To raise awareness about our country’s native sign language, Mr. Francis P. Martin, a teacher at the Philippine School for the Deaf, led a lecture for PaScians during the culminating activity for Buwan ng Wika in the gymnasium on August 30, 2024.

Martin shed light upon topics associated with the history of FSL (Filipino Sign Language), the importance of sign language, the causes of going deaf, and informational activities that taught the learners some basic words and gestures in both ASL (American Sign language) and FSL.

He advised learners to exercise and stretch their hands before beginning to teach them the basic letters, numbers, colors, polite phrases, and their self-introduction.

Following the conclusion of Mr. Martin’s discussion, the representatives of each winning section of grade levels 8 to 12 walked on stage to claim their respective certificates for having the “Best Video about Misinformation”.

The winning sections are: Grade 8 – Aristotle, Grade 9 – Mendeleev, Grade 10 – Rutherford, Grade 11 – Banzon, and Grade 12 – Quisumbing.

Filipino Department Coordinator Myra Jaime formally ended the event with her closing remarks, “Nasa sa’tin kung paano natin gagamitin ang ating wika. Sapagkat kapag hindi natin minahal ang ating sariling wika, ito ay kusang mamamatay. Sabi nga ng ating pambansang bayani na si Dr. Jose Rizal, ‘Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, ay higit pa sa malansang isda.’ Sino pa ba ang magtataguyod sa ating wika? Kundi tayo mismo na mga Pilipino.”