Republic of the Philippines

Philippine National School for the Blind

Schools Division Office - Pasay City

A Night of Variety Show: Concert for a Cause for GSP The GSP in the headship of Ma’am Marina Magbago Chairperson, Girl Scout of the Philippines Pasay Chapter conceived a fund-raising project; benefit concert to embellish the newly owned building of the GSP with furniture and fixtures which was donated by Congresswoman Emi Calixto. CUNETA ASTODOME – the night was full-packed with talents and performances, all coming from the learners of Cluster 5 of the Division of Pasay namely: the Philippine National School for the Blind, Philippine School for the Deaf, and Pasay Sped Center. Myriad songs and dances were performed that night not only by learners but also by teachers of PSD and Pasay SPED Center. There were traditional dances like Tinikling and Ragragsakan performed by the PNSB Dance Troupe, modern dances performed by the PSD learners, and A Christmas dance performed by the learns of Pasay SPED Center. Likewise, the PNSB Glee Club serenade the crowd with Filipino folk songs like the Ating Ko Pong Sing Sing and the Kalesa. Songs of Christmas were rendered as well that evening. The highlight of the evening’s performance came from the selected male staff and personnel of the Division of Pasay consisting of principals and supervisors as they crooned the crowd with their mellow voices. Mrs. Marina Magbago, overwhelmed with joy, extended her heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone who contributed and steadfastly supported the GSP project and makes the concert a successful one.

PNSB hosts the Palaro Cluster 5 Meet 2018 The schools of Cluster 5, Philippine National School for the Blind, Philippine School for the Deaf, and Pasay City SPED Center gathered together for the opening of the Cluster 5 Palaro 2018. Cluster 5 schools welcomed the Palaro with energetic parade of all the schools’ delegates of athletes, officials, and coaches with the accompaniment of drum and lyre from Pasay City Sped Center. The parade was then followed by a simple yet inspiring program held at the PNSB covered court. Dr. Rosalie R. Condes, Cluster 5 Supervisor, cited in her keynote message that above all, having a golden heart is more significant than the medals of gold, silver, and bronze that athletes can gain from the palaro. Furthermore, she added that having an upright character such as being disciplined and respectful to teachers and coaches are indispensable traits of a successful athlete. Madam Leah Marcelo, principal of Pasay Sped Center heartily introduced each school’s athletes and coaches While Mrs. Corazon B. Salvador, OIC of Philippine National School for the Blind, led the official proclamation of the opening of the Cluster Palaro. Selected athletes from Pasay Sped Center and Philippine School for the Deaf led the lighting of the torch which symbolizes unity. Goalball Captain, Dan Jorens Luzañes, led the oath of sportsmanship for the athletes. While Cluster Focal Person, MS Larnie Lebuna, led the oath for officiating officials where they pledged to commit themselves to selfless service for developing the athletes to their fullest potentials. The event concluded with the breath-taking exercise exhibition of Sir Pedro Gloriani, Senior Education Program Supervisor for Physical Education. His talk underscored the importance of staying physically fit by performing a regular exercise. He challenged everyone young and old alike to envelop daily exercise routine for better overall wellness. As the event comes to a close, the para-athletes along with their coaches and officials extended their heartfelt gratitude to Sir Gloriani for his courageous efforts to lobby the securing of funds for athletes and coaches’ sports uniforms. The entire para-athletes team of Pasay take pride in wearing their designated sportswear at the opening of cluster 5 Palaro.

PNSB bagged First Place in the 2018 Regional Festival of Talents Grade 10 student, Hannah Angelica Dumlao bagged first place in the Regional Festival of Talents held last November 8 at Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School in Manila. The competition covered questions on Philippine politics, literature, culture, and rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Questions were categorized as Easy (1 point), Average (2 points), and Difficult (3 points) with a total of 25 questions in all. Contestants were only given 20 seconds to write their answers for all the categories.  The Braille and Sign Language Quiz Bee are one of the component areas of the Regional Festival of Talents where contestants are learners from grade 7-10 and are visually impaired and are deaf. For contestants with visual impairment, questions were read by the quiz master. While answers were written in Braille. Then an official translator transcribed the answers in print. While the questions for contestants who are deaf were signed by an official sign language interpreter. Hannah Dumlao, who was the overall winner in the visually impaired category  of this competition will be competing next year, January 28, 2019 for the National Festival of Talents that will be held in Pangasinan. Thanks to the hard- working trainers of Hannah, Sir Ronald Manguiat and Sir Christian Carreon who were with her at the competition to support her in her big day. This undertaking is a project of the Department of Education through the Curriculum and Learning Management Divison (CLMD) with the theme “Celebrating Diversity Through the Performance of Talents and Skills for Sustainable Inclusive Education”. 

Selected PNSB Students attended the 17th Computer-Eyes Camp for blind students Selected PNSB Students attended the Computer-Eyes, a 10-day Computer Camp for Blind Students at IBM Philippines in Libis Quezon City from October 22-31, 2018.   Three PNSB Students: Rosselyn Agulto, Lerry Monte de Ramos from Grade 11 and Homer Garcia from Grade 10 were very fortunate to take part in the National Computer-Eyes Camp for students with visual impairment held annually at IBM Plaza, Eastwood City, E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City.  The computer campers were how to use the computer using screen reader software. This software allows them to manipulate Office Tools like MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They likewise learned how to get savvy on the web and use email.   Grade 10 student, Homer Garcia was awarded “Best in PowerPoint Presentation” during the computer workshop.  The training is a project of Resources for the Blind, Inc, IBM Philippines, and the Department of Education. The camp aims to provide an intensive training to equip the participants with the computer skills and knowledge manipulating a computer using screen reader for the blind. Participants come from all over the county where they get to enjoy a free accommodation at Fernandina Hotel care of RBI and best of all, they get to experience staying at one of the prominent IT industries in the world, the IBM or International Business Machine all throughout their training.   

PNSB’s Semestral In-Service Training adopts new way of producing instructional materials for its learners with visual impairment INSET DAY 1 PNSB teachers adopts the use of Unified English Braille For the past decades, learners with visual impairment and teachers alike has been using the English Braille American Edition as the primary system for reading and writing Braille. Until on November 2012 when the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) adopted the use of Unified English Braille that UEB became the new trend in Braille system. Today’s INSET highlights the beginning of a new journey towards UEB as PNSB’s 29 teachers especially the new ones will undergo an extensive enrichment training workshop on using the Unified English Braille. UEB has been now the official and implemented code for Braille in most countries all around the globe. Therefore PNSB teachers must equip themselves on the changes in UEB primarily the rules and principles governing the new Braille code. To achieve this, Sir Ronald M. Manguiat, English teacher in the Junior High School and is blind himself piloted the training workshop. Mr. Manguiat is a UEB virtuoso who trained Special Education Teachers handing learners with visual impairment studying in mainstream classes.  UEB is not a totally new code; it is based on the current literary Braille code that has been modified in order to make transcribing from print to braille and vice versa become rather easier. it was developed to remove any ambiguity and confusion in using Braille especially for students with visually impairment. It is designed to “follow print” which means that whatever you see in print is also what you’ll see in Braille which is not the case in English Braille American Edition. Mrs. Corazon B. Salvador understands that embracing changes is never easy; with this, she boosts her teachers’ morale and admonished them to fully commit themselves and empty themselves of all qualms and hesitations in learning UEB. More so challenged them to become competent in employing UEB and finish the course successfully. For It is anticipated that over the next few years Unified English Braille will slowly but surely replace the American English Braille. And teachers who are catering to this disability are expected to utilize UEB in their everyday teaching so that they can gradually cascade it among their learners in the days to come. Sir Ronald began his lecture-workshop with a pre-test on Braille transcribing. After which, he gave an insightful introduction of the UEB. Then he continued on and discussed the fundamentals of Braille Coding System. He emphasized on three basic principles. These are the principle of coding formations system or the basics dot configuration, the roots and the prefixes. In addition, he also discussed the English braille contractions that are no longer used in UEB to eliminate ambiguity.   These are just a few changes the Braille system undertook during the past 6 years. Other changes will be discussed and elaborated by our UEB resource person, Sir Ronald Manguiat on the coming days.  INSET DAY 2 A walk-through School related policies, guidelines and procedures The second day of INSET is full-packed with significant and relevant school standards, guidelines, and procedures that are memorandized and supported by laws. ALL teaching and non-teaching employees of DEPED are expected to abide by with strict compliance. These are the following: Child Protection Policy, Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers, Review on the Modified School Forms, Personnel Actions. The first session talked about Child Protection Policy. It was an immense topic expounded by Ms. Sheina T. Cadavos, School Guidance Counselor. She emphasized that the child must at all times feel safe and protected inside the school. Bullying, harassment, and any form of abuses committed on a learner will never be tolerated.  If a teacher violates any that is stipulated on Child Protection Policy shall take her case to the region, and if the offender is a non-teaching, the case will be brought to the division. Finally, the school CPFC committee was introduced; their roles and functions were likewise cited. This session was culminated by an open forum which gave room for questions and clarifications on the topic. The next session was a talk about the Code Ethics for Professional Teachers which was presented by Mrs.  Gemma  Soriano, President of the Faculty and Personnel Club (FPC).  This session was illustrated through discussion and group activities presentations that exhibit the ethics that professional teachers must possess. The topic began with the Preamble then went thru every Articles ensuring that everyone knows and understands the law because one important legal principle says that “Ignorance of the law, excuses no one”. It was a mind-nourishing activity that reminded everyone of their professional ethics and responsibilities firstly to oneself and your professional development, to the learners, school, and the community. This session was concluded by a thoughtful reflection on the professional ethics expected to school employees such as the teacher. The last session conducted in the morning was the review of the modified school forms, LIS, and the EBEIS. This session was presented by Ms. Larnie Lebuna, LIS/EBEIS coordinator. She went through each form one-by-one thoroughly discussing the use of each form and when and who should accomplish each form. Department Heads, and teachers, particularly the advisers realized the huge role they play for effective data gathering and recording in accomplishing LIS and EBEIS data. The session was closed with an earnest request to be patient in collecting pertinent documents of learners and to be prompt in accomplishing and submitting forms. In the afternoon, another essential topic was discussed that is of great interest to all PNSB employees; the “Personnel in Action”.  This session was delivered by Mrs. Merry Ann Santelices, Administrative Officer IV and Mrs. Janice Villaro, School Accountant. This session ensures that all personal are well aware of their benefits, leave and absences policies, job competencies, as well as the requirements for hiring and promotion of teachers, and salary step increments. The session was concluded with a forum where employees’ concerns were continue reading : PNSB’s Semestral In-Service Training adopts new way of producing instructional materials for its learners with visually impairment

Pasay City Government turned over 3 Embossers and white canes to PNSB Honorable City Mayor Antonino “Tony” G. Calixto through his representative Ms. Cynthia P. Potian, Chief of the General Services Office and the Pasay City Property Custodian turned over three Index Embossers and white canes to the Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) held afternoon Monday, October 8 at PNSB Conference Hall. The Turnover ceremony was witnessed by some DepEd Pasay officials including Education Program Supervisor-Learning Resources Management and Development System (LRMDS)   Dr. Normina Haji Yunnos, and Public Schools District Supervisor (PSDS) Cluster 5 Dr. Rosalie R. Condes. PNSB Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Principal Corazon B. Salvador and the Supreme Student and/or Pupil Government (SSPG) President Emmanuel P. Endrinal to represent the PNSB students received the donations.  For learners with visual impairment, embosser or braille printer is very significant as an assistive device used to make print materials such as books and test questionnaire accessible for the blind in the form of embossed dots called braille. Before this donation was constituted, PNSB experienced various problems regarding embossed materials reproduction since most of the embossers of the school are not anymore in good condition. The OIC Principal said that the donation is very timely now that the periodic examination is approaching. PNSB most especially the students are very much thankful to the City Mayor of Pasay for these donations. In the speech delivered by SSPG President Emmanuel Endrinal, he said, “Through these embossers, you assured us of more books, magazines, and other reading materials to read which will make us, visually impaired learners in PNSB, more aware of the world outside the walls of our school. The white canes you give will mean a blind that has been given the chance to be independent.” In his conclusion, the President said that they are hopeful that City of Pasay will continue to support PNSB and all the schools in the City.

PNSB celebrated National Teachers’ Month, National and World Teachers’ Day The Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) celebrated the National Teachers’ Month, (NTM), National Teachers’ Day (NTD) and World Teachers’ Day (WTD) with the theme ‘Gurong Pilipino: Turo Mo Kinabukasan Ko’.  Through the leadership of the Supreme Student and/or Pupil Government (SSPG) headed by President Emmanuel P. Endrinal and the PNSB Students’ Alliance for Leadership with Moral Soundness (PSALMS) headed by the President Cherie B. Omar, students organized month-long activities to honor their teachers.  They conducted numerous competitions Such as essay writing, slogan making, spoken poetry, and art contest. These events were joined by different students of different grade levels showing their appreciation for the contributions of teachers in their lives. Free massage was also given by the students themselves to offer sort of relaxation to their teachers after days of work to teach them. There were also students who gave letters and cards of appreciation. The month-long celebration was concluded by a half-day but meaningful celebration of (NTD) and (WTD) held early morning October 4 at the PNSB Covered Court and PNSB Conference Hall. That morning was spiced with relaxing and enjoyable games for the 28 teachers, hard-earned prizes, sumptuous foods, and songs originally composed by the students entitled “Keyo ang Guro” and the “Turo Mo, Kinabukasan ko”. Both songs were well applauded by teachers for it speaks about the selfless love, hard work and dedication of teachers to educate the youth with visual impairment.

PNSB 9th grader wins third place at the National ICT Challenge 2018 15 years old, Daniel Peligro, won third place at the National ICT Challenge for youth with disabilities on October 5 at the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Campus in Valenzuela City. They were challenged in the area of E-Tool (using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and in E-Life (Web Information Retrieval) competencies. The competition is open to 4 disability categories namely the hearing impairment, visual impairment, intellectual disability, and orthopedically handicapped, ages 13-19 years of age. DICT In partnership with National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) conducts an annual IT competition for youth with disabilities with the objective of enhancing the skills and competence in the field of ICT of our youth with disabilities and make them globally competitive through the use of technology. 

Science Week: PNSB students understands typhoon formation and how to prepare for a flood or typhoon disaster Science Day Celebration is an activity that the students of the Philippine National School for the Blind are always looking forward to every year because it is an event full of exciting and interesting activities. This year, the school celebrated Science Day with its theme: Science for the People: Innovation for Collective Prosperity with a focus in the community on the 21st of September 2018. It was a half-day activity that focused on typhoon and flood preparedness as well as weather forecasting. For the typhoon drill, the students followed the route on the second floor. It is very important to establish a routine especially for blind students. Students from elementary to senior high school gathered at the PNSB Conference Hall at 8:00 A.M. The activity started with an opening remark given by the high school Science coordinator, Ms. Andrei Roan Soriano. It was followed by a talk on the factors that affect typhoon formation and important preparedness tips before, during and after a storm discussed by Mrs. Rosalie C. Peῆero, the elementary Science coordinator. Students were encouraged to share their ideas and ask questions about the topic. After the talk on typhoon formation, the coordinator of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Mrs. Olivia Gutierrez, shared safety measures during floods and typhoons. The students were taught what to do and where to go if there is typhoon and flood. They practiced what to do and which way to go if ever the school is flooded. The talk of Mrs. Gutierrez was immediately followed by another power point presentation on weather forecasting delivered by Ms. Andrei Roan Soriano. Before she gave the talk, she motivated the students by telling an interesting story about storms. The students enjoyed it because they were asked to make sounds related to typhoon, rain, thunder and lightning. Through her talk, the students gained knowledge on how weather is forecasted and what instruments are used in weather forecasting. After the activities at the conference hall, the students gathered at the PNSB covered court for a challenging part of the event, the quiz bee. They were asked questions regarding the talks presented by their teachers. It was observed that the students enjoyed this part though most of them had quite a hard time choosing for the right answer for the questions asked. Though the celebration of Science Day this year wasn’t loaded with a variety of activities unlike the previous years, it was indeed very informational and beneficial because the students gained important knowledge and skills that they can apply in real life situations.