On April 6-11, 2011, Nora Shannon, senior project associate for the P-CEN project and Theresa Christine B. De la Torre, director of the Center for Education Access and Development (CEAD) at the DLS-College of St.Benilde, visited three of the schools that are included in the Secondary Education Initiatives (SEc-I) Network of schools and programs for the deaf in the Philippines. The first visit was hosted by Br. Jimmy Dalumpines, University Chancellor of La Salle University- Ozamiz. Shannon and Dela Torre visited the classrooms of the elementary school for the deaf on the LSU-Ozamiz campus and met with the principal, Sarah Talibong, and teachers, Marecel Perez-Alijo and Dennis Maestrado. Additionally, they met with Rodelo Salburo and teachers at LSU who teach deaf students in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management to discuss issues and strategies for working with deaf students in the classroom.
Upon returning to Manila, the pair visited the Program for Deaf Learners (PDL) at LaSalle-Green Hills-Adult Night High School. There they met with Mr. Rheal Dayrit, principal, and Mr. Noel Que, moderator of PDL. They discussed the progress being made at LS-GH-ANHS as they improve their program for deaf learners. The innovations include: the implementation of a new entrance screening program, additional training for teachers, students and parents, and the implementation of a Deaf Buddy Club. Many of these innovations are a direct result of observations of SEc-I participants at a fact-finding trip funded by PEN-International in 2010 in which representatives from each SEc-I school visited various programs for deaf students in the US.
Additionally, discussions were held with Ms. May Cabutihan, the presumptive principal of the new secondary school for the deaf in Manila. Qualifications of teachers that will be hired at the new school were discussed as well as how to enhance the education of the new teachers.
During the final visit to DeLaSalle-College of St. Benilde, Shannon met with Dean Lettie Delarmente and the faculty of the School of Hospitality, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM) as well as Dean Nicky Templo-Perez and members of the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS). Plans for implementing the inclusion of Deaf students from SDEAS into the SHRIM program in September 2012 were discussed.