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Chevron volunteers and their wards flashing the “Ilove you” hand sign during the recent Chevron Volunteer Day for the benefit of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Batasan, Quezon City.
Employees of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuels and lubricants, and Caltex Makati Credit Cooperative (CMCC), recently held a Deaf Awareness Talk and Activity to help Deaf children build self-esteem and social skills. This is part of CPI’s annual Volunteer Day, which keeps the company’s culture of volunteerism and diversity alive.
In partnership with My Children’s House of Hope Bahay Bata 127 Inc., 20 CPI volunteers engaged with 32 beneficiaries and their guardians to learn basic American Sign Language (ASL), including the baptismal of volunteers’ Sign names. They teamed up for signed performances of nursery rhymes ” proving that the joy of music transcends sound. Chevron volunteers also gave the beneficiaries backpacks from the company’s Women’s Network, school supplies, and uniforms, helping them look forward to going to school everyday.
Mae Belle Albay, CMCC Operations Supervisor for Batangas, shared that it was her first time participating in this kind of outreach. She reflected that it was a major eye-opener for her as the Deaf community is just one of many diverse sectors and that she must be more respectful and empathetic of their needs.
Albay added, “This activity is such an eye-opener. I’ve learned a lot about how to be more respectful and relate to them more.”
According to Bahay Bata Executive Director Ana Maria Dizon, the interaction of CPI and CMCC employees with the beneficiaries could encourage them to dream big because one day, they too can climb the corporate ladder. “Since may appreciation [ang mga volunteer] sa mga bata, yung mga bata, [maiisip nila na] ‘Pwede ako maging boss, pwede ako ma-employ.’ (Since the volunteers show appreciation to the kids, the kids can think, ‘I too can become a boss, I too can become an employee.)”
The Bahay Bata teachers also expressed gratitude toward CPI and CMCC for this engagement, saying they saw that the beneficiaries and parents genuinely enjoyed spending time with the volunteers. It also struck a chord with them as some teachers are also parents to Deaf children. They also saw that this activity can help the children open up to all types of people.
Teacher Leny Rose Salazar added, “Nalilimit talaga [ang mga bata] kasi sa bahay lang sila nagkukulong. So dito, mas maganda na may iba silang nakikitang mukha para di rin sila laging takot sa tao. [The children are often times limited to staying at home so it is a good thing that they see different faces so that they will feel more comfortable engaging with other people.]”
As for CMCC General Manager Cheche Osia, this activity is the first step to CPI and CMCC building a world where the Deaf community can thrive without discrimination, “We are very much looking forward to the time when the Filipino Deaf [community] will be empowered.”Chevron has a long-standing history of using this annual tradition to advocate for various causes nationwide. The company’s employees previously provided career training for the disadvantaged youth of Don Bosco Pugad in 2023 and planted 353 Malapapaya and Arungin seedlings at the La Mesa Nature Reserve in 2022.
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