The Department of Education Schools Division Office of Muntinlupa (DepEd SDO-Muntinlupa) and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde signed a memorandum of agreement on June 5, 2025. The partnership aims to support Deaf learners in Muntinlupa City through a Deaf-centered bilingual secondary education program.
The program is called MLITEDCE-LEAD, which stands for Model Learning Institute on Deaf Centered Education – Literacy Education and Advancement of the Deaf. It is based on an education framework developed by Benilde in 2016. The program uses evidence-based practices to help Deaf learners succeed in school. It also trains teachers, develops learning materials, and builds Deaf-centered learning systems.
As part of this partnership, Benilde Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf (CEAD) will help prepare Pedro E. Diaz High School to become a model for Deaf-centered bilingual education. This support includes teacher training, classroom mentoring, and strategic planning. From May 19 to 30, 2025, Benilde-CEAD conducted training sessions for nine teachers from the school. These teachers make up the first group of MLITEDCE-LEAD participants and will begin applying Deaf-centered methods in their classrooms.
The MLITEDCE-LEAD faculty members are Deaf education specialists from CEAD. They include Jasmin Rivera and Nathaniel Macariola, who both hold Master’s degrees in Sign Language Teaching. Other faculty are Dr. Tina Sison, who focuses on Deaf-Centered Education and Assessment Research; Dx. Rafa Domingo, a specialist in Deaf Heritage and Sign Linguistics; and CEAD Director Ms. Techie Dela Torre, who teaches education and is completing her PhD in Reading Education.
In her speech during the signing ceremony, Dr. Violeta Gonzales, OIC of DepEd SDO-Muntinlupa, said that the agreement supports the government’s goal of making education inclusive for all. “Every learner deserves the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment,” she said. “This partnership strengthens our efforts to make a rights-based education system where no learner is left behind.”
Mr. Angelo Lacson, Benilde’s Vice Chancellor for Academics, shared that Deaf education at Benilde follows the example of its namesake, Saint Benilde Romançon. In the 1800s, Saint Benilde learned sign language from a Deaf student so he could teach him well. “That story reminds us to center education on the learner,” Mr. Lacson said. “This partnership will help Deaf students in Muntinlupa reach their full potential.”
Benilde Chancellor Mr. Benhur Ong added that long-term success in Deaf education needs strong partnerships. “Educating Deaf students takes time, effort, and teamwork,” he said. “We hope one day there will be a teacher who knows Filipino Sign Language in every public school. It is a big dream, but we must start somewhere.”
Benilde-CEAD Director Ms. Techie Dela Torre explained how Deaf-centered education focuses on language access and cultural identity. “This program gives Deaf learners a chance to grow, not just academically but as whole persons,” she said. “Our goal is to build schools where Deaf students learn from Deaf teachers and strong hearing allies. We are weaving a living story for the Deaf Lupenos, and we are all part of it.”
The MOA signing ceremony was attended by representatives from both institutions. From DepEd SDO-Muntinlupa: Dr. Violeta M. Gonzales, Dr. Florante C. Marmeto, Dr. Liliosa B. Palce, and Dr. Antonio B. Rocha. From Benilde: Mr. Benhur A. Ong, Mr. Angelo Marco U. Lacson, Ms. Techie Dela Torre, and faculty from CEAD and the Benilde Deaf School. Also present were teacher-trainees from Pedro E. Diaz High School, and officials from the DepEd Central Office and Benilde-Antipolo.
The program is aligned with Republic Act No. 11106 or the Filipino Sign Language Act, which was signed into law in 2018. The law requires Filipino Sign Language to be used in schools, government offices, and media to promote access for Deaf Filipinos.
This partnership continues a legacy that began with Saint Benilde Romançon, who in the 1800s learned sign language from a Deaf student to better teach him. Today, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde carries that same commitment forward by offering a full range of Deaf-centered academic programs. These include the Benilde Deaf School, the first bilingual-bicultural junior high school for Deaf students in the Philippines; the Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies, which develops Deaf leaders and advocates; and the Bachelor in Sign Language Interpretation, which prepares hearing students to become professional interpreters and cultural allies. Benilde also offers the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program, a short course that helps participants connect with the Deaf community through language and cultural understanding. Over time, these initiatives have shaped Benilde into a hub for Deaf learners, educators, and allies alike.
Schools and organizations interested in launching their own Deaf-centered bilingual education programs are encouraged to explore the MLITEDCE-LEAD partnership model. Institutions ready to support inclusive education may contact Benilde-CEAD to learn how this program can be adapted to their community. For more information, visit cead.beta.benilde.edu.ph or email cead@beta.benilde.edu.ph.