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UPLB FSL Studies Team convened with LGUs from Laguna for a Deaf-led Project Initiative

by Mayumi Kristine Perez and Maria Rowena Rivera

Calamba City, Santa Cruz, and San Pablo City, Laguna- The UPLB FSL Team garnered an overflowing support from the respective Local Government Units (LGUs) to implement the research to respective study sites. 

The UPLB FSL Studies Team with respective LGUs representatives from Calamba City, Santa Cruz, and San Pablo City, Laguna convened for the introduction of the UPLB FSL Studies Project, “Strengthening Filipino Sign Language Policies in Laguna: A Preliminary Documentation and Preservation Initiative as Basis toward Southern Tagalog Language Policy Development” last 12th of August with Calamba City LGU and Santa Cruz LGU and 26th of August with San Pablo City LGU.  

Asst. Prof. Nell B. Buenaventura opened the conversation with an introduction of the core team, and project details such as the overview, objectives and the responsibilities of the project towards Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Research and the community. 

Asst. Prof. Nell Buenaventura presenting the project introduction to Calamba City Representatives.

The project introduction is followed by Asst. Prof. Liberty A. Notarte-Balanquit’s presentation on the sociolinguistic mapping and key data gathering tasks of the project. Notare-Balanquit further highlighted that FSL and Deaf Culture remains understudied and one of the key reasons to further push research projects like this.

Asst. Prof. Liberty Notarte-Balanquit introducing the sociolinguistic mapping of the Deaf community and the key data gathering tasks of the project.

In line with the project objectives, Asst. Prof. Jonelle M. Nieto asked for the drafted projects and ordinances of the respective LGUs for the policy brief and analysis making part of the research project.

The UPLB FSL Studies Team asked for support and endorsement from the LGUs of the respective study sites of the project.

Courtesy Call at Calamba City

Last 12th of August 2026, 9:00 AM at Calamba City Hall Social Services Department, The UPLB FSL Studies met with Ma’am Celine D. Manabat (Department Head) , RSW, Ma’am Doris Canson (Social Services Officer and Sign Language Interpreter), and Ms. Marie Dianne  Fernandez (Deaf Employee) to introduce the project proper and ask for necessary support and coordination from Calamba City LGU.

Ma’am Canson (SLI) interpreting UPLB FSL Team presentation to Ma’am Fernandez.

Manabat mentioned that the Calamba City LGU fully supports the project and will help with the coordination of with the deaf community of Calamba City. They acknowledge the scarcity of support towards the deaf community. Canson added that there are no current policies, ordinances, and projects at the city; however, the municipality is open for future projects involving the Deaf Community. 

UPLB FSL Studies Team with Ma’am Celine Manabat, RSW, Ma’am Doris Canson, and Ma’am Mary Dianne Fernandez of Calamba City Social Services Department

Courtesy Call at Santa Cruz 

On the same day, 12th of August 2026 around 1:00 PM in the afternoon, the UPLB FSL Team traveled to Santa Cruz, Laguna for a courtesy call to formally introduce the project to the local municipality and community. They met with Ma’am Lyeniellyn D. Oarde, RSW, MSSW, Ma’am Jowerlyn Urbina Napiza (Social Welfare Assistant), and Ma’am Jazelle G. Barcenas (Sign Language Interpreter) with coordination from Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) Officer Sir Roger Genta. 

During the discussion, Santa Cruz Central Elementary School and Pedro Guevarra Memorial National High School were identified as potential data gathering sites since the aforementioned schools have Deaf students. Oarde further added that the project would be fully supported by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Santa Cruz. 

Barcenas then shared insights about the experiences and challenges faced by deaf people in the area, including limited access to education, FSL literacy, and scarce employment opportunities. The following stories shared by Barcenas highlighted the continuing need for a more accessible and inclusive education system and support for the deaf community. 

Ms. Maria Rowena Rivera (UPLB Studies Team) communicating with Ma’am Jazelle Barcenas (Santa Cruz SLI) about the experiences and struggles of the Deaf community in Santa Cruz
UPLB FSL Studies Team with Ma’am Lyeniellyn Oarde, RSW, MSSW, Ma’am Jowerlyn Napiza, and Ma’am Jazelle Barcenas from MSWDO Santa Cruz, Laguna.

Courtesy Call San Pablo City 

For the third and final courtesy call, the team travelled to San Pablo City, Laguna last 26th of August 2026 at the Mega Capitol Building. They were welcomed by  Ma’am Jimima Adao (PDAO Officer) who coordinated the courtesy call event with the team. 

The acting mayor of San Pablo City—Hon. Carmela A. Acebedo welcomed the UPLB FSL Studies Team and gave her support to the project. DepEd San Pablo City  joined the courtesy call with respective personnels —Ma’am Roziel G. Rosales (Representative of Dr. Gerlie Ilagan, and Education Program Supervisor), Sir Christopher M. Palacio (Principal of Pag-ibig and Pag-asa Integrated School), and Ma’am Vilma L. Dimaisip (Master Teacher for SPED and Sign Language Interpreter).

Notarte-Balanquit explaining the sociolinguistic mapping of the Deaf community and the project key data gathering tasks to San Pablo City representatives while Ma’am Dimaisip serves as an SLI.

Palacio shared that some hard-of-hearing (HI) students are integrated with Deaf students in regular classes (mainstreaming) as they discussed the current of their Special Education (SPED)/Special Needs Education (SNED) program at Pag-ibig at Pag-asa Integrated School. 

The team was able to garner support from DepEd San Pablo City, Pag-ibig at Pag-asa Integrated School, and San Pablo City LGU for the project and the initiative. 

UPLB FSL Studies with Hon. Carmela A. Acebedo andMa’am Jimima Adao from San Pablo City Hall and Ma’am Roziel Rosales (DepEd San Pablo City), Sir Christopher Palacio and Ma’am Vilma Dimaisip (Pag-ibig at Pag-asa Integrated School)

Overall, the UPLB FSL Team was able to secure sufficient support from the LGUs of Calamba City, Santa Cruz, and San Pablo City for the project’s data collection and initiatives. During the courtesy calls, the respective LGUs were able to mention the situation and facets of challenges faced by the Deaf communities in their municipality. Thus, projects like UPLB FSL Studies offers an inclusive opportunity for the Deaf community to participate in a project that aims to better understand Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and the Filipino Southern Tagalog Deaf community.