaf class of the Guardian Angels Institute of Learning, now known as Angeli Dei Schools, where he is currently the coordinator of the deaf department. RIDE was fortunate to have him in 2001, as the trainer of sign language for Basic 1 level students and the parents of the deaf at Angeli Dei Schools. To enhance his skills in interpreting, music and directing, he attended seminars and workshops both here and abroad. He seated side by side with Mr. Alfredo Celada, Jr. and Ms. Leticia V. Uy, principal of Angeli Dei Schools and the chairman of the board of trustees of RIDE, at the Special Education World Congress in Vancouver , Canada and Council for Exceptional Children Annual Convention in Kansas City , Missouri in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Ms. Uy is also responsible for promoting him as one of the board members of the Foundation for the Disadvantaged Chidlren, an organization that seeks funds and creates programs for the benefit of the less fortunate deaf students at ANGELI.

This dynamic trainer has been giving superior training to a new genre of interpreters for 5 years now. Being given an award of merit from the Center for Pop Music Philippines for his outstanding participation in Program and Show Directing he has also devoted time and shared his expertise in three separate directing engagements to train interpreters during the RIDE CONCERT SERIES. He is currently keeping his mind set on directing the Golden Hands Award Night on April 8 at the Bulwagang Gabaldon, Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan . Teacher Myk, once my teacher in Basic 1 and Preparatory Level, has taught the art of sign language in a way that brought out the best in every student he handled. He always believed in insisting on giving ones best effort in all kinds of work-tests, song interpretations and interaction with the deaf. Ms. Cynthia Lopez, an excellent teacher herself owes all that she needs to know about this art to his first teacher, Teacher Myk. She tells of the gift that Teacher Myk has in recognizing the difference between ‘honest mistakes (best efforts, bad result) and bad mistakes (careless performance or little effort) . True enough, he has inspired me and many other professionals to continue learning and become interpreters for the deaf. We have learned that the only way to become an expert like him is to be prepared by practicing and making sign language a daily part of life. And if being a sign language training officer is similar to being a basketball player, Teacher Myk's best defense would be laughter. As Ms. Joy Cristal, a faculty and coordinator of deaf studies at the College of St. Benilde , puts it “ More than simply a TRAINOR, Myk is an animated facilitator enthusiastically infecting his trainees with the joy and wonders of signing .”

A man whose heart is passionate about nothing mediocre in life but that of a meaningful service to other people is what Mr. Michael S Potian is made of. He is well known as an interpreter by his colleagues, but, he is better loved by the people he has inspired because of his dedication, commitment and integrity. “ His commitment to serve our deaf brethren is highly commendable ,” says Mr. Alfredo S. Celada, Jr. who has been Michael's constant mentor and who has seen the pot of gold in his heart. On the other hand, Cynthia Lopez advises everyone to admire Teacher Myk's integrity. “ He is committed to doing what is right even when no one is watching. Integrity is more than simple honesty. He involves in keeping his commitments by being sincere, honest in word and in deed and he is expecting the same from others. This character of him should be emulated by everyone in the interpreting field.”

A year ago he was given a precious gift as the appointed sign language training officer. Now, the multi talented Mr. Michael S. Potian continues to impart himself as his greatest gift to the sign language trainers of the Philippine Association of the Interpreters for Deaf Empowerment.

More power to you Myk!

 

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