The concert “Mga Arya’t Kundiman” featured performances by excellent talents, and Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and Deaf students.
It was held on Sept. 7 at YSpace at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati and presented by HearLife-Verein, which helps Deaf children.
HearLife-Verein partner artists performed at the show. They were Isabela Samson Madero, Evangeline Ng Lao, Lance Keiffer Sy Lato and Sherine Ann Escolar Koa, all with Associate of the Royal Schools of Music (ARSM). The show also featured Sharlene Morta, ARSM, Piano 8 and MED-EL cochlear implantee.
“Mga Arya’t Kundiman” (HearLife)
The finale of the program featured the performance of “Araw-Araw sa Maynila” by FSL and Deaf students.
This was through the efforts of the FSL for Inclusive PH (FSL4IPH), a non-profit student organization at the British School Manila (BSM) in Taguig aiming to promote FSL and bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing communities.
The participation of FSL students at the show started when Johann Chan, co-founder and president of FSL4IPH and a budding singer, was invited to watch the concert by his teacher, Perpy Heath.
When Heath mentioned that the pianist was Deaf and has a cochlear implant, FSL4IPH offered to provide interpreter service for the show.
This led to FSL and Deaf students not only watching the show but performing as well with invited Deaf guests.
FSL4IPH collaborated with the artists to ensure that the lyrics, including the foreign-language arias, would be translated into English and an interpreter would be present to sign the songs in FSL.
Concert performers (from left)) Isabela Madero, Sherinne Ann Koa, Evangeline Lao and Lance Sy Lato (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
"Mga Arya’t Kundiman" hearing and Deaf concert performers with (from left) FSL4IPH interpreter Olivia Aguila, HearLife-Verein Program Director Tosh Jacob-Soliven and FSL4IPH interpreter Leah Apuli (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
FSL4IPH student leaders Johann Chan, Seth Yang and Liam Conlin, and Deaf performers Maricor Mesitas, Audrie Grace, Kierbie Nhoel Liabiaga, Japet Jones Dumangon, Raymond Calexterio, Tyrone Miguel, Catherine Joy Patriarca and Rance Aaron Barquilla during the "Araw-Araw sa Maynila" performance (Photo provided by FSL4IPH) 
Deaf and hearing participants rehearsing together with Deaf coach Catherine Joy Patriarca (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
Technical rehearsal with Leah Apuli as interpreter (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
Marites Racquel Estiller-Corpuz, former president of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, leading the FSL of the Philippine National Anthem (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
FSL4IPH advocates, friends and supporters with HearLife-Verein concert performers and organizers (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
Deaf performers taking turns signing the concert songs using FSL (Photo provided by FSL4IPH)
In addition, FSL4IPH held fundraising efforts with the group’s supporters Malou Ng, Cassie Yang and Global Mission Advocate being mainly instrumental in sponsoring the tickets, meals, and transportation for the Deaf guests.
The concert was seen as an important step to unite hearing and Deaf communities through a musical show. The efforts were spearheaded by Hearlife Program Director Tosh Jacob-Soliven, and in collaboration with FSL4IPH student leaders Ethan Chan, Johann Chan, Seth Yang, and Liam Conlin, Deaf coach Catherine Joy Patriarca, interpreters Leah Apuli and Olivia Aguila, Deaf students from Commonwealth High School and other Deaf guests.
Marites Racquel Estiller-Corpuz, former president of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, led the FSL of the national anthem.
“It was an amazing night where the music was heard and felt by the Deaf and the signs were seen by the hearing, united and unobstructed, each with smiles, enjoyed God’s given talents in music and signs,” she said.
Throughout the concert, members and Deaf guests of FSL4IPH interpreted each song for the Deaf students.
One of the Deaf performers, Maricor Mesitas, said. "I never expected that I would experience such an amazing concert. I felt the sound of their voice through the help of the interpreter. I had fun and enjoyed the performance since there is a sign language interpreter. I understood the songs. Since I participated in the performance as well, I felt great that I shared my talent.”
For free Basic FSL and/or Deaf Awareness Training, contact FSL for Inclusive PH through the following: email: fsl4iph@gmail.com; Facebook page: fsl4iph; website: fsl4iph.org.
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