Filipino Sign Language Research Presented in Paris

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Deaf advocates, interpreters, educators, learners, volunteers and its communities gathered for the four-day World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) Conference in Paris, France recently.

With this year’s theme, Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present and Shaping the Future, it sought answers and solutions on some emerging important issues on deaf education and sign language interpreting.

Among the representatives of the Philippines were John Xandre C. Baliza, the President of the Philippine National Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI), an Interpreting Education Program Coordinator at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) and Christina S. Sison, Research Associate of the College’s Center for Education Access and Development (CEAD).

Co-authored with Sison, Baliza presented their research output entitled Working conditions and training profile of Sign Language Interpreters in the Philippines: Shaping the quality of interpreting services and practice of profession

It aimed to investigate the working conditions of the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) interpreters, their training backgrounds related to their professions and the effect of providing equitable and quality services to the Deaf.

The Filipino Deaf community went through challenges before they could actively engage with other sectors. This, according to Baliza and Sison, was the main reason which made it urgent to assess the status of this particular subject.

During his presentation, Baliza shared that this specialty in our islands started as a result of volunteerism and not as a profession. After devoting their time learning the particular language, only family members, teachers of the deaf and the clergy remained as the FSL pioneers.

To make the study possible, Baliza and Sison designed a pen and paper survey questionnaire distributed to 200 local sign language translators and utilized focus group discussions in the four major regions of the country to gather information on the working relationships with the communities, the quality, the ethics and the standards of their field.

GA 2019: Motion and Feature: Walk of Excellence │Avenue to Broadway Escape

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In line with the advocacy of the Junior Financial Executives PUP – Manila in promoting financial literacy to its members by upholding awareness about the field of banking and finance, it will be holding its General Assembly with the title: "General Assembly 2019: Motion and Feature: Walk of Excellence │Avenue to Broadway Escape” on September 12, 2019 at Bulwagang Balagtas, PUP Main Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The General Assembly is an annual get-together of all the members of the organization and it is a two-installment event. First installment will be a seminar-type program that will feature the showcasing of talents of JFINEX-PUP sub-organizations, recognition of Dean's Lister, launching of the General Plan of Activities of JFINEX for the entire academic year. The second installment will be a music festival-type of party with loud music and different kinds of booths. It will allow the students to channel their own identity through fashion

ABOUT JUNIOR FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES – PUP:
The Junior Financial Executives PUP – Manila is the official student-run organization of the Department of Banking and Finance, known as one of the biggest JFINEX chapters in the Philippines with over 1300 active members. Together its mission and vision of molding the students to be a professional practitioners and uphold awareness in banking and finance field, the organization conducts interactive academic and non – academic events. The goal of the organization for the academic year 2018-2019 is to bind the organization, the students and future partners during its promotion of financial literacy. The organization aspires to have a lasting impact not just to its members but also to the whole PUP Community.
Contact Person:  ALLYSA-NICOLE N. OABEL
   Vice President – Marketing
               (+63)90 8216 4342                             
    oabelallysanicole@gmail.com

For more information, check: www.facebook.com/JFINEX.ORG.PUP

Zen Rooms Opens 400 News Rooms in Metro Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

ZEN Rooms, the biggest budget hotel chain in the Philippines continuously disrupts the hotel industry in the Philippines by consistently being on the lead in providing quality accommodation matched with the best hospitality practices.

From its arrival in the Philippines 4 years ago, ZEN Rooms achieved more than what is expected from a hotel startup with humble beginnings. The company’s goal is pretty simple- to help standardize the budget hotel industry in the Philippines. Tourism has been the country’s pride and as it keeps on getting bigger, so is the demand for quality budget accommodation. There are a lot of big players in the budget hotel industry and ZEN Rooms wanted to do more and provide more. The company started by working with the small budget hotels in the country- from helping them streamline their daily operations to make them visible to a broader market across the world.

After operating for the past years, ZEN Rooms now has over 4,500 rooms across the Philippines top50 destinations and 10,000+ rooms across Southeast Asia on its platform. With its constant expansion, the company is set to be in 70 cities by the end of 2019 adding La Union,Baler, Tagaytay, Baguio, and other top destinations all over the country.

Moreover, ZEN Rooms has just recently opened 400+ new rooms with its recent partnership with Selah Hotels making it the biggest hotel chain in Metro Manila.

The company fully manages the newly opened ZEN Rooms Selah Lofts in Harrison St., Pasay City with 205 budget rooms.

Just above ZEN Rooms Selah Lofts are the rooms of ZEN Rooms Selah Pods for mid-range accommodation of 108 cozy rooms with access to the rooftop infinity pool, bar and restaurant with a 360 view of the city's skyline.

For a more premium stay, ZEN Rooms offers ZEN Premium Selah Garden Pasay on Park Avenue. With close to 100 rooms, it is the perfect venue for group bookings as it offers large rooms good for 6, 8 and even 10. Another unique thing about the property is that it's also the only hotel across Metro Manila to offer high rope activities as well as a Zip line and wall climbing.

Michael Raquiza, Country Manager of ZEN Rooms Philippines said, “We are very excited to announce this partnership today. When ZEN Rooms expanded here in 2015, our goal was just to fix the fragmented budget hotel industry. Now, 4 years later, being the largest hotel chain in the Philippines, our reach has lengthen and our purpose has deepen. We are here to build relationships with hotel owners and support local businesses and we believe that our partnership with hotels like the Selah group exemplifies just that. Together, we improve value-for-money so that our guest can travel more & pay less.”

Jeff Thomas, Managing Director of Selah Hotels, added, “ZEN Rooms has been very effective in terms of tapping the online market and selling our rooms to a wider audience online. I look forward to what more ZEN Rooms can do to elevate our hotels further especially in the international market.”

For as low as P499/night, customers can book a room at ZEN Rooms which includes free fast WiFi, hot shower, cool AC, spotless beds, and 24/7 Customer care at www.zenrooms.com