Philippine National School for the Blind Shines Bright with Multiple Wins Pasay City, Philippines — The Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) has recently showcased their exceptional abilities, clinching an impressive array of victories across various competitions held throughout April 2024. At the NCR Palaro, PNSB athletes showcased remarkable spirit and skill, securing an impressive 18 gold medals and 1 silver in athletics and goal ball competitions. Their outstanding performance not only highlighted their athletic prowess but also served as an embodiment of the school’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for all. It also earned them the privilege of representing the NCR at the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City this July. Meanwhile, in the competitive arena of technology, PNSB emerged victorious, securing 1st and 3rd place rankings, along with one qualifier, at the National IT Challenge 2024. These talented students have earned the opportunity to compete in the Global IT Challenge in October, showcasing their expertise in digital information processing and reaffirming PNSB’s reputation for technological prowess. Furthermore, PNSB’s literary talents shone brightly at the Regional Festival of Talents Braille Reading Contest, where Edwin Andrei Nicolas Banzon, representing PNSB, claimed the coveted 1st place with exceptional fluency and speed in braille reading. Banzon’s remarkable talent will see him and his coach competing in the National Festival of Talents (NFOT) this July, leaving a lasting impression on judges with his ability to bring words to life through touch and sound. Finally, In the Division Muling Pagkukuwento (Storytelling) Competition, PNSB’s gifted storyteller, Rouvin Ivan Ducusin, secured the 3rd place award. Ducusin’s captivating narratives transported listeners into enchanting worlds, demonstrating that imagination knows no bounds, even in darkness.Read More »

PNSB launches reading month with an array of activities to enrich minds The National Reading Month kick off at the PNSB-covered court today, following the flag-raising ceremony. An annual undertaking observed every November, the National Reading Month is a concerted effort by the Department of Education to engage students across the country in a month-long reading program. The initiative aims not only to cultivate a culture of reading among students but also to divert their attention from excessive use of social media and technology. This year’s Reading Month is brimming with activities designed to reshape students’ perspectives on reading. Activities include the Reading Challenge, Book Buddy, Book Talk, Classroom Read-A-Thon, Mystery Reader, and Poster Making, among others. BIJI18 At PNSB, the highlight of the National Reading Month event is the Braille Reading Contest Year 2, sponsored by Bookshare Philippines, JCI Perlas, Pasay City Chapter, and Philippine Blind Union. This contest allows PNSB learners to showcase their skills in braille reading, as well as to demonstrate correct pronunciation and fluency in reading.  Learners can participate in this contest based on their Grade Level category, with prizes at stake for three winners in each category. Mr. Ronald Manguiat, the school’s reading focal person, passionately encourages students to cultivate a love for reading by emphasizing its invaluable benefits. These include motivation and inspiration derived from the stories we read, knowledge enhancement, enriched vocabulary, cultural awareness, cost-effective learning, improved memory, enhanced problem-solving ability, and expanded comprehension. The National Reading Month is anchored on the theme, “Reading Hope Resilience for the Future” (Pagbasa Pag-asa sa Matatag na Kinabukasan). Ms. Jackie Cordero, a reading ambassador, sparked students’ interest in reading by reading aloud a captivating story “My Father Goes to Court” written by Carlos Bulosan. Mrs. Corazon B. Salvador brought the kick-off event to a close …Read More »

PNSB bagged 7 medals at the 2023 Palarong Pambansa Para Games The Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) achieved a remarkable feat at the 2023 Palarong Pambansa Paragames, held in Marikina City from July 28 to August 5, 2023. The school’s athletes displayed exceptional talent and dedication, earning a total of 7 medals in various events. Among the notable achievements were the gold medal in the goalball team tournament, which showcases the team’s exceptional skills and coordination, a sport especially created for athletes with visual impairments, is among the squad’s major accomplishments. In addition to the gold medal, PNSB athletes also won four silver medals and two bronze medals in events like the 100-meter run, shotput, and standing long jump. These medals demonstrated how strong each athlete was on an individual level. This impressive performance marked a significant improvement compared to the school’s previous showing in 2019, where they only managed to secure 2 medals. The hard work and determination of the PNSB athletes paid off, increasing their medal total at the national games by a significant margin. . Their achievements not only brought honor to their school but also contributed to the pride of their country. The Palarong Pambansa Paragames in 2023 were particularly noteworthy since they brought the competition back after a four-year break caused by the pandemic. The event, organized by the Department of Education (DepEd), is a highly anticipated inter-regional school sports gathering in the Philippines. The chosen theme, “Batang Malakas, Bansang Matatag” (A Strong Youth, A Stable Nation), emphasizes highlights the resilience of Filipino youth as the future leaders and builders of the nation. Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sarah Z. Duterte showed her enthusiasm for the young athletes during the Palarong Pambansa 2023 closing ceremony. She highlighted them as role models for their …Read More »

Inauguration and blessing of the newly constructed PNSB dormitory On March 24, at 9:30 a.m., the PNSB held its inaugural in-person Holy Mass at the PNSB covered court. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the school’s once-a-month Holy Mass was a perennial event anticipated by everyone. San Rafael Parish Church, Rev. Fr. Edison D. Escario presided over this month’s Holy Mass. It was attended by all relevant stakeholders who happened to be present at the time, which included PNSB non-teaching personnel, teachers, students, and some parents. The liturgical songs were conducted by the PNSB choir, while the gospel was read by a teacher and a student. This month’s Holy Mass especially celebrates the blessing of the newly built school dormitories. The new dormitory is a four-story structure funded by the local government. It was designed to replace the original school dormitory, which was significantly smaller. The new dormitory was built to accommodate more students who can stay at the school throughout the week to attend classes, avoiding the need to commute daily. Because PNSB students have vision impairments and require a guide to travel, daily travel is a significant task for the family to manage. Presently, the dormitory houses more than 90 students. The ground floor of the building houses the dormitory dining area, the second floor houses the female dormitories, and the third floor houses the male dormitories. PNSB’s dormitorians are cared for by a male and female house parent, a dormitory cook, an administrative aide, and a dormitory manager. The entire PNSB community is truly grateful to God and the Pasay City local government for funding the construction of the new dormitory facility.Read More »

PNSB Grade 12 students led a fire safety and awareness campaign Across the country, March is being observed as Fire Prevention Month. It is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness and consciousness about how to respond to fire disasters, as well as the causes, hazards, and dangers of fire, and what we can do to prevent fire incidents from happening. By virtue of DepEd Order No. 28, s. 2016, all public elementary and secondary schools are directed to enhance the Fire Safety and Awareness Program (FSAP) of school­. In accordance with Proclamation No. 115-A, signed by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos, and Proclamation No. 360 in 1986, the month of March was declared as “Fire Prevention Month” or “Burn Prevention Month.” In response to this call, Philippine National School for the Blind held a fire safety and awareness campaign on March 17 led by School DRRM, Coordinator, Mrs. Gutierrez, Alternate SDRRM focal person, Mr. Carreon together with DRRM Grade 12 students. A campus parade kicked off the fire safety and awareness program. The march was heightened by a fire safety banner and amplified by fire safety awareness messages broadcast via megaphone. The Grade 12 students disseminated information in small groups via room-to-room lectures on the importance of fire prevention and safety throughout all school levels, from Kinder to Grade 11. Through a well-organized fire safety simulation, the event emphasized the essentials of emergency response during a fire outbreak. Hence, the fire drill was evaluated to ensure its success, particularly the evacuation procedures. Mrs. Gutierrez underlines that fire drills must be executed seriously since they allow everyone to practice proper evacuation procedures in the event of a fire and also teach us how to act rationally in the face of a calamity. To cap off the event, the campaign promoted “safety consciousness among …Read More »