Benilde-CEAD Filipino Sign Language researchers Kaila Camille Gambong and Yamie Yadan have been accepted into the Master of Science in Deaf Education (MSDE) program at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Alongside their admission, they also were also awarded the Sasakawa-DeCaro Scholarship, which provides them full funding for their graduate studies abroad.
In a shared letter, Kaila and Yamie expressed their gratitude to their mentors, the Deaf community, Benilde-CEAD, and The Nippon Foundation for making this milestone possible. “It is a truly inspiring opportunity that motivates us to continue striving for academic and professional excellence,” they wrote. “CEAD has been instrumental in shaping our readiness and confidence for this academic pursuit, and we carry your lessons and support with us.”
Through their MSDE program, Kaila and Yamie are confident they will gain valuable knowledge and skills that will help them become better teachers. In turn, they plan to strengthen CEAD’s support for Benilde Deaf School, other partner schools with Deaf programs, and the MLITEDCE-LEAD project. This effort will help more Filipino Deaf learners succeed in school through teacher training, learning material development, and evidence-based practices.
“We aim to apply what we have learned to create accessible, equitable, and learner-centered programs especially for Filipino Deaf students,” they shared.
Both Kaila and Yamie are FSL research assistants and teachers trained through Benilde-Antipolo’s Deaf Teacher Certificate Program. They have contributed to FSL documentation and the development of the academic signs dictionary, consistently introducing fresh ideas to improve learning materials.
The pursuit of graduate studies is not only a step forward for their personal growth but also for CEAD’s mission of expanding its pool of Deaf-centered education experts. Both Kaila and Yamie are determined to return home after their studies and use their learnings to expand Deaf-centered education that ensures inclusion of Deaf identity, language, and their diverse needs in the Philippines. They dream that someday, they can help in building a daycare program and pre-elementary school for Deaf children, making sure that Deaf-centered education is made accessible at the earliest levels.
“Our journey is not only for personal growth but for service. We are committed to giving back to our institution and communities that believed in us from the very beginning,” Kaila and Yamie wrote.
The journey of Kaila and Yamie is rooted in purpose, that is to pave a fruitful future for the next generation of aspiring Filipino Deaf teachers. Their success serves as a reminder that when Deaf adults are given opportunities to thrive, they, in turn, become role models—inspiring Deaf children to see education and possibilities within their reach.
