History
The Philippine Association of the Deaf was established in 1926 by Mr. Pedro Santos, a deaf Filipino, as a civic charitable organization composed of deaf persons residing in the Philippines, irrespective of nationality, creed, or religion. Mr. Pedro Santos was the first deaf Filipino sent by the Philippine Government to study abroad at Gallaudet College. He was also the first deaf teacher to teach in the Philippines.
The Philippine Association of the Deaf was an official member of the World Federation of the Deaf, an international non-governmental organization representing approximately 70 million deaf and hard of hearing people. WFD is recognized by the United Nations (UN).
The Philippine Association for the Deaf continued to serve the Deaf in the areas of educational and vocational opportunities, including the School for the Deaf and the Luneta Park Coffee Shop. PAD also worked with different agencies, colleges, and universities to improve the lives of Deaf people and implemented standards for interpreters of the Deaf. PAD was also an integral part of teaching Filipino Sign Language (formerly Philippine Sign Language) to United States Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the Philippines.
The World Federation of the Deaf contacted the former President of Macau Deaf Association to check the status of Philippine Association of the Deaf (PAD). It was reported back that PAD was about to dissolve due to financial issues.
The Deaf community from different regions in the Philippines then worked with the former President of Macau Deaf Association and the World Federation of the Deaf to reestablish an organization to serve the Deaf in the Philippines. Meetings were held during that time to establish the Philippines Federation of the Deaf.
On October 19, 1996, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf was established during a meeting at the Philippine School for the Deaf, where seventeen leaders of different Deaf organizations nationwide participated.
On May 19, 1997, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf was formally recognized during its 1st General Assembly held at the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Members of the assembly, composed of 100 Deaf leaders and Deaf representatives from 15 regions of the country elected its eleven Executive Board composed of Deaf persons for a term of two years from 1997–1999.
On June 26, 1997, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
What did the Philippine Federation of the Deaf do from 1997 to Present?
From 1997 to the present, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf has been active in various areas, including representation, publication and projects.
• The organization expanded its representation to include Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and became an ordinary member of the World Federation of the Deaf.
• PFD also participated in the Philippine Coalition on United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and worked with the regional government agencies and people with disabilities organization.
• Produced a status report on the use of sign language in the Philippines in collaboration with the National Sign Language Committee (NSLC).
• Partnered with Philippine Deaf Resources Center (PDRC) on the publication of the Introduction to Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Series.
• Produced Organizational Management Training Manual (OMTM) books and USB flash drives.
• International Week of Deaf Awareness Celebration
• Philippine Practical Sign Language Dictionary Project in partnership with Hong Kong, Vietnam and Cambodia
• Filipino Sign Language: A Compilation of Regional Signs from the Philippines Part 1 & 2 Books
• The FIRST-ever FSL Interpreter inset during State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III
• World Association of Sign Language Interpreter for Asia (WASLI-Asia) in Tagaytay City
• 22nd World Federation of the Deaf- Asia Pacific Representative Meeting in Tagaytay City
• Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (PFDYS)
• Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC) and Philippine Coalition on United Nations Convention On the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
• Accessible Licensure Examination for the Teachers (LET)
• K-12 Law or RA 10533 making FSL as Language of Instruction for Deaf Learners with University of the Philippines (UP) College of Linguistics and Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC)
• Early Years Act or RA 10410 making FSL as medium of communication for Deaf Children with University of the Philippines (UP) College of Linguistics
• Filipino Sign Language Law/Republic Act 11106
• House Bill No. 4631 Requiring Court Interpreters for Deaf Individuals
• House Bill No. 925/Republic Act No. 10905 Requiring Closed Captioning and News Interpreting Inset