The Center for Education Advancement of the Deaf (CEAD) continues to promote Deaf empowerment through storytelling and creative expression in Filipino Sign Language (FSL). To encourage the creation of Deaf stories told by and for Deaf people, CEAD sponsored a storytelling and poetry competition, with the winners recognized during the launch of FSL Innovations.
To further support the development of their creative works, CEAD organized an FSL Storytelling and Poetry Workshop aimed at helping participants enhance and refine their stories for publication. Participants included faculty and students from the Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS), Deaf Teacher Certificate Program trainees from Benilde Antipolo, Benilde alumni, and representatives from the Philippine School for the Deaf.
The storytelling segment of the workshop focused on the theme “Education Journey through Resilience in Deaf Life.” Using the visual and expressive nature of FSL, participants brought characters, emotions, and settings to life—creating performances that connected deeply with Deaf audiences. The FSL poetry segment highlighted a distinct form of artistic expression combining role playing, rhythm, spatial movement, facial expressions, and body language to convey meaning and emotion that reflect Deaf culture and experience.
By nurturing FSL storytelling and poetry, CEAD continues to champion the preservation and celebration of the Filipino Deaf community’s language, culture, and identity while advancing Deaf-centered education and creative excellence.
This initiative is part of the Model Learning Institute on Deaf-Centered Education (MLITEDCE), made possible through a grant from The Nippon Foundation.
