Launching of Learning thru Interactive Visual Education (LIVE) classes in Easter School - SPED Department a success

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pr@nms-cares.org

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July 24, 2015, Baguio City — 21 students from Easter School - SPED Department finally get to experience NMSC’s interactive english and math enhancement lessons.

The NMSC team opened its first LIVE class (Learning thru Interactive Visual Education) at the Easter School - SPED Department last July 23. Lead by Deaf Education Coordinator Mark Marcial and assisted by Partnership Manager George Lintag, the NMSC team opened the class by introducing the students to an educational app that aim to enhance their english sentence construction skills.

Students try to string together words to form sentences in one of the english enhancement educational apps used by NMSC for its LIVE program.

Grouped in two’s or three’s based on their skill, the students are assigned an iPad and are told to explore and “play” with the app assigned that day. Although the program’s core is to teach and enhance the students’ skills and hopefully help them with their academics, NMSC still wants to ensure that they experience an enjoyable and fun learning environment.

Partnering with Easter School is also considered as a milestone for NMSC this year, with the organization poised to launch its After-School IT Program for Deaf students August of this year.

The pioneering class NMSC's Learning thru Interactive Visual Education program at the Easter School - SPED Department.

NMS CEO-PH Atty. Rafael Nacionales engages with one of the students in one of the advanced english educational apps used for the program.

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its services all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

NMSC to Launch iPad-geared Classes and Sports Classes for Deaf Students at Easter College - Elementary SPED Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pr@nms-cares.org

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July 20, 2015, Baguio City — NMS Cares continue to move forward with its mission of providing services and programs for knowledge enhancement and skills development within Deaf Education as it forges a partnership with  Easter College, specifically with the SPED Department of its Elementary and High School Branch.

As of press time, Program Manager Ember Palma and Partnership Manager George Lintag spearheaded a sit-down meeting with Principal Cleofe Kollin, where she openly discussed and provided the NMSC team with fixed schedules for the team to conduct its free iPad-geared classes and sports classes.

NMSC will launch its two education-focused programs on July 23 and 24, with classes to continuously run for the rest of the academic school year.

NMSC Team with Easter College - Elementary Principal Cleofe Kollin after a successful sit-down meeting cementing the organization's ties with their academic institution for the benefit of their young Deaf students. (L-R: Sarah Mamaril, General Manager; Principal Cleofe Kollin; Ember Palma, Program Manager; George Lintag, Partnership Manager)

The organization’s LIVE Program (Learning thru Interactive Visual Education) will run every Thursday and will cover both elementary and high school Deaf students. Through the use of iPad tablets, young Deaf learners are given the opportunity of enriching their math and english skills in an interactive and visual manner. 

Along with the LIVE Program, NMSC will also run sports classes that has been scheduled every Friday. The DREAM Program (Deaf Recreational Engagement Activity Movement Program) revolves around the use of sports to educate, inspire and engage young Deaf individuals and further enhance their physical well-being. Both theory and physical classes will cover several world sports, ranging from Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer to Australian Footy and Cricket.

Both programs will be implemented by NMSC’s Program Coordinator Max Eyking and Deaf Education Coordinator Mark Marcial, with close monitoring by the organization’s Program Manager and with the assistance of the students’ teachers.

NMSC currently runs both programs at two other private schools in Baguio, namely the Baguio School for the Deaf and San Lorenzo Ruiz - Deaf Resource Center. The DREAM Program was launched and integrated in both schools November of 2014, while the LIVE Program classes started on January of this year.

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its services all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

NMSC Makes a Mark at the 7th Philippine Federation of the Deaf General Assembly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pr@nms-cares.org

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NMS Cares team formally introduced to all of the participants on the first day of the GA

May 25, 2015, CAGAYAN DE ORO – The NMS Cares team went up and running in full gear at the Philippine Federation of the Deaf General Assembly at the Malasag Eco-village in Cugman, Cagayan De Oro. The event, which ran from May 14 to May 17 was hosted by the Deaf Association of Misamis Oriental, bearing the theme, “One Family, One Community”.

NMSC showcased its varied programs at the event’s bazaar exhibit, ranging from enhancing Deaf education through the use of technology to helping forge a strong communication between the Deaf and hearing community.

To further demonstrate one of its most in-demand programs, convention attendees were treated to a unique experience as iPads being used for the Learning thru Interactive Visual Education (LIVE) Program were made available for everyone to explore. This allowed the NMSC team to show delegates from students to Deaf educators and advocates how one of its programs is being implemented, giving them an opportunity to consider applying the same program to their respective communities.

NMSC drew a crowd at the information booth as delegates signed up and experienced the organization's iPad-based activities used for the Learning thru Interactive Visual Education (LIVE) Program

NMSC’s programs have been structured and developed using a framework that would allow any other organization with the same goals and advocacies as NMSC, to run them among its beneficiaries. In a move that will allow more Deaf individuals to benefit from NMSC’s programs, the organization have proposed during the GA for its programs to be used by the different Deaf organizations, academic institutions, and LGUs advocating for the Deaf. NMSC will give free services to train members and customize each program to better fit the needs of their respective beneficiaries.

The PFD General Assembly provided NMSC a great opportunity to connect and interact with the Deaf community on a national level and has given the organization a new level of understanding on the specific needs of the Deaf community it continues to advocate for.

Apart from running an information booth, NMSC also presented a short video presentation during the event’s opening night, which allowed the delegates a glimpse of NMSC’s past and ongoing initiatives.

The NMSC Team along with all the participants of the PFD GA and PFDYS Deaf Youth Camp

For organizations interested to work with NMSC and receive a complete media kit for any of our programs, please contact our Partnership Manager:

George Lintag

Email: george@nms-cares.org

Skype: pfd-secgen

Mobile: +63 917 685 5518

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

#HappeningNow | Program Dev Manager Ember & Partnership Manager George discussing details for NMSC's SEED Program. The program aim to offer scholarships to select Deaf learners of our partner schools thru the generosity of the organization's private donors. 🏻

 Want to sponsor a young Deaf learner? Know more about the program by leaving a message for us here or email us at info@nms-cares.org Together, we can make Deaf children reach their dreams! 

SUMMER SPORTS PROGRAM 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pr@nms-cares.org

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MARCH 26, 2015, Baguio City - As part of the continuing effort of NMS Cares to use sports to educate, inspire and engage young Deaf individuals, the DREAM Program (Deaf Recreational Engagement Activity Movement)will be continuing its sports programs this coming summer. As summer offers the young students a break from their academics, it is a great time to let them venture into productive and engaging activities such as sports. The summer sports program will run for four weeks,under the facilitation of International Relations Officer, Max Eyking. Children aged 5-13 will be taught soccer, while the young adults aged 15-20 will be taught basketball. The program is structured in such a way that the students will be able to gain mastery in their chosen sport through hands-on learning. 

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

Happy New Year from the NMSC team!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Mamaril, Communications
sarah@nms-cares.org
+63 917 5195380 
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January 7, 2015, Baguio City - We here at NMS Cares wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2014 has truly been a great and fulfilling year for NMS Cares as we witnessed growth not only inside the team, but also in spreading the word about our organization and getting more people involved. Throughout the previous year, we had been blessed in forging solid partnerships with local institutions catering to the Deaf, thus being able to widen the reach of our service.

The year 2015 holds great promise for NMS Cares as several programs are lined up to launch during the start of the year. Among these programs is the LIVE (Learning thru Interactive Visual Education), set to launch on January 9, 2014 under the facilitation of Program Manager, Ember Palma. Through this program, students are given an opportunity to enhance math and reading skills in a highly interactive manner, through the use of iPads. The use of the iPads help not only in stimulating the young Deaf learners' visual comprehension, but also in empowering them to be technologically adept in this digital age. Another program that will hit the ground running this year is the Career Orientation Program aimed at shedding some light on possible career options that young Deaf individuals may pursue. The target launch of this program would be during the 1st quarter of the year. NMS Cares is opening its doors to all possible opportunities to which we can contribute and make a difference, most especially in the lives of Deaf youth.

It is with high hopes and continuing hard work that we greet 2015. May NMS Cares continue to flourish and grow in the upcoming year, and may more people become involved in our vision to making Deaf children reach their dreams.

Happy New Year from the NMSC Team :)
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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

NMSC Joins International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Mamaril, Communications
sarah@nms-cares.org
+63 917 5195380 
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December 9, 2014, BAGUIO CITY – The NMS Cares team was proud to be part of the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities last December 8, 2014.

The NMSC team, with Committee on Employment, Livelihood and Cooperatives and Persons with Disabilities Chairperson, Isabelo Cosalan and visiting volunteer from Australia, Kelly Sparks

Present at the event were various associations and schools for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) from Baguio City and La Trinidad. It was spearheaded by Caritas Baguio-Benguet, the Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Baguio City, and the Committee on Employment, Livelihood and Cooperatives and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) as headed by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan. The celebration kicked off with a parade that started at the Baguio Cathedral at 8:00AM and ended at the Baguio Convention Center where the program had ensued.

Participants from all over Baguio and La Trinidad came to participate at this year's celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

As an internationally celebrated event, the theme for this year was, “Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology”. Throughout the program, this theme had been embodied by the various performances that came from the PWD community in Benguet. Also there to grace the event and give his speech about the government’s current programs for the PWD was city mayor, Mauricio Domogan.

This year’s celebration had been a follow-up to the Public Hearing and Consultation on Persons with Disabilities, which was held last December 3, 2014. The aim of that public hearing had been to inform the PWD’s in the city of several proposed laws and programs made specifically for the PWD community. Among these proposed legislative measures was councilor Cosalan’s proposed ordinance of institutionalizing the local celebration and observance of the International Day of the People with Disabilities every third of December each year, as promoted by the United Nations (UN) since 1991. If approved, this celebration would be included in Baguio City’s yearly calendar of activities, making this year’s celebration the first of many more to come.

(with reports from Briccio Cesar Domondon)

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

NMSC launched Sign Language DEAFined to New Media Services employees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Mamaril, Communications
sarah@nms-cares.org
+63 917 5195380 
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November 28, 2014, BAGUIO CITY – In celebration of Deaf Awareness Week, NMS Cares has launched its series of free Sign Language Workshops entitled “Sign Language Deafined”. This initiative is geared towards encouraging the active involvement of the hearing community with the Deaf community and is primarily targeted at the service providers found in any locality, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations and government offices.

Program Manager, Ember Palma acquainting the NMS staff on Deaf culture.

To get the gears running on this initiative, NMSC started from within and conducted its first workshop to the New Media Services employees. The workshop had served its purpose not only to inform, but also to better acquaint all of the New Media Services employees with the Deaf employees onboard the NMSC team.  The workshop was made alive by the active participation of the NMS employees, who had learned not only how to sign using American Sign Language (ASL), but also got to have a better understanding of Deaf culture.

NMS employees learning ASL fingerspelling on Day 1 of the Sign Language Deafined Workshop.

A friendly competition on ASL ensued among the participants during the 2nd day of the workshop.

In the utmost effort to break communication barriers between the Deaf and the hearing community, NMSC shall continue to have its Sign Language DEAFined workshop to different service providers and government agencies in Baguio. 

Following the 2-day workshop, participants received certificates and better understood that Deafness is never a barrier.

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.

NMSC engages Deaf youth in playing Australian Football and Basketball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Mamaril, Communications
sarah@nms-cares.org
+63 917 5195380 
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November 24, 2014, BAGUIO CITY – The DREAM Program, aimed at using sports to educate, inspire and engage young Deaf individuals had its successful launch last November 7, 2014; where young Deaf individuals aged 5-18 were taught Australian Football at the Scout Barrio Open Field. There to facilitate and instruct the basics on Australian Football was International Relations Officer and head of all NMSC recreational initiatives for the Deaf, Max Eyking. The young participants had acquainted themselves with a new sport, and also gained a new set of skills.

International Relations Officer, Max Eyking demonstrating proper football handling techniques to the young participants

Immediately following the success of the launch was the first basketball clinic held November 22, 2014 at the UP Baguio HKP Gym. The participants were taught basic passing, dribbling and shooting techniques. After which, a friendly game had ensued as a culmination of their newly acquired skills. To help them further step up their game, there will be a follow-up basketball clinic on November 29, 2014, where a competition will take place and a winning team shall be named. There to assist in facilitating the event are the volunteer teachers: Jeff Manangan from New Media Services; Deaf advocates, Emilio Acosta and Eduardo Agas, Jr.; and Adrian Sapalong of the Deaf Unity Association of Baguio City.

The young participants actively engaging with Max and the volunteer teachers on the basics of basketball

In addition to the NMSC team and volunteer teachers, also present in the event was the newly appointed Program Manager, Ember Palma. She officially became part of the NMSC team last November 17, 2014, but the basketball clinic had served as her formal introduction to the Deaf community in Baguio. As program manager, she is to play the vital role of providing interpretative services to facilitate communications between NMS Cares’ Deaf employees and organization’s members, partners and the general community through signed language. Her responsibilities are also centered on the establishment and maintenance of NMS Cares Programs such as the ongoing DREAM program.

The NMS Cares Team, with its newest members: Multimedia and Communications Specialist, Mariel Oliveros and Program Manager, Ember Palma

Upon seeing the active participation of the Deaf youth in the recently conducted sports clinics, NMSC will continue to run its Saturday sports clinics until summer of next year. By teaching the Deaf youth different world sports such as Australian Football, Basketball, and soon, soccer and cricket, NMSC adheres to its goal of using sports to educate, inspire and engage young Deaf individuals and further reinforce the message that Deafness is never a barrier.

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About NMS CARES

NMS CARES, INC. is a Philippine SEC-registered non-stock, non-profit association with a vision for Deaf children to reach their dreams. The organization fully commits to advocating for the Deaf children of the community while looking forward to expanding its service all throughout the less privileged young Deaf individuals in the Asia Pacific.

To know more about NMS CARES, please visit http://nms-cares.org or email us at info@nms-cares.org.